Davao earthquake and tsunami monitoring facility strengthens PH disaster preparedness efforts
The Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) inaugurated the PHIVOLCS Mindanao Cluster Monitoring Center for Earthquake and Tsunami (PMCMCET) facility on 24 September 2021 to provide capable nationwide earthquake and tsunami monitoring that would ensure continuity of operations when the main office located in Quezon City failed to function immediately after an emergency or disruption.
PMCMCET features near real-time display of the Philippine Seismic Network upgraded computer systems for earthquake and tsunami data acquisition and processing, and newly-installed tools for decision support, mapping, and information dissemination.
The center is located at the Philippine Science High School System Southern Mindanao campus in Barangay Sto. Nino, Tugbok District, Davao City.
Some of the equipment housed in this facility include the following: Satellite Dish, Solar Panel, Broadband Seismometer, Strong Motion Sensor, Data Receiving Center, Earthquake Monitoring System, Philippine Seismic Network, Automated Earthquake Solution, Real-Time Earthquake Waveforms, Tsunami Monitoring System, and Trans-pacific Sea Level, Tsunami Monitoring Websites.
The total cost of this facility, including the construction and equipment, is more or less 20 million pesos.
“Putting up this facility would not only benefit the residents from Davao City but also the rest of Mindanao Island. The decisions and policies made by different LGUs could be guided by real-time data and scientific studies provided by this monitoring facility,” said DOST Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services and DOST-PHIVOLCS Officer-in-Charge Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr.
Meanwhile, DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said that all earthquake and tsunami-related activities can now be more easily provided to communities with additional facilities outside Metro Manila.
“With the inauguration of this cluster center, we hope to bring the products and services of our scientists closer to the people who we serve. They will truly appreciate the meaning of earth sciences in the region through this newly-established facility,” said de la Peña.
To further improve its earthquake and tsunami monitoring efforts, Usec. Solidum revealed that there will be a similar facility to be built in San Fernando, Cebu in six months.
In her message, Davao City Mayor Sara Durterte-Carpio commended DOST-PHIVOLCS for continuously fulfilling its mandate to mitigate the risks of natural hazards and avert disasters by providing accurate and timely information on disaster preparedness and risk reduction.
“By establishing the first Mindanao earthquake and tsunami monitoring center in Davao City, you further widen the scope of the affected public service delivery especially in terms of predicting volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis as well as formulating disaster preparedness action plan to mitigate possibly the greater risks here in Mindanao,” said Duterte-Carpio.
Lastly, Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Alfredo D. Baloran likewise welcomed this initiative of DOST-PHIVOLCS and said that PMCMCET would play a crucial role in helping them to have better planning, response, and policies especially after experiencing succeeding earthquake-related events during latter part of 2019 up to the first few months of 2020.(By Allan Mauro V. Marfal, DOST-STII)
