Two-day training covers new communication tools now integrated into the Unified 911 emergency response system
Super El Niño is here, according to the release. It has crossed this October and will reach its peak in December, after which the country will experience a long dry period, extreme heat and lack of rainfall.
From January to March, the crisis is expected to worsen significantly, with approximately 79 provinces projected to experience full-blown drought. Critical water shortages and severe agricultural damage will follow. The situation will only be eased in the second half of the year with the onset of the monsoon season. Meanwhile, the public is advised to prepare for water shortages, skyrocketing food prices, power outages, higher bills and severe health risks.
TRAINING FOR THE EL NIÑO CRISIS
To prepare, the Bureau of Fire Protection-NCR (BFP-NCR) held a two-day training at the Somerset Hotel in Makati City on the operational use of state-of-the-art communication tools. The NEXiS Command and Unified Platform for Communications and Dispatch (UPCAD), along with push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) devices, have been integrated into the Unified 911 emergency response system.
Under the leadership of BFP-NCR Regional Director FCSupt. Roy Roderick P. Aguto, the regional division initiated the training to strengthen its emergency communication and command-and-control skills. The preparations cover potential El Niño-related emergencies in the upcoming ASEAN 2026 Leaders’ Summit.
Staff from the Regional Operations Division (ROD) and the Fire Communication Operations Section, including dispatchers and operational responders, learned how to use the tools. These are intended to help BFP and other emergency response units respond quickly to fire and other emergencies during the El Niño crisis and beyond.
WHAT THE PUSH-TO-TALK DEVICES DO
The training highlights PoC functions such as group communication, live broadcasting, transmission of photos and videos, and real-time geolocation monitoring. The geolocation feature lets dispatchers find the nearest responders to an incident. Because photos and videos can be sent through the device, command centers can monitor field units, share incident information and coordinate the response more efficiently.
FSupt. Elaine Baylon-Evangelista, head of the Regional Operations Division, said that the initiative is not only about introducing new equipment, but about strengthening operational discipline in the region.
“Radio communication should be a fundamental part of our firefighting operations, not just an option. Incident commanders need timely updates, dispatchers need accurate information, and responding personnel must maintain communication with each other. We strengthen our ability to coordinate resources, manage information and maintain effective command and control during emergencies,” said Baylon-Evangelista.
FIXING THE LIMITS OF OLD RADIOS
According to Chief Fire Inspector Ely D. Timuat II, the PoC devices will solve one of the primary problems with the old radios. These rely on radio wave frequencies that limit their reach within certain neighborhoods and create dead spots.
Wide areas in provinces or islands that do not have radio frequencies, or places where Internet and radio signals are down, benefit from the advanced features of UPCAD (NEXiS Command). The units were already used and tested during the earthquakes in Mindanao.
Timuat said the NEXiS command was valuable during El Niño for several reasons:
- Quick fire response: Its GPS tracking can pinpoint the exact location of spreading grass or house fires, so firefighters can be immediately mobilized to keep neighborhoods safe.
- Medical emergencies: Victims of heatstroke, severe dehydration, or cardiovascular distress can be attended to quickly because emergency calls made through Unified 911 bypass the need to search for specific hospital lines.
- Local Relief: Because the emergency communication system is connected to all the local government units (LGUs), city or municipal services can quickly respond to water or heat emergencies and distribute local relief.
NGA 911 ON TECHNOLOGY
NGA 911, the public safety technology provider associated with the devices, also discussed technical features to improve communication and information sharing between emergency personnel.
“The handheld devices work over 4G and 5G cellular networks, helping operators stay connected even in areas with varying signal strengths. They have intelligent noise suppression features that improve audio clarity, which is crucial during storms, fires and other noisy environments. Emergencies to take priority over low-priority concerns,” said Robert Llaguno, NGA 911 country manager.
The Unified Platform for Communications and Dispatch, through NEXiS Command, is part of the NGA 911 NEXiS Suite, which supports a more integrated approach to emergency communications. Public safety agencies will gain stronger connectivity, situational awareness, and coordination from dispatch to on-the-ground response.
“Those features are important during large-scale emergencies like those predicted during Super El Niño,” said Llaguno.
The technology is being used in emergency operations in the US and Europe, including during the recent riots in France.