By Eunice Anne Narvadez, DOST-STII
The thrust for community resilience and preparedness continues for the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) as the agency unveils the PHIVOLCS Mindanao Cluster Monitoring Center for Earthquake and Tsunami (PMCMCET) last Sept. 24, 2021, via a virtual presser.
A first in the region, DOST Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said that the center is set to further increase the protection capabilities of the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) in monitoring and warning in Mindanao.
It aims to safeguard the continuity of operations should the key operations of the PHIVOLCS Data Receiving Center (DRC) in Quezon City get hampered by any disaster.
Similar to PHIVOLCS DRC, PMCMCET can generate and deliver reliable earthquake and tsunami information for both PHIVOLCS and the public.
The newest earthquake and tsunami monitoring center is situated at the Philippine Science High School – Southern Mindanao Campus in Mintal, Davao City, and is envisioned to be beneficial not only for monitoring activities but also serve as a facility for students’ education in the region.
In the virtual presser, DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña stressed that the department has always pushed for better appreciation of scientific information to transform people’s lives.
“With the inauguration of this cluster center, we hope to bring the products and services of our earth science team in our department closer to the people whom we serve, and they will truly appreciate the meaning of earth sciences sa rehiyon at sa local level,” Sec. de la Peña said.
On the other hand, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio extended her commendation to DOST-PHIVOLCS for continuing its mandate to mitigate disasters by disseminating relevant information on disaster preparedness and risk reduction through a video message.
With PMCMCET as the newest addition to the PSN, the Philippines now has 111 seismic stations, consisting of nine (9) staff-controlled seismic stations, 18 satellite-telemetered seismic stations, and 12 sea-level detection stations and tsunami alerting stations.
The agency eyes to have a total of 115 seismic stations by 2022.
Furthermore, Usec. Solidum thanked partner institutions for their support and contributions as the PMCMCET finally comes full circle this year.
“Ang kahandaan po sa sakuna ay hindi po puwedeng bawat isa lang po sa atin ang kikilos,” Usec. Solidum said, reiterating the agency and partner institutions’ mission to strengthen community resilience and disaster preparedness. He added that they must collaborate and build on each party’s efforts and expertise to ensure provision of right service to the people to bring forth safe and disaster-resilient citizenry especially in the region of Mindanao. (DOST) – bny
