ARLA/CLUSTER: Grande esforço dos radioamadores filipinos no auxilio às vitimas de tufão Hagupit

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Great efforts by Philippine hams

The emergency communications provided by hams continues as the
devastating Typhoon Hagupit (locally called Ruby) moves slowly across
the Philippines.

Thelma Pascua DU1IVT, Philippines Amateur Radio Society (PARA) Chief
Operating Officer reports that both 7.095 MHz and 144.740 MHz is in
use by the Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) network.

"As Typhoon Hagupit enters its third day ham operators continue to
provide essential traffic as the storm progresses through Philippine
territory," she said.

PARA, the IARU member society, has sent requests to the neighbouring
ORARI in Indonesia, and JARL in Japan, asking for help to publicise
the need for all operators to steer clear of the 40 metre frequency
used for emergency traffic.

Thelma DU1IVT said, "A HERO volunteer and RADNET-5 President Ronald
Madera DW5NLH from Tacloban advised that the Oras West Elementary
School used as evacuation centre in Eastern Samar has collapsed,
resulting in injuries to evacuees. A rescue team was despatched and
this event was to be covered by a news team."

At the height of the typhoon there were no HERO volunteers in the
provincial capital of Borongan. That shortage resulted in a HERO
request via Captain Rick Catungal DV6RCC, an Army Captain managing
disaster communications in Capiz, and through the Philippine National
Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Metro Manilla.

Gil Lappay 4F2KWT helped in providing contacts with a relay of
messages were needed until the request was received.

Confidence that the HERO network could adequately handle all emergency
traffic was shown by around 150 stations that checked in.

As the typhoon was on the move, hams reported the weather and any
other developments into the emergency net.

The net controllers are Romy Isidro DU1SMQ (PARA District 1 Manager),
Jojo Vicencio, DU1VHY (PARA Secretary General and National Traffic
System Chairman) and Thelma Pascua DU1IVT (PARA Chief Operating
Officer).

The HERO network running basically from 7am and 7pm has 2pm roll calls
to know each station's reception capabilities at differing
propagation.

"We are confident that emergency traffic will be adequately serviced," she said.

At the request of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC),
radio amateurs set up at the NTC Central Office that identifies as
DX1NTC.

The task of manning the station is given to PARA affiliate club ACER (DX1ER).

The initial operators include Raul DU1VFS, Mike, DW1VJD and a good CW
operator, Conrad, DU1TDG.

Helping to keep that team in action with provisions and logistics are
Nards DU1LC, Joe, DU1IL and other ACER members.

The NTC regional offices have also set up stations. From NTC Region 3
Alex DU3AL, Bong DU3BS, Ka Diego DU3DYG; Region 6 assisted by the
Panay Amateur Radio Club and PARA District 6 Manager Ned DU6NE with
the constant monitoring of Bobby DU6BG.

Other stations were reporting local conditions. Nanding DW5OCF on
Ormoc City, Southern Leyte; Jay DV7JAY, Sidney DW7EEE and DW7EQN on
Cebu; Art DV7DRG at Dumaguete City with the rest of NORAD 7 members;
embedded members in the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) Operations Centre (OpCen), Edmund DV7DTE, Ivan DV7DRP reporting
wind conditions in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental - all the way to the
Bicol area with DX4CN embedded in the Daet Camarines Norte National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reporting
efforts with Lito DU4DF in Naga City.

Ditoy, DW1OZR is reporting from Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, on the
evacuation efforts in a precautionary measure, prior to the typhoon
making landfall in Mindoro.

The typhoon is expected to make a six (6) landfalls before it
eventually exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

ACCESS-5 members 4Nelson, DW5MGB and Edgar DV5EST will be going to
Borongan Eastern Samar to set up HF communications on 7.095 MHz and
VHF. Mario 4F5MM and Jerick 4F5JMS will be going to Catarman, Northern
Samar as part of the assessment team from the Office of Civil Defence.

Nathan DU5AOK was able to talk to Mayor Mabalcon of Paranas, Samar
earlier in the day and the Mayor said "the presence of many volunteers
is very encouraging".

Lester DV5PO is reporting about Borongan, Eastern Samar. His report
will be vital to those awaiting his assessment of the aftermath in his
area.

Other hams are embedded in the different disaster and risk reduction
operations centres in the different local government units.

Iver DV6ILA and Arnel DV6WAV are manning the Roxas City operations
centre. ACCESS-5 is attached with the Office of Civil Defence, Leyte
Province. Vie DU5VIE of RADNET-5 at the Tacloban City CDRRMC
operations center. Ton, DW1QGG is embedded as operator with the
Marinduque authorities. Dulce, DU4UW is attached to disaster
communications at the Sorsogon on the Bicol Peninsula at southern tip
of Luzon.

Jim Linton VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.