ROGER Round-up: What's up with Flip and Manabayukan Site Visit

I am often asked this specific question:

Flip! Balita? musta na?!

Well, after I got my Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (yey!), I endeavored myself into a string of DOST-funded UP-implemented projects, the latest of which is dubbed ROGER.

ROGER aims to develop, test, and deploy a reliable communications platform that will enable efficient communications between emergency responders in times of disaster. Basically, it is a system that will be rapidly deployed AFTER a disaster, when power and commercial GSM lines are down. ROGER will link a disaster-stricken area to a command center to expedite the rescue and disaster response efforts. Once power and communication lines are restored, ROGER will then be dismantled.

The project is working with parallel timelines - developing setup protocols and user-case scenarios at homebase EEE, and looking out for pilot test sites out in the field. Joining me in this journey is a formidable team composed of young and energetic engineers; namely, Ronel, Mia, Thessa, Giselle, and IZ.

One of the sites that we visited is Sitio Manabayukan in Capas, Tarlac. It is an isolated Aeta community of around 100 households. It has been a beneficiary site for an earlier project, CloudTop. 

Meeting with the Captain of Brgy. O' Donnell. L to R: Ronel, Kap, Flip, Ate G, Mia

Alta posse at Capas Municipal Hall

First official group picture of the ROGER deployment team (minus IZ)

To better assess how the system will be deployed, we headed out for Manabayukan. To get there, we have to rent a 4x4 to conquer the terrain. We were all smiles at first, but as the ride got nasty, expletives are thrown all over the place.

All smiles before the bumpy ride

Smiles starting to fade

But at the sight of this view, all our pain started to vanish.

After spectrum analysis, its selfie time!

The site visit got me thinking of other isolated communities in the Philippines, where access to social services is poor. I hope that in the future, we can help empower these communities through technology. For me, this is what a UP-educated engineer should strive for.