GeoPindot, a mobile phone application created by the DOST-University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao-supported startup OBXS IT Solutions, went through a pilot testing and simulation exercise in the Municipality of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, on 06-08 April 2021.
Cantilan Municipal Administrator Vincent Duenas led the barangay officials and Barangay Disaster Response Team in the testing supervised by OBXS IT Solutions. Personnel of the Cantilan Emergency Operations Center, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Coast Guard also participated.
GeoPindot is an offline mobile application that allows citizens to seek emergency help or report a situation to a local government’s emergency (LGU) response unit. The citizens’ emergency notifications are transmitted speedily to the GeoPindot command center component installed in the LGU facility computer. The geolocator feature enables the LGU to instantaneously trace the citizen’s location for the prompt dispatch of an appropriate response team to save a life, lessen a calamity, or prevent a disaster.
The app can also help Cantilan fisherfolk send emergency messages to the Philippine Coast Guard when needed. The police and the Bureau of Fire Protection can use it to improve their peace-keeping and fire incident responses, respectively.
The pilot testing served as the final stage for the LGU in seeing the effectiveness of GeoPindot for citizens’ incident reporting and the LGU’s emergency response. The Cantilan Emergency Operations Center will use GeoPindot for six months under the observation and documentation of OBXS IT Solutions.
“With high hopes, we expect to improve and strengthen our response to fire, crime, and natural calamities with GeoPindot. We are hopeful that we could save more property and lives using this technology with the cooperation of our citizens to use the app for reporting and also our response team to work efficiently,” said Cantilan Municipal Administrator Vincent Duenas.
“In LGU Cantilan, we do our best to leverage technologies like GeoPindot to bring efficient and effective public services to our people,” Duenas added.
Ms. Lynda Buenaobra, OIC of the UP Mindanao Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO), thanked the Cantilan LGU for being the testing site of GeoPindot and providing support to the team.
“Not all LGUs are open to changes and innovation, but Cantilan is different. You’ve shown dedication and support for innovation in your governance,” Buenobra said.
OBXS IT Solutions, creator of GeoPindot, is founded by Arnel Arreglado, Necta Fewee Arreglado, and Jolito Rico, all of whom recently completed the DOST-supported UP Mindanao Growing and Developing Enterprises (UPGRADE) Cohort 1 incubation program. As one of the DOST-funded incubator beneficiaries, the OBXS team thanked the government’s support for local talents to build, launch, and accelerate business ideas from zero to one.
Pending the result of the testing, OBXS already registered its company as a business entity and is currently processing the requirements for its PhilGEPs registration in order to serve government clients. The UPGRADE team expressed hopes that more LGUs will be interested in acquiring the GeoPindot application to improve governance in their respective constituencies.
