Five of the 10 innovations from the Visayas group of island are from Eastern Visayas and are featured in the week-long “Tuklas” (discover) Innovation Labs held at the Oriental Hotel de Leyte.
Among the innovations displayed is the “Bakwit (evacuation) Kit” a
flat-packed evacuation kit made of plastic pipes for easy transportation and
set-up. The kit was designed by DesignNovators from the Philippine Institute of
Interior Designers-Eastern Visayas Chapter.
Heidrun Milan, one of the “Bakwit” Kit designers said on Wednesday
their innovation prototype was tested in the city’s Fatima Village, where
residents contributed ideas to upgrade the design.
Milan said the design came about after they held discussions on
their contribution to disaster response.
The “Bakwit” Kit fits all the evacuation essentials like soft
partition, sleeping mattress, dining set and storage shelving. It was also
designed in a way that children, women or even persons with disabilities can
easily assemble it.
“Evacuation center is within our scope as interior designers. Our
measurement in the ‘Bakwit’ Kit is a size of two plywood. We used this
measurement to lessen the wastage of plywood and everything can be stored
inside the boxes,” Milan explains.
The “Bakwit” Kit can fit a family of four, but it is expandable
for families with more members.
“We also would like to promote dignity, convenience and privacy
for the families. What we have in the evacuation centers are camp spaces
already, so we like to have comfort and convenience for the family.
That is very important, previously we already have issues on privacy and there was no demarcation between one family to another,” Milan said.
That is very important, previously we already have issues on privacy and there was no demarcation between one family to another,” Milan said.
Another innovation presented is the intelligent flood warning
monitoring system developed by TECH4DRRM (Technology for Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management) from Cebu City. It is a flood warning system that
uses sensors to send real-time alert.
The warning device works when the river water reaches critical
level. The system automatically broadcasts in local dialect to warn the
community of possible flooding in the area. This will allow the residents to
set priorities of securing their properties and livestock and evacuate their
family to safer place.
The developer of the software said that although they had received
assistance from “Tuklas”, the government should also provide the same to
encourage more innovators to create designs that could help communities in
disaster preparedness and response.
“Developing this kind of software needs support. We are thankful
that ‘Tuklas’ is here to help us. I hope that the government will come-up with
a program that will support innovators and inventors to showcase their talents,
although there is the Department of Science and Technology but the more
government agencies providing funds for the development of innovations and
invention will have a better result because they have good resources,” Jonathan
Cartilla, the technology developer.
“Tuklas”, which is an acronym for “Tungo sa Kahandaan ng
Pilipinas”, is a community-centered innovation project that aims to support
local solutions on disaster risk reduction and management. It was launched last
year and winners were selected from the 260 proposals from 17 regions in the
country.
The selected innovation will be provided with up to PHP1 million
in seed capital, training, and mentorship to test their disaster preparedness
innovations from March to November 2018.
“The selected proposals revolve in the four themes of Disaster
Risk Reduction and Mitigation which are preparedness, mitigation, response and
rehabilitation. So, in the innovations that were selected you can see food
security, water, shelter, sanitation and hygiene and self-protection,” said
Michael Anthony Cruz, “Tuklas” Project Manager. (RTA/PNA)
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