They are expected to keep their constituents safe, prevent loss of life, and lessen economic casualties amidst earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, drought and extreme heat, LGUs depend on communications to quickly coordinate and collaborate.

These days, digitization, not only communications, possess a greater potential to change the way LGUs handle the aftermath of a disaster, according to technology provider Cisco Philippines.

“The way we address emergencies has benefited from technology’s development to help save lives when disaster strikes, like we’ve seen in the use of social media to help disseminate critical information during calamities,” Karrie Ilagan, Cisco Philippines Managing Director emphasized.

When super typhoon Yolanda hit in 2013, Cisco deployed its disaster response team, TacOps.

TacOps experienced and learned from the critical challenges on coordination, communication, and collaboration during the typhoon. The lessons allowed the IT giant to develop the Rapid Response Kit (RRK), a portable and easy-to-use network and device designed to be the first line of communication for first responders. The RRK’s first deployment was in 2014 and has since been used in many disaster and crisis situations all over the world.

“Technology’s potential can now be further harnessed to help shift reactive disaster response to one anchored on prevention through the creation of a more robust disaster plan, before it’s too late,” Ilagan said.

Years later and with disaster mitigation still high on the agenda, Cisco has put together a new solution that can aid all four stages of the country’s disaster risk reduction and mitigation plan.

“In 2013 and the years that followed, we focused on communication technology that could help expedite response to and recovery from disasters. While these are important stages on disaster management, Cisco is shifting its focus to developing a solution that will help LGUs to be more proactive, addressing challenges before disaster strikes, saving more lives and preserving the economy through prevention and mitigation as well as preparedness,” Ilagan pointed out.

Cisco’s PH developed Konektado, a solution specifically for disaster-prone LGUs chronically exposed to risks due to natural calamities.

Konektado has several disaster-resilient components that allows for faster communication and collaboration between LGUs. The all-in-one connectivity, communications, and collaboration solution can be used to establish or strengthen connections between these high-risk LGUs and their respective municipalities, as well as with national government bodies that oversee disaster preparation and response.

“Cisco Konektado was built with components that are easy to scale as Cisco’s experience during Yolanda underlined mobility was key when it came to disaster response. It is capable of establishing a reliable network that can aid tactical deployments for immediate disaster response with little to no downtime,” Ilagan said explaining how the system allows stakeholders all over the country to communicate via video even in areas where communication infrastructure may be lacking or has yet to be developed.

Through its “video in a box” functionalities, risk-prone LGUs can facilitate training and shorten critical meetings with their stakeholders by video conferencing. This also quickens strategic planning sessions by improving information sharing between parties for intel-gathering and up-to-the-minute updates. Another important component of the solution is its capability to establish networks when infrastructure is down–a vital necessity during calamities in disaster-stricken municipalities.

“Each high-functioning component of the solution is made to be easily installed, programmed, and used by non-technical people, eliminating the need for dedicated specialists and cutting down time for staging and deployment when action is crucial. And outside of disaster response, the suite can help increase productivity in any municipality’s day to day business as well,” Ilagan concluded.

CLOSING the gap in the mid-range smartphone range, Xiaomi recently launched the Mi A3.

The new smartphone boasts of a 48MP ultra-wide triple camera setup, a stunning AMOLED display fitted with the most advanced in-screen fingerprint sensor in the market. Priced at P11,990 it is effectively one of the most affordable smartphones in the market now.

“We look forward to expanding our Android One series in the Philippines with the introduction of the Mi A3. It enables Filipinos to enjoy an amazing Android experience on a sleek Xiaomi smartphone,” Steven Shi, Head of Southeast Asia, Xiaomi said.

On the front, Mi A3 uses a 32MP AI-equipped sensor for its selfie camera which merges four pixels to form large 1.6μm pixels. This allows it to capture more detail in low-light conditions. The unique panorama selfie feature can capture stunning group images without having to switch to the rear camera, use a selfie stick or cut people out.

The palm shutter feature eliminates the possibility of camera shake from pressing the shutter button by adding a simple gesture to start a countdown towards the perfect selfie.

What is more impressive however is the Sony 48MP rear camera that features a 6-piece lens and an aperture size of f/1.79. There is a 118-degree ultra-wide angle lens to correct distortions. This particular set up puts it at par with the more expensive camera phones in the market.

Featuring a large 6.088” AMOLED Dot Drop display, Mi A3 offers more vivid colors and deeper blacks with blazing fast response and enhanced power efficiency.

For a more secure user experience, it has 3 features an improved in-screen fingerprint sensor with a 15 percent increased fingerprint detection area. Compared to its predecessor, the sensor pixels and size has been doubled, allowing for an increased reliability and a 30 percent increased unlock success rate in extreme conditions — from dry fingers to strong light and ultra-low temperatures.

Mi A3 is powered by Android One and runs on the latest Android 9 Pie operating system out of the box. Users can enjoy the latest Google innovation and stay productive with the Google Assistant, Digital Wellbeing Dashboard and Wind Down.

With Google Assistant on Mi A3 you can get things done and stay on top of your plans while on-the-go, in the car or at home – using just your voice. You can ask questions, pull up your schedule, navigate places, set reminders, call, text and control connected smart home devices, hands free.

“We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Xiaomi to add another great device to the Android One portfolio this year. The all-new Mi A3 will deliver a software experience that is up-to-date and easy to use, with built-in malware protection and regular security updates that keep users safe,” Jon Gold, Director of Partner Programs, Google said.

Tech enthusiasts will be pleased to find impressive new design upgrades in Mi A3 that enhance the overall look and user experience. With a weight and thickness of 173.8g and 8.475mm respectively, the device’s compact size gives it a leg up for multi-taskers seeking single-hand operation.

Mi A3’s front display and curved back is covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 5, offering a durable yet comfortable experience. It uses a cutting-edge front audio system and a 3.5mm jack.

It has a massive 4030mAh battery–and the Mi A series’ largest power capacity to-date. By pairing extended battery life with the efficiencies of Android One it is more reliable and provides extended utilization for users on the go. And when it’s time to recharge, the device offers up to 18W fast charging via USB Type-C.

It is one of the very first devices powered by Qualcomm SnapdragonTM 665 Mobile Platform, Mi A3 also boasts smoother performance, faster speed, and improved AI capabilities for those taking advantage of features like AI Beautify and Google Lens.

The Mi A3 4GB+128GB will come in three colors- Kind of Grey, Not just Blue, and More than White. Sales will start on September 9 via Lazada and Shopee, and will soon roll out at Mi Authorized Stores.