Mobile command centers to boost DSWD's disaster response capability

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday led the inauguration of the agency's new Mobile Command Centers (MCCs) seen to boost its capabilities to respond during disasters and calamities.

In his message during the inauguration, Gatchalian said the 14 new MCCs will be deployed in different regions in the country to complement the DSWD's Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC) that was inaugurated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last January.

"Pero ang nangyari (But what happened), we have a hub but we can't talk to our regional offices. This (MCC) now completes the picture, that no matter what happens, no matter how far, the mobile command centers can be deployed in a disaster area and can continue transmitting data to our regional and to our central office so that we can react commensurate to the disaster that is happening real time," Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian thanked Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, for pushing and funding the MCC project that would help DSWD "cope with our mandate of disaster response."

Villanueva, for his part, said as one of the major frontliners in the public service and fight against poverty, the DSWD could save more people if well-equipped and capacitated.

"Isa pong malaking karangalan and I say this in all humilities, na maging katuwang ng DSWD para po dito sa 14 Mobile Command Centers (It is a great honor, and I say this in all humilities, to become a partner of the DSWD for this 16 Mobile Command Centers)," the lawmaker said.

He promised that the two additional units of MCC would be delivered very soon to further empower the government workers who face the extreme challenge of rendering services to the people.

The MCC, equipped with state-of-the art information and communications technology (ICT) equipment, aims to bridge the communication gap in disaster or emergency operations by providing linkage from the disaster-stricken area to the Regional Operations Center (ROC), Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), or the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the MCCs will ensure the continuous, effective, reliable, and timely emergency telecommunications support needed in disaster response operations.

"The MCCs use satellite technology managed by DSWD deployment teams. Through the system, our teams will be able to provide uninterrupted critical information for humanitarian response efforts and disaster response operations in the disaster-stricken area," Dumlao said.

A MCC deployment team will be formed composed of one team leader for supervision; two DSWD-Government Emergency Telecommunications Team (GETT) members skilled in ICT management, networking, electronics, and communications; and three trained Quick Response Team (QRT) members proficient in data gathering, report preparation, and response cluster management; and one vehicle driver/operator familiar with service vehicle maintenance and deployment areas. (PNA)