Smart Communications is weighing in on tapping media outlets for disaster prevention, real-time updates on response and efforts on recovery and resiliency.
In a press briefing, Jose Rosete, Smart Assistant Vice President and head of Government Relations, said that local media with online presence can contribute to information dissemination before, during and after natural disasters.
“One of the things we are pushing to the national government is to involve media as part of the process in the (issuance of) warning in coordination with concerned agencies,” he said.
Rosete said that the plan will now include media’s role in the alert systems and “not just reporting of disaster as they happen”.
He cited the current state of disaster monitoring and management systems in Pampanga where media can play a vital role.
“Pampanga media can offer to the provincial government as the media cluster in the early warning process,” Rosete added.
SMART has offered to connect media to experts in various subject matters towards their participation in disaster prevention.
Once media is officially tapped, Pampanga would be the first to have a media partner in active pre-disaster alert and warning systems.
