PA sets up communication equipment in Estancia as alternative for northern Iloilo

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 7): PA sets up communication equipment in Estancia as alternative for northern Iloilo

The Philippine Army (PA) has set up its communication equipment in Estancia as an alternative in case all other facilities bogged down in northern Iloilo.

Colonel Eric Uchida, commander of the 301st Brigade of the Philippine Army, said in an interview Sunday morning, they have their radio and communication equipment in Estancia so that reports would not be derailed.

It could be recalled during super typhoon "Yolanda" last year, cell sites and telecommunication posts were toppled down that proved difficulty for local officials to send out request for food and other needs of their constituents. Handheld radio frequency was the only recourse then.

Uchida said their organized four disaster relief task groups have now been mobilized and in their assigned provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique.

”They are ready to provide assistance requested by the LGUs (local government units),” he said.

So far, he said there is still no major incident related to typhoon "Ruby" that has been monitored, but government troops are prepared to support the requirements in terms of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Per PAG-ASA Weather Bulletin, Northern Antique, Aklan, Semirara Group of islands, Capiz and Northern Iloilo are now under storm warning signal.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=713605