DOST-PHIVOLCS in partnership with Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) conducted a REDAS Modules 1-3 training entitled “Capacity Enhancement of the Southern Leyte State University on Hazard, Impact Assessment and Exposure Database Development Through the Use of the REDAS Software”. It was held last January 31 - February 1 via Zoom platform and via face-to-face modality at the Student Center Building, SLSU Main Campus last February 5-10, 2024. The training was headed by PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol, REDAS Program 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 lectures and hands-on exercises were discussed by speakers and facilitators from PHIVOLCS and guest speakers from PAGASA and MGB.
Online pre-training and installation sessions were conducted on January 31 and February 1 to guide the participants in installing the REDAS software and other related tools such as ETAM, MapDig, New EDM and SRM. During these days, the participants were also given introductory lectures such as Introduction to REDAS, Basic Map Reading, Introduction to GPS and Introduction to the GeoRisk Philippines Initiative. A total of 90 REDAS 3.0, ETAM, SRM License keys and 45 GeoMapperPH account credentials were issued for the participants of the training. The 45 participants of the training were as follows: 24 from the Academe of SLSU (2 from Bontoc Campus, 1 from Hinunangan Campus, 3 from Maasin City Campus, 3 from San Juan Campus, 3 from Tomas Oppus Campus and 12 from Main Campus), 20 from Southern Leyte LGUs (1 from Anahawan, 1 from Bontoc, 1 from Hinunangan, 2 from Hinundayan, 1 from Libagon, 2 from Liloan, 1 from Limasawa, 1 from Macrohon, 1 from Pintuyan, 1 from St. Bernard, 1 from San Francisco, 1 from San Juan, 1 from San Ricardo, 1 from Silago, 2 from Sogod and 2 from Tomas Oppus) and 1 from PHIVOLCS. The participants consist of DRRM Officers and Staffs, Engineers, Administrative Staff and members of the Academe.
The face-to-face training proper was conducted on February 5-10, 2024. It started with the opening ceremony including the opening remarks of the Southern Leyte PDRRMO Department Head Danilo L. Atienza, University President Jude A. Duarte, Vice President for Academic Affairs Prose Ivy G. Yepes and PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol.
The first two days (February 5-6) of the face-to-face training focused on REDAS Module 3 which is the Exposure Database Development Module of REDAS. The participants were given lectures and hands-on on how to conduct their own exposure database using different methods. This includes fieldwork at the nearby barangay on how to conduct foot survey in populating their own exposure databases. A total of 91 building structures was surveyed and 403 digitized building footprints were done during the training. Lectures on database management and experiences of LGUs were also given to provide them ideas on how to build their own exposure database after the training.
The next three days (February 7-9) of the training were focused on the use of the REDAS software including its monitoring tools such as the earthquake and tsunami monitoring tool ETAM and satellite rainfall monitoring tool SRM. They were taught on how these tools can be installed and used in their own operating centers for monitoring. The basic features of the newly developed REDAS 3.0 were also taught using ETAM. Other ETAM features include Simulating Earthquake Intensities and Potential for Liquefaction, Earthquake-Induced Landslide, Tsunami Evaluation, Hazard data plotting and Seismic Hazard Assessment (SHA) were also taught to the participants. In their SHA exercise, they were required to produce a ground shaking hazard map of the December 1977 Magnitude 6.4 Southern Leyte Earthquake with scenario depth of 5km.
The last day (February 10) of the six-day training was dedicated to the culmination of all learnings during the training. Impact assessment computations of Big Ones for the province of Southern Leyte were presented to pique the interest of the participants to avail of the higher modules of REDAS. In the way forward discussion, the participants spoke about using REDAS in the planning process, emergency preparedness, disaster mitigation and how to incorporate them in their existing DRRM plans. The participants also gave positive impressions during the graduation ceremony. Based on the evaluation form responses, all of the participants are either satisfied or very satisfied with the training. The participants appreciated the hands-on activities and agreed that all the topics involving REDAS and its related tools are very useful. A total of 45 participants graduated from the training course and it ended with a message from the SLSU Research and Innovation Director Marie Khul C. Langub.
