ICT project to boost Bogo’s disaster response capability

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/07/12/1476076/ict-project-boost-bogos-disaster-response-capability
• Sunday, July 12, 2015 12:00 am

By Gregg M. Rubio/ FPL (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The City of Bogo is strengthening its disaster response and preparedness by integrating Information and Communication Technology capabilities and solutions.

The Bogo City-wide WiFi Project is a pioneering project of the city government that aims to deploy a full Internet Protocol network across the city.

The new ICT infrastructure will connect all government facilities in Bogo thereby creating an information highway that caters the city’s voice, video and data requirements.

Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez believes that integrating ICT capabilities and solutions through the implementation of WiFi project will greatly enhance the city’s productivity and efficiency in delivering public services.

City IT officer Roger Toñacao said giving free Internet in public places is just a fraction of what the project can do for Bogo and to the Bogohanon.

“The VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephony services will supplement the commercial Telco’s during disaster response and emergency situations. It can even run independently allowing responders and decision-makers to communicate via VOIP phones,” Toñacao said.

To date, the project has already connected nine government facilities across the city, including the New City Hall, Polambato Port, Bogo Sports Complex, Market Administration Building, Bus Terminal, City Health Office, Bogo Public Library and the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy.

During the presentation last week, City Administrator Antonieto Suico, Human Resources Management Offi-cer Slavsky Ybanez, City Tourism Officer Joy Tan, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Ben Frederick Rodriguez and Councilor Jose Brainard Mayol participated in the demonstration of the voice, video and data capabilities of the project system.

Tan, who is also the designated City Information Officer, said they are working on a P4 million budget for the VOIP system through their IT Department.

To test the new VOIP Hotline service, the city officials encourage the public to call 032-2605183 for comments and suggestions.