Iloilo: The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has enhanced the communications capabilities of its municipal and city counterparts, ensuring a unified response during calamities and disasters. Alfonso Baldonado III, chief of the PDRRMO administrative and training division, announced the recent gathering of radio operators from municipal and city DRRMOs for a two-batch "Resilient Radio Communication and Operations Protocols Seminar Workshop."

According to Philippines News Agency, Baldonado emphasized the aim of creating a single standard for radio communications, protocols, and operations across the province for effective disaster response. Historically, the lack of coordinated training posed challenges to interoperability among radio operators. However, the provincial government has taken significant steps by establishing five radio repeaters, one in each district, complementing the existing repeater on Mt. Ca±apasan in San Enrique town. This network is crucial for maintaining communication when commercial telecommunication services are unavailable.

The four-day seminar provided participants with training on creating improvised antennas to ensure continuous communication. Baldonado highlighted that the seminar allowed the operators to connect personally, potentially speeding up communication during disasters.

Additionally, three or four months ago, the PDRRMO equipped 43 local government units with base radios, facilitating immediate communication from the ground to the PDRRMO operations center. This enhancement aids in the consolidation and submission of reports to the Office of the Civil Defense and the Office of the Governor.