The first Mindanao center for earthquake and tsunami monitoring has been revealed by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) to be housed at the Philippine Science High School (PSHS/Pisay) – Southern Mindanao Campus.
The PHIVOLCS Mindanao Cluster Monitoring Center for Earthquake and Tsunami (PMCMCET) in the Pisay Campus in Barangay Sto. Nino, Tugbok District, Davao City, is envisioned to be beneficial not only for monitoring activities but also serve as a facility for students’ education in the region.
The agency unveiled the PMCMCET last September 24, 2021, via a virtual presser.
DOST Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said that the center is set to further increase the protection capabilities of the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) in monitoring and warning in Mindanao.
PMCMCET aims to safeguard the continuity of operations in the event the key operations of the PHIVOLCS Data Receiving Center (DRC) in Quezon City get hampered by any disaster.
Similar to PHIVOLCS DRC, PMCMCET can generate and deliver reliable earthquake and tsunami information for both PHIVOLCS and the public.
With PMCMCET as the newest addition to the PSN, the Philippines now has 111 seismic stations, consisting of nine (9) staff-controlled seismic stations, 18 satellite-telemetered seismic stations, and 12 sea-level detection stations and tsunami alerting stations.
The agency eyes to have a total of 115 seismic stations by 2022.
Furthermore, Usec. Solidum thanked partner institutions for their support and contributions as the PMCMCET finally comes full circle this year.
“Ang kahandaan po sa sakuna ay hindi po puwedeng bawat isa lang po sa atin ang kikilos,” Usec. Solidum said, reiterating the agency and partner institutions’ mission to strengthen community resilience and disaster preparedness. He added that they must collaborate and build on each party’s efforts and expertise to ensure provision of right service to the people to bring forth safe and disaster-resilient citizenry especially in the region of Mindanao.
The Philippines’ earthquake-prone areas and natural hazards are mapped in the Phivolcs web tool.
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