CatSU partners with int’l aid giant Help.NGO for cutting-edge resilience programs
LinkagesIn its quest to strengthen the public and private sector partnership to help resilient communities, Catanduanes State University (CatSU) officials led by University President Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza, welcomed the officials from Help.NGO, Monday, January 22, 2024.
The team, composed of Matthew Cua, Philippines Innovation and IT Director, and joined by Adam Marlatt, USA Operations Director, Agata Klat, Poland Communications Director, and Jose Felix, Philippines Expert on Mission, were welcomed by Executive Vice President Dr. Robert Barba, ATIC Director, Prof. Abelisa Evangelista, and Dr. Jimmy T. Masagca, CatSU’s seasoned professor and member of National Panel of Technical Experts of the Climate Change Commission.
Help.NGO, an International Non-Governmental Organization specializing in emergency response, preparedness, risk mitigation and prevention operates as a non-profit organization in the European Union and a UN Standby Partner with operations across the globe. The organization employs cutting-edge technological solutions and expertise to improve national and international disaster response mechanisms prior to, during, and after emergencies.
Having pioneered global training and resiliency initiatives, Help.NGO focuses on conducting impactful programs, including UAS (Unmanned Aerial System), LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Connectivity, and Cloud Computing training and capacity-building programs in various regions, spanning countries such as the European Union, Mexico, Haiti, Philippines, Colombia, Ethiopia, among others.
The University President expressed satisfaction with this international collaboration, expressing his gratitude to the organization.
“We are happy with the collaboration that we have with Help.NGO. We appreciate the efforts now that they are set to do training for our university along with our partner organizations,” Dr. Azanza shared.
In addition to training programs, Help.NGO also offers UAS and Cloud Computing support such as mapping and surveying mangrove forests, rehabilitation sites and nurseries as well as abaca plantations and nurseries throughout Catanduanes Island. The organization will offer a free one-year resource to process drone data into usable maps in the cloud, allowing CatSU to utilize its own UAS for various projects.
President Azanza highlighted the importance of disaster management projects for supporting the island's livelihood, emphasizing their role in achieving the institution's goal of becoming a National Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management
“Disaster management projects to
support the island’s livelihood are indeed necessary and significant in our
goal to make the institution a National Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management. We are
thankful and grateful for the opportunities like this that we get to be visited
by experts,” the president ended.
