Twenty portable satellite communication kits were donated to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) by DFNN, Inc. in a turnover ceremony presided over by National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chairperson and Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr, today, August 14, 2023, in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The donated equipment, SpaceX Starlink kits, will support the emergency communications capability of the NDRRMC using the latest satellite technology capable of operating in rural and remote areas.
The said kits are low maintenance devices with low operational cost, easily deployable due to their mobility and portability design and can be operated by a single person. The Starlink kits can deliver high-speed internet to support virtual conferences, video calls, among others.
Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, during the turnover, highlighted the importance of a reliable and resilient communication system as a critical component of humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.
“We welcome this donation as another boost in our effort to strengthen the communications capability of OCD, our counterpart DRRM councils and local governments using redundant communication systems across the archipelago.” Usec. Nepomuceno said.
The turnover of the donated emergency communications equipment was witnessed by Sec. Teodoro, Usec. Nepomuceno, OCD officials as well as the officers of DFNN, Inc. A demonstration of the equipment capability was also done by the joint team of OCD’s Information and Communications Technology Division and the DFNN Inc.’s technical staff.
In his message for the turnover, Secretary Teodoro explained President Marcos Jr.’s push for a vigorous effort to make the country’s disaster response system a more robust component of the national DRRM endeavor, able to ensure speedy, appropriate, and adequate response in times of emergency.
“We thank Mr. Garcia and our friends from DFNN for this generous gesture of solidarity to our cause to strengthen our ability to prepare and respond to disasters.” Sec. Teodoro said.
Meanwhile, DFNN, Inc. Executive Chairman, Mr. Ramon C. Garcia, Jr., reiterated their organization’s commitment to support the continuous strengthening of the Philippines’ disaster management system.
“By providing Starlink connectivity to critical government functions, particularly in disaster risk reduction, we are taking a step toward the future where communication is never compromised, even in the face of nature’s most challenging moments.” Mr. Garcia said.
“This aligns perfectly with the government’s vision of creating a leading digital infrastructure that is both sustainable and globally scalable. Our contribution to this noble cause is not just about technology; it’s about people, progress, and the resilience of our nation.” Mr. Garcia emphasized.
The donor organization, DFNN, Inc., is a publicly listed company on the Philippine Stock Exchange. It has operated as a leading I.T. solutions provider and systems integrator, enabling its clients to compete in an increasingly technology dependent environment since its establishment in 1999.
The OCD, the implementing arm and secretariat of the NDRRMC, also provides emergency communications support to disaster-stricken local government units and localities as part of its repertoire of emergency management functions.
