A disaster preparedness online application in La Trinidad, Benguet named “Esaganak” can now be downloaded online.
Esaganak aims to prevent or mitigate disasters by being the town’s source of information on disaster risk reduction management (DRMM) programs. It includes hazard maps, evacuation sites, Go Bag contents, emergency contact numbers, and other needed documents
According to a report, Japanese volunteer Ryunosuke Ichikawa started the development of the disaster preparedness application in 2018 for the residents of the town.
It was officially released on January 24 and was updated on February 12. Approximately 100 residents have already downloaded the application as of March.
Ichikawa said that it is easy to get data for hazard mapping in Japan because the government publishes the data on their websites.
He added that he made a hazard map designed to distribute to schools in La Trinidad and can be kept at home.
“It indicates locations of evacuation shelters in the town,” he added.
The residents can send their evacuated location, safety status to La Trinidad MDRRMO during an emergency.
