CatSU ties up with Help.NGO for 2-day training on drone operations, giving bird’s eye view on disaster response
StudentsThe Catanduanes State University (CatSU) partners with
Help.NGO, an international organization specialized in emergency response and
preparedness, convened employees from local government units, national
agencies, and academe for a two-day training, exploring the operations of
unmanned aerial systems.
Philippines Innovation and IT Director of Help.NGO Matthew Cua, explained on the first day, January 25, the fundamentals of drone operations, enumerated the different types of drones, and demonstrated on how to use the unmanned aircrafts.
He also underscored the technology's important role in disaster response and preparedness.
"Drones can assess and identify high risk areas, document damaged infrastructure in post-disaster situations, and even spot safe sites and evacuation routes," he exclaimed.
With the drone mapping, he added that it encourages locals to build safer and more sustainable locations.
Apart from disaster response, drones are also a tool in assessing the health of crops according to Director Cua.
Present also in the activity was Help.NGO’s Philippines Expert on Mission Jose Felix, together with Poland Communications Director Agata Klat and Provincial Administrator Eulalia Talaran who represented Gov. Joseph C. Cua, as well as other CatSU officials.
Prior to this, the team had already met CatSU President Dr. Patrick Alain Azanza who expressed his delight and gratitude on the said partnership. He further emphasized the significance of disaster management projects that the partnership could bring in realizing the goal of making the institution a National Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management.
The two-day training, in collaboration with ACE-HEMS through
Professor Dr. Jimmy T. Masagca, and Abaca Technology Innovation Center led by
its director, Assistant Professor Abelisa Evangelista, will run from January
25-26.
