MOU with PHIVOLCS for GPS network project in Oro seen

The 19th City Council during its regular session Monday presided over by Councilor Edna M. Dahino enacted an ordinance authorizing Mayor Oscar S. Moreno to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) covering the parties’ collaboration in the implementation of PHIVOLCS Global Positioning System (GPS) Network Project in the City of Cagayan de Oro.

Pursuant to EO No. 128, s. 1987 and as a service institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), PHIVOLCS is mandated to generate sufficient data for forecasting earthquakes.

The program will further strengthen the linkage between the national government and the city government in the area of disaster risk reduction management with the installation of the GPS Network data receiver. The said gadget has been installed already in the new legislative building and is now operational providing prompt information on earthquakes, The Gavel learned.

Under the MOU, PHIVOLCS shall provide the city with reports and other relevant information related to the continuous GPS receiver installed in the city and shall immediately respond to problems arising from the functioning of the GPS equipment, as reported by the city.

For its part, the city shall allow PHIVOLCS to install a GPS receiver in the premises of the building owned by the city, ensure the safety and security of the GPS equipment at all times and shall inform PHIVOLCS shall inform immediately any problem related to the equipment.

Finally, as a joint role and responsibility, both parties shall not move the equipment to another place unless agreed upon.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction and on laws and rules, respectively chaired by Councilors Teodulfo E. Lao, Jr. and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya.