27/09/2026
๐ช๐ฉ๐ฆ๐จ-๐๐๐๐ง, ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฎ ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ข๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ง๐ฐ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐
ZARRAGA, ILOILO โ On September 9, 2026, the West Visayas State UniversityโCollege of Information and Communications Technology (WVSU-CICT) met with representatives of the Municipal Government of Zarraga, Iloilo, to lay the groundwork for the continued implementation of the ICT4D โ ICT for Data-Driven Decisions on Disasters extension initiative.
Representing the Municipal Government of Zarraga were Hon. Mayor Jeffrey Silveo and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) team led by Architect Alberto Gimay. The WVSU-CICT delegation was led by Dr. Ma. Beth S. Concepcion, Dean of CICT, together with Dr. Regin Cabacas, Chair of the Department of Information Systems and ICT4D Project Leader; Dr. Ralph Voltaire Dayot, Chair of the Division of Computer Science; and Dr. Nikie Jo De Ocampo, College Extension Coordinator.
The preliminary meeting provided an opportunity for the University and the local government to align the projectโs technical direction with Zarragaโs disaster risk reduction and management priorities. Discussions focused on the municipalityโs information management needs, existing data collection and reporting processes, and opportunities to strengthen communication and information flow between barangay-level responders and the MDRRMO.
The engagement also emphasized the importance of developing solutions that respond to actual local workflows and operational requirements. The WVSU-CICT team discussed possible ICT-enabled approaches for improving disaster-related data collection, consolidation, reporting, and visualization, while the MDRRMO team provided insights into the municipalityโs current practices and needs.
Following the meeting, the joint team conducted an ocular inspection of selected locations in Zarraga to assess the local environment and operational requirements for the proposed technology solutions. The site assessment provided the project team with a better understanding of the community and infrastructure context where digital data collection tools, automated reporting mechanisms, and visualization platforms may eventually be deployed.
This engagement marked an important step in the continuing collaboration between WVSU-CICT and the Municipal Government of Zarraga under the ICT4D initiative. The collaboration seeks to combine the Collegeโs expertise in ICT, information systems, and research with the local governmentโs knowledge of community and disaster management needs.
Through this continuing partnership, WVSU-CICT and the Zarraga LGU aim to translate ICT research and expertise into practical, community-responsive solutions that can strengthen data-informed decision-making and contribute to more effective disaster preparedness and response at the local level.