PHIVOLCS conducted the 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 October 2021 Batch – Module 1 (Basic REDAS and Seismic Hazard Assessment Module)". This was held from October 5-8, 2021. The goal of the training was to provide and familiarize the participants with the capabilities of the REDAS Software, specifically the contents of Module 1 which dealt with basic REDAS features and Seismic Hazard Assessment (SHA). The training was headed by DOST Undersecretary and PHIVOLCS officer-in-charge Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., 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. The speakers and facilitators included Winchelle Ian Sevilla, Johnlery P. Deximo, Dante Soneja, Ian P. Javier, John Deladia, Jordana Marie L. Argamosa, Engr. Noel C. Rosario, Jr., and Sarena P. Tarongoy. PHIVOLCS staffs Mark Lester Visayana, Shally Marck C. Daguiao, Jefferson G. Robles, Francess Liene I. Yago and Angelica Olaes served as facilitators cum participants. Guest speakers Sharon Juliet Arruejo and Bernard R. Punzalan II from PAGASA served as resource speakers during the training. The photos below show the list of speakers, facilitators, and course advisers for the training.
There was a total of 31 participants: Tubungan, Iloilo (7), Davao City (2), Philippine Science Highschool -Southern Mindanao Campus (1), Eastern Samar State University (6), Mindanao State University- Iligan Institute of Technology (8) and MERALCO (2). Five participants from PHIVOLCS also participated in the said event. This was the first time during this year that the majority of the participants are from the academe. Participants were provided with REDAS version 2.9M, SRM version 1.0.8 and ETAM version 2.5.9. A total of 93 REDAS, ETAM and SRM software license keys was issued for this training.
A one-day pre-training orientation on October 5 was conducted. The orientation covered the verification if the REDAS, ETAM, SRM, SQLite and QGIS software were properly installed and addressing of encountered errors during installation. The training house rules and guidelines were also discussed as well as answering the required online training forms. The training proper covered topics on the Introduction to REDAS Software, Basic Features of REDAS, Basic Map Reading, Digitizing and Annotating in REDAS, Philippine Seismicity and Earthquake Catalogue, Seismic Hazard Assessment, Understanding Weather Hazards and Earthquake and Earthquake Hazards. The Satellite Rainfall Monitor (SRM) and Earthquake and Tsunami Alerting Tool (ETAM) were also taught during the training. Moreover, 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 during the Seismic Hazard Assessment exercises. Outputs were presented and discussed during the last day of the training. Figure 3 shows a sample hands-on exercise result for a Magnitude 6.5 Earthquake along the West Valley Fault by one of the training participants.
The participants appreciated the patience and the competence of the facilitators. They were also impressed the way the training was handled in an online setup. As what one of the participants quoted on her impression (Rhea Mae B. Tacuyan, MDRRM Staff, Tubungan, Iloilo); “The training is exciting and challenging. I like that the activities are interactive even though the training is done remotely.” They showed gratefulness on having the chance to participate in such comprehensive event. The participants from the academe are thinking on how the knowledge and tools they have learned from the training can be utilized in their researches about hazard analysis towards disaster resilience. On the other hand, the participants from the local government are planning to use the REDAS software and the monitoring tools to improve their existing and future plans on their respective areas.
