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 Bulacan Province – Module 1 (Basic REDAS and Seismic Hazard Assessment Module)", last August 3-6, 2021. The goal of the training was to provide and familiarize the participants with the capability 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 Rhommel C. Grutas, Ian P. Javier, John Deladia, Jordana Marie L. Argamosa, Engr. Nikka Marie B. Sales, Engr. Noel C. Rosario, Jr., Engr. Maria Teresa Llera, Sarena P. Tarongoy and Roschele Germar-Ablan, PHIVOLCS staffs Tiarra Mojel Manalo, Patricia Mari M. Villena, Jason de Leon, David Joshua R. Santos, Lonell Pilapil and Edson Broderick Lim acted as facilitators-participants. There were also guest speakers from PAGASA namely Sharon Juliet Arruejo and Bernard R. Punzalan II. The photos below show the list of speakers, facilitators, and course advisers for the training.

There was a total of 40 participants: 25 from the Bulacan Province and LGUs – Provincial Government of Bulacan (3), Bulakan (1), Calumput (1), City of Malolos (1), Paombong (1), Pulilan (1), Hagonoy (2), Baliwag (1), Balagtas (1), Bocaue (1), Bustos (1), Guiguinto (1), Pandi (1), Angat (1), Norzagaray (1), San Miguel (1), San Rafael (1), City of Meycauyan (1), Marilao (1), Obando (1) and City of San Jose del Monte; (2) and guest students and participants  from Adamson University (2), University of the Philippines Institute of Civil Engineer (6) and MERALCO (1). Participants were provided with REDAS version 2.9M, SRM version 1.0.6 and ETAM version 2.5.7. A total of 120 REDAS, ETAM and SRM software license keys was issued for this training.

A one-day pre-training orientation on August 3 was conducted before the training proper. 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. Familiarization with the Satellite Rainfall Monitor (SRM) and Earthquake and Tsunami Alerting Tool (ETAM) was 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 1863 Manila Bay Earthquake ground shaking simulation done by one of the training participants.

The participants showed eagerness to learn and exhibited great patience despite the issue of unstable internet connection and the challenges brought by the pandemic. Most of them were very interested by the capability of REDAS to simulate ground shaking scenario and to visualize the seismic hazards in their area which are helpful for their future action plans and projects for their province. They were also captivated by the newly developed Satellite Rainfall Monitoring tool and implying its usage on their operation centers.