Morong, Rizal is first LGU to use Next Generation 911 Emergency Communication System

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The citizens of Morong, Rizal will be the first beneficiaries in the country of the most advanced 911 emergency communication system available in the world. The Morong LGU signed an agreement today with NGA 911 (Next Generation Advanced 911) to provide it with the state-of-the-art, next generation emergency response system. NGA 911 Philippines is the local subsidiary of NGA, a multinational corporation headquartered in California, USA.

The new system will replace the 55-year old technology in use today so that Morong's ability to respond to fires, accidents, crimes, medical emergencies and other crises is super fast and accurate. The system will run despite challenges from strong typhoons, earthquakes or other calamities.

LGUs must prioritize public safety, emergency response, says Mayor.

Citizens of Morong, Rizal will now find it easy to call for help and expect instant response from their local government during disasters and other types of emergencies.

Mayor Sidney B. Soriano, Vice Mayor Jose Fred Feliciano, Jr., and other key municipal officials signed an agreement on April 24, 2023 with Next Generation Advanced 911 (NGA 911) that made Morong the first LGU to use advanced, next-generation digital technology for emergency communication and public safety services.

The second-class municipality with over 70,000 residents has assigned NGA - Philippines, a local subsidiary of NGA, a multinational corporation headquartered in California USA, to provide Morong with complete solutions that will enable the LGU to respond to emergencies, save lives and secure property in the fastest possible time.

Known globally as the innovator of the emergency calling technology, NGA is the leader in Next Generation 911 emergency communications. NGA provides an advanced emergency communications system that can provide faster and more accurate emergency responses to people in need. This system is critical in times of crisis, where time is of the essence, and accurate information can be the difference between life and death.

This technology is used in the United States, and it has proven to be a game-changer in emergency communications. The system uses internet protocol (IP) technology to transmit voice, text, and video messages between callers and emergency responders. It can also provide real-time data on the location and condition of callers, which can help first responders make more informed decisions in emergency situations. This is the only true cloud-based NG 9-1-1 solution operating on the Amazon Web Service (AWS) Cloud platform uses a robust and resilient Internet Protocol (IP) backbone that will replace the decades-old 911 infrastructure and turn emergency communication into Next Generation 911.

The digital-led system will enhance the LGU’s response capabilities with faster reaction time, accurate location tracking, consolidation of communication channels, call routing, collaboration and mapping and thus help save Morong residents’ lives,” said NGA Philippines Country Manager Robert Andrew Llaguno.

“Its IoT (internet of things) capabilities allows interaction beyond regular devices like smart phones, desktops and gadgets. It allows seamless integration with public safety technology and systems like CCTVs, two-way radio, and social media apps to provide front liners with valuable information, resulting to better situational awareness and quicker, more efficient response.”

Llaguno added that the system gathers information and stores everything in an unlimited fully-recorded environment complete with audit trail, dashboards, and logs. The data is secured by NGA 911’s international standards-compliant Next Generation and Cybersecurity capabilities and helps the LGU improve the speed and quality of its response.

Even the hearing-impaired can make efficient use of the system, Llaguno said. A Real Time Text (RTT) feature makes it easy for both callers and call receivers to report incidents, so those in danger need not do voice calls to report a crime, accident or emergency, making them feel safe and more secure in challenging situations.

While Morong, Rizal already has an Operations Center in place, the municipality’s current system will benefit from the advanced technology that will make coordination and response to emergencies at the soonest possible time.

“We are partnering with NGA 911 to equip our public safety officers with a system that will enable them to provide immediate emergency assistance and help us adapt to the ever-changing landscape of public safety. Quick response is valuable because the equivalent of every second can be life or death. Whether the emergency is medical, fire, crime or accident, we need to provide fast and effective response. The NGA 911 Call Handling System will let us respond faster and more efficiently. Finally, our constituents are going to get the peace of mind they deserve,” noted Mayor Soriano.

Mayor Soriano enjoined other LGUs to prioritize public safety and follow suit. “We set an example here today for other municipalities and cities to follow. Let’s prioritize public safety and invest in the future of our communities.”

“The implementation of NG911 technology in the Philippines could significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency response systems in the country. We are using Next Generation 911 Technology currently being implemented across the United States. With Mr. Soriano’s leadership and support, we are confident that we can make this a reality and provide better emergency services to the Filipinos.” said Ishka Villacisneros, Chief Financial Officer of NGA in the United States.

At the contract signing, Mr. Llaguno briefed guests on the features and interface of the groundbreaking technology and demonstrated how the system works and delivers on its promise.

For more information, visit facebook.com/nga911ph and nga911.ph.

UP embarks on pioneering study into ‘Rugby’ abuse

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Scientists from across the University of the Philippines (UP) are pioneering a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary study into the chemical, physical, and psychological impacts of solvent abuse on the country’s thousands of so-called “Rugby boys and girls.”

One of the research questions that UP scientists are trying to answer is if and how social behaviors in animals are affected by addiction to toluene, the key ingredient in “Rugby” contact cement. The researchers will then look at translating these findings to humans. (PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro)

Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models is a three-year research program spearheaded by the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH), the National Center for Mental Health, the UP College of Medicine, the UP Philippine General Hospital, and the UP Diliman College of Science Institute of Chemistry (UPD-CS IC). It is being supervised by internationally-renowned neurobehavioral scientist Dr. Gregory Quirk of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine.

“Attempts to treat toluene or ‘Rugby’ addiction have been largely unsuccessful due to severe withdrawal and craving symptoms that trigger relapse. What is needed to help adolescents overcome their addictions are new treatments that reduce toluene withdrawal and craving,” said program leader Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro of the UPM-NIH.

“Rodent models have been used to develop such pharmacological treatments for other addictive drugs, but no such model has been developed for toluene. This collaboration between scientists and clinicians hopes to address this societal problem using laboratory animals,” she added.

This research is being supported by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).

 

Origins of the nation’s thousands of ‘Rugby boys and girls’

The densely-populated urban streets of the Philippines are home and playground to as many as one million street children, many of whom are adolescents from the poorest families or even abandoned by parents. Left to fend for themselves, many turn to substance abuse to alleviate their hunger by inhaling toluene—an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent found in cheap and easily-obtainable contact cement, popularly sold under the “Rugby” brand name in local hardware stores.

Estimated to number in the thousands nationwide, these young people eventually develop a physiological addiction and resort to begging, scavenging, or stealing not only to quell their hunger but also to sustain their toluene addiction. Seeing groups of young boys—and girls!—running around the streets sniffing bags of glue has become so commonplace to the ordinary Filipino citizen, that the colloquial term “Rugby boys” is now a widely-used pejorative.

Substance abuse among street children is a long-standing societal issue that requires proper public health intervention. Acknowledging the need for local research to tackle inhalant abuse among adolescents will be very significant in providing recommendations and strengthening ongoing support systems, policies, and interventions.



Addressing social issues and sex differences

So where does science fit into this societal issue? This is exactly what this team of researchers hopes to achieve by developing the first Addiction Research Laboratory in the country, using animal models.

“In the years to come, it is our hope that the establishment of this Addiction Research Program will further open opportunities for research addressing the craving and withdrawal stages of addiction,” said UPD-CS IC’s Dr. Grace Gregorio, who is researching how toluene affects rats in an effort to understand the solvent’s effects on people.

She and her fellow researchers are also looking into sex differences in the effects of toluene exposure, which represents a novel approach that has never been done before. “I bring in my analytical chemistry expertise to this meaningful undertaking by measuring toluene levels in the blood of male and female rodents,” Dr. Gregorio said.

“There is much that we, as a society, don't know and understand about solvent abuse. One of our research specialists, Jariel Bacar, rightly points out that girls can be affected too—and in very different ways from boys. The project is looking into what these differences are,” she explained.



Developing tailored treatments for solvent-addicted adolescents

The first-ever model of its kind for toluene-based solvent addiction in the Philippines, this research is paving the way for new treatments for overcoming withdrawal and craving. The team hopes to translate their findings for use in human subjects as an attempt in addressing the pervasive drug addiction and chronic relapse in individuals. Such experimental treatments for toluene have not been deeply investigated anywhere else in the world, because inhalant abuse is not as rampant in more developed countries.

Now in its second year, the project has already completed its first two phases: identifying validated methods to quantify toluene in rodent blood and establishing the long-term effects of toluene after chronic exposure. Using validated methods, the team is investigating the effects of chronic exposure that last long after the drug has been stopped. These include increased craving for the drug, increased anxiety, and impaired social functioning, all of which increase the likelihood of relapse following treatment. Novel treatments will be tested to diminish these withdrawal symptoms and restore the brain to its pre-addiction state.

Ultimately, Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models aims to address one of the greatest challenges faced by today’s researchers: interweaving science into the fabric of a complex, busy, and highly diverse society to serve its well-intended purpose to the community that needs it the most. By the end of the project, the researchers hope to have developed tailored treatments for boys and girls who are addicted to toluene.

The research team behind the multidisciplinary research program, Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models. Top row (L-R): Ajina Carampel (MD-PhD Student), Richelle Manalo, Dr. Grace Gregorio (UPD-CS IC), Dr. Rohani C. Navarro (Program Leader), Dr. Gregory Quirk (Supervising Scientist), Jariel Bacar and Johanna Munar (Project Technical Specialists I). Bottom row (L-R): Joannes Luke Asis (MD-PhD Student), Noel Agrava (Lab Aide), Brett Castro (University Research Associate), Dr. Bryan Bulatao (Project Leader), Herbert Montalban (Lab Aide), and Arturo Bermejo III (Project Assistant). (PHOTO CREDIT: Ilona Janairo)

Free music lessons for aspiring keyboardists, composers, songwriters, and music lovers!

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In celebration of the 45th Anniversary of Concert at the Park, we invite everyone to spend the afternoon with us learning and appreciating the art of music making.

This PARKonversations Live! session titled "Crafting Your Signature Sound: Music Techniques for Composing and Songwriting" will be held at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium on 28 April 2023 (Friday), 2:30 p.m. Our guest speaker is Mr. Renor Sagun, Choirmaster and the Chair of the Music Center of the Immaculate Heart of Mary College, Inc. He took his bachelor’s degree from University of the East-Manila and has taught in various academic institutions throughout the years. In 2012, he created his own musical group, C Strings Music Ensemble (CSME).

No experience or instruments required to join this music workshop. But you may bring your own keyboards if you want to be mentored by Mr. Sagun himself! It only takes a visit in the park to learn something new about music! See you!

*Participants who will join the seminar and answer the evaluation form will receive a certificate.