Smart: How NDRRMC Mobile Disaster Alerts are sent to the public?

In case of disasters such as typhoon Ompong, How mobile alerts from government agencies such as NDRRMC are sent to the public? Here's the statement from Smart.

NDRRMC

According to Smart, only government agencies like the NDRRMC are authorized to issue alerts to prepare people for impending disasters. The role of Smart is to deliver those type of alerts to their customers via text messaging (SMS) and emergency cell broadcast services (CB).

Smart

Cell broadcast is a technology which allows messages of up to 93 characters to be broadcast to all mobile handsets within a designated geographical area. Broadcast range can be varied from single cell to the entire network.

It could be used to send local weather updates and more.

For typhoon Ompong, the instructions from NDRRMC is to send out three alerts to customers in specific areas identified by the disaster agencies. First is to the provinces of Aurora, Cagayan, and Isabela. Second is to Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino. Third is to Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, and Zambales.

Aside from other media such as TV, radio, print and also social media, mobile messaging is an important communication channel to alert the public in times of pending or ongoing disasters.

The emergency alerts are vital in helping citizens prepare for disasters.

Smart stated that they will continue to work closely with the government disaster agencies to make the process as effective as possible.

Stay safe guys!