The Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) have partnered up to improve the disaster management capabilities of the energy sector.
The two firms will also be able to draft where critical power facilities can be viable.
The collaboration will enhance the energy sector’s capacity in terms of determining the areas of concern for earthquake incidents using a software called Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS).
REDAS is a tool for emergency preparedness, contingency planning and mainstreaming disaster risk reduction on the on the adverse effect of the earthquake.
The Filipino-made software will benefit the power sector by having a near real-time simulated earthquake hazard information that can guide in the assessment of the on-ground situation.
Under the partnership, both the DOE and PHIVOLCS will undergo REDAS training, share knowledge and resources to complement each other on the implementation of the program, among other assistance and cooperation needed to attain goals and objectives in preparing the power sector on possible earthquake hazards.
“What we lack in the planning in the past years is to have a grasp of enormity of the potential impact of a disaster before it happens. We need to be able to imagine based on science and technology and engineering,” DOST undersecretary Renato Solidum Jr. said.
DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said that there are looking to promote energy resiliency within the sector as President Duterte made many pronouncements in improving the disaster resiliency of the country.
“Our partnership will bring us closer to achieving an energy sector that is sustainable and able to withstand and quickly recover from the impacts of human-induced and natural hazards,” he said.
