Davao City tests newly-installed alert, warning system

IN time for the celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month, the Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) conducted citywide simultaneous testing of the city’s newly-installed Public Alert and Warning System Project.

Alfredo Baloran, the head of CDRRMO, said that the city-wide testing was conducted for the calibration of the new sirens, test their functionality, and see its range or reach.

“We have to observe kung asa kutob ang maabot niya, and range niya, especially sa mga densely populated areas. Kung dili sya maabot, we sill suggest for additional sirens didto nga lugar (We need to observe the range of the sirens, especially in the densely populated areas. If it doesn’t reach them, we will suggest for additional sirens in those areas),” Baloran said.

According to Baloran, seven new sirens have been installed in Barangays Panacan, Vicente Duterte, Maa, Bucana, Talomo Proper, Sirawan, and Barangay 23-C. These have been classified as disaster-prone areas.

The existing sirens in Toril Fish Port, Matina Aplaya, City Hall Annex, and R.Castillo are sounded off every Tuesday at 12 noon. The sirens serve to alert or warn Dabawenyos of a weather disturbance or something dangerous is approaching such as flooding, landslide, or storm surge.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Baloran assured Dabawenyos that CDRRMO is doing its best to enhance the city’s preparedness through an upgrade of alert and warning equipment and information dissemination on any form of calamity or disaster.