Australian gov’t donates P55M to PDRF

The Australian government recently donated P55 million to the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) to help strengthen communications in several disaster vulnerable communities all over the country. The PDRF plans to focus on Butuan, Agusan del Norte, Virac, Catanduanes and Borongan, and Samar, which experience some of the worst floods and communications blackouts during disasters like typhoons. The grant is meant to help PDRF’s Project Resilient Emergency Communication for Enhanced Disaster Response (Reached), a two-year program that offers a solution to the recurring problem of establishing communications after a major disaster. Project Reached aims to provide select local governments with the necessary equipment and training to ensure access to communications during and after calamities and help coordinate response and recovery operations in affected areas. “Typhoon ‘Egay’s’ destructive swath through the northern Philippines is a reminder of how critical telecommunications are during a crisis. Our thanks to the Australian government for their support,” said Rene “Butch” Meily, president of PDRF. —Jacob Lazaro