THE first Disaster Response Monitoring and Information Center (Dromic) Summit 2019 was conducted to strengthen the disaster information management system of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites Tuesday, April 9.

The event was attended by Dromic focal persons across all DSWD regional offices whose responsibility focuses on information-sharing, team formation, enhanced coordination and standardization of operational procedures. It was likewise participated by the Dromic Central (Cos) and Field Offices (FOs) personnel, DRMD Heads and representatives from other cluster members and private agencies.

DSWD Undersecretary Felicismo C. Budiongan, during a press conference Tuesday, cited the importance of the Dromic, which is the center where they collate all the necessary information during a disaster for dissemination to the different end users.

It is a division of Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) led by Bureau Director Rodolfo Encabo, which focuses on the management of disaster response information management of disaster response information and emergency operations center of DSWD.

The activity also seeks to highlight the “need [for] a refined system in information management becomes an increasing concern due to the rapid change in weather patterns. Thus, Dromic must consistently enhance its practices, improve its technological capabilities, and strengthen the connection between CO and FOs to effectively deliver quality disaster reports amid stronger hazards and disaster events.”

“This year’s Summit specifically aims to improve Dromic’s disaster information management system by focusing on the technical knowledge and skills, increase goodwill investment among the Dromic staff which will lead to enhance coordination during disaster operations,” he added.

The summit also tackled DRRM-related information, cascading of CO technologies to FOs, and sharing of information management best practices.

To further expand the reach of Dromic in information management, the event will also be visited by telecommunication companies to display and share their respective ICT capabilities.