PHIVOLCS conducted an online training entitled “Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into the Local Development Planning Process, Emergency Preparedness, and Contingency Planning through the Use of the REDAS Software for Zamboanga – Module 2 (Developing Relational Database in REDAS)", last September 22-25, 2020.
Following the REDAS Module 1 (Basic REDAS and Seismic Hazard Assessment) which was held July 21-23, 2020 for the first batch and July 27-30, 2020 for the second batch, the REDAS Module 2 Training was focused on the use of SQLite as relational and spatial database system in REDAS. The training was headed by DOST Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS officer-in-charge Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., REDAS Program coordinator and Associate Scientist Dr. Maria Leonila P. Bautista, and REDAS Course advisers Dr. Bartolome C. Bautista and Ishmael C. Narag. The speakers and facilitators included Johnlery P. Deximo, Tom Carlo E. Simborio, Jay Flenson C. Gallardo, Ian P. Javier, John Deladia, Jordana Marie L. Argamosa, Engr. Nikka Marie B. Sales, Engr. Noel C. Rosario, Jr., and Engr. Maria Teresa G. Llera.
The photo below shows the list of speakers, facilitators, and course advisers for the training.
Figure 1. Speakers, Facilitators and Course Advisers for the REDAS Module 2 Online Training for Zamboanga Sibugay
There was a total of 36 participants: six representatives from the Lanao del Norte (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Provincial Planning and Development Office) and 30 representative from the municipalities of Alicia (2), Buug (3), Diplahan (1), Mabuhay (2), Malangas (2), Naga (1), Olutanga (1), Payao (3), Talusan (3), Titay (2), Ipil (2), Imelda (1), Siay (3), Kabasalan (2), Roseller T. Lim (1), Tungawan (1).
Figure 2. Participants and Speakers to the REDAS Module 2 Online Training for Zamboanga Sibugay
A one-day pre-training orientation on September 22 was conducted to verify if the REDAS, SQLite and Quantum GIS software are still working properly. The training house rules and guidelines were also discussed. Meanwhile. the training proper covered topics on the Familiarization on SQLite Module, Developing SQLite Database, Putting Spatial Component to SQLite, Plotting Data in REDAS from SQLite Tables (Basemaps and Admin Boundaries), Plotting Multi-Hazard Maps, and Advanced SQLite Scripting. An overview on REDAS Software as an Impact Assessment Tool and Earthquake Impact Assessment Calculation using PSA Data were presented to provide more knowledge on the capabilities of the software on calculating earthquake impacts.
The participants were required to submit their outputs through a seatwork on Digitizing Land Use focused on selected barangays of their assigned municipalities. Outputs were presented and discussed during the last day of the training. Figure 3 shows a sample seatwork exercise using a database developed in REDAS, digitized and linked to QGIS and plotted back again in REDAS by a training participant. The map shows the different land uses in the municipality of Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Figure 3. Sample Hands on Exercise digitized in Quantum GIS and plotted in REDAS
The participants found the training interesting and challenging. The main problem encountered was the poor internet connection. Also, most of them were new to this kind of online set-up and are first time users of a GIS applications (QGIS) and SQL module applications. They are planning to use the tools and skills they have gained from this module in creating and managing their own databases and integrating it to REDAS to assess locations and hazards in their municipalities.
