PHIVOLCS recently completed an online REDAS training for Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC). The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between PHIVOLCS and LRC was signed February 2021 and the training was held April 27-30, 2021. The LRMC wanted to harness the capability of REDAS on assessing possible earthquake impacts to areas around the rail lines and how to use the results in improving their business continuity plan. A total of 31 participants from LRMC and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) attended the training. The conduct of REDAS training used to be conducted for six days but during the current Covid -9 pandemic, the training modules had been broken down into modular courses. Module 1 tackles Basic REDAS, Seismic Hazard Assessment and the REDAS monitoring modules of Earthquake and Tsunami Alerting Module (ETAM) and Satellite Rainfall Monitor (SRM). The Opening Ceremony was graced by DOST Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS OIC Renato U. Solidum Jr and LRMC CEO and President Juan Alfonso. Photo 1 shows the facilitators and speakers for the REDAS LRMC training. Speakers included REDAS Programme coordinator and Associate Scientist Dr. Maria Leonila P. Bautista, and REDAS Course advisers Dr. Bartolome C. Bautista, Ishmael C. Narag, and Engr. Angelito G. Lanuza. Other speakers and facilitators were Dr. Winchelle Ian G. Sevilla as well as REDAS staffs Ian P. Javier, John Deladia, For. Jordana Marie L. Argamosa, Engr. Nikka Marie B. Sales, Engr. Noel C. Rosario, Jr., and Engr. Maria Teresa G. Llera. Other PHIVOLCS Staffs Mark Quimson and Nico Anilao also participated in the training. Engr. Sharon Juliet M. Arruejo of DOST-PAGASA gave a lecture on Understanding Weather Hazards while Bernard C. Punzalan II, also from DOST-PAGASA gave lecture on the new REDAS module, the Satellite Rainfall Monitor (SRM). PHIVOLCS SOEPD OIC Ishmael C. Narag gave the closing remarks.
Photo shows the Speakers and Facilitators for the REDAS LRMC Module training
Under the Seismic Hazard Assessment (SHA) capability of REDAS, Dr. Sevilla taught the participants how to perform seismic simulation. As a seatwork, the participants were asked to simulate a Mag 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault system. Figure 1 shows a participant output for this scenario. Colors indicate the earthquake intensity in PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS).
Ground Shaking Simulation of a Mag 7.2 earthquake along the West Valley Fault as done by a LRMC participant using the REDAS software
In the way forward discussions facilitated by Engr. Lanuza of PHIVOLCS, the LRMC participants plan to 1) create a REDAS Core Team, 2) procure Hardware to ensure seamless usage of REDAS and its monitoring tools ETAM and SRM, 3) Conduct echo sessions/procedures/series of meetings for review of REDAS, 4) To review/revisit in order to improve the LRMC Business Continuity Plan (BCP), and 5) To incorporate the REDAS to Business Continuity Management (BCM). Meanwhile, among the action plans of the LRTA participants were to encourage LRTA staffs to also undergo a similar extensive training and to coordinate with the neighboring barangays surrounding the Line 1 Administration Building and its grounds about their disaster preparedness plans.
