WITH the success of its initial tests, some residents in Barangay Agusan is hoping that this geolocation technology developed by a faculty of University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) will soon be applicable in massive scale and be given for the fisherfolks for free.
Kenneth Piloton, the barangay administrator, said that based on feedbacks, the said technology was useful by fishermen residing in their coastal communities. He has hoped that various government agencies could adopt the said technology so it can be availed for free.
“It is good it will be given for free for the fishermen, though I am not sure on its future monitoring (system) and its cost,” he said.
The geolocator technology, using a “Sub-1 GHz” network, was developed by Engineer Miriam Mejias, USTP faculty in the department of Computer Engineering. The technology, using a computer application, was her thesis in her Master’s degree in Computer Applications at the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology.
Fisherfolks in Barangay Agusan agreed to participate in the study, and were given geolocators using android smartphones, so they can transmit signals and their locations in open waters.
Mejias made this application citing the need for fisherfolks to call immediate help should emergencies arise, citing in her study the tragedy of the missing fishermen in General Santos City that were lost at the middle of their fishing expeditions when tropical storm “Pablo” hit parts of Mindanao in 2012.
“Pinaagi sa akong study gusto nako matabangan ang mga mananagat na magkinaunsay mahitabo makita ra gihapon sila. Og pinaagi ani unta madali ra ang pagpangita nila og maabtan pa sila na safe or alive,” she said.
(Through this study, I could able to help the fishermen when whatever distress happened, they can still be found. And through this technology it would easier for rescuers to find them and hopefully they could reach them alive and safe)
Although in her study, it is found that most fishermen do not have Android smartphones, something that is posed as a challenge in applying the technology as of the moment. But who knows?
In the future, there will be an government inter-agency task force that would open its doors on how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) would reach to the grassroots in simple ways like adopting Engineer Mejias’ study. And instead of Android phones, simpler devices capable to make digital transmission can be innovated.
This inter-agency task force, that can provide aid not only to fisherfolks but farmers and laborers as well, can be led by the newly created Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), unfortunately, the agency still needed more manpower to deliver its basic services to its optimal performance.
The challenge arose last week during the initial talks between officials of the DICT Regional Cluster 2 and state university, USTP. During these talks, many potential collaborations can be forged, to some extent that university faculty can help support the limited DICT workforce.
Clint Django Pacana, USTP's Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Affairs (Pama), emphasized the need for DICT's involvement and collaboration between the agency and the univeristy through a planned creation of an institution.
DICT, through Engineer Flordelis Cabaluna, DICT's chief of technical coordination and support division, said that most staff dispersed throughout the region often multi-task to meet the programs and service they needed to perform based on their objectives.
USTP and DICT previously forged a Memorandum of Understanding in relation to ICT literacy.
Several other projects and activities might take shape after the initial talks.
So far, USTP's IT department will have a cybersecurity course unit in the Bachelor of Science in IT program, this, as a result in previous engagements and sharing of knowledge with DICT.
Engineer Noel Rojo, shared that they are also in talks with the police cybercrime unit and have deployed interns to specialize in cybersecurity, this comes in a time when almost everyone is dependent in the internet and big businesses as well as important data are stored, and a minor leak from hackers could spell a social hysteria.
Meanwhile, Engineer Bronson Mabulay, USTP head of the Center of Entrepreneurship and Technology, submitted a proposal to DICT for another partnership that aims to link tertiary schools that offer ICT and Computer Engineering through technopreneurship and other allied fields.
The point of all this: making Science and Technology in general, and ICT in particular, become part of the daily staple of people in the community especially in the grassroots, as well as allow people in the academe to go out from their four-cornered walls and apply their knowledge and skills in the actual environments.
This should be the future framework of all universities, regardless of whatever fields it specializes, and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) should have adjusted their polices towards academe-industry structure, without going through so much bureaucracy that sometimes can hamper progress.
Every year, hundreds of thousands graduate in the field of ICT and allied programs, the government should consider expanding the importance of DICT’s role in the modern history of our country.
The Congress should therefore give more budget allocations for this agency so it can hire and retain top-brass technocrats and ICT experts.
And so that, in return, DICT can tap Engineer Mejias’ technology, that would later benefit the fisherfolks not only in Barangay Agusan, but also throughout the country. Other countries already have it a long time ago. (nefluczon@gmail.com)