Marikina gifts officials with ‘agimat’

THE “AGIMAT” is a messaging beacon that allows large crowds to stay in touch for free without an Internet connection. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Thanks to the “agimat” distributed by the city government, Marikina’s barangay leaders and community workers can ensure that the city will be prepared for any disaster or emergency.

Through Project Agimat, a joint project of the Marikina government, Department of Science and Technology and Open Garden—the American firm behind the messaging app FireChat—the city’s local officials can communicate with each other even without Internet connection.

Val Barcinal, the city’s disaster management chief, told the Inquirer in a recent phone interview that Open Garden’s GreenStone —dubbed as agimat by the local government—were distributed last week to the officials of Marikina’s 16 barangays—Barangka, Calumpang, Concepcion Dos, Concepcion Uno, Fortune, Industrial Valley Complex, Jesus dela Peña, Malanday, Marikina Heights, Nangka, Parang, San Roque, Sta. Elena, Sto. Niño, Tañong and Tumana.

According to Open Garden’s website, the GreenStone is a “messaging beacon,” enabling free messaging anywhere without an Internet connection.

Through the FireChat mobile app which can be downloaded for free, large groups can communicate in real-time even when cellular networks are down by turning on the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in their phones.

The Marikina Public Information Office explained that the agimat “acts as a bridge and helps in bringing FireChat messages even for people 210 feet (64 meters) apart.”

According to Barcinal, the technology was essential especially in times of emergencies or calamities.

“It can be used to disseminate accurate and timely information, like the Marikina River’s water level and evacuation orders,” he said.

He added that the program was the first of its kind in the country, with Marikina serving as the pilot area for the technology aimed at improving disaster preparedness and response.

Mayor Del de Guzman expressed hope that the technology would help save lives.

“We hope that in the near future, more people will download and use FireChat to make the zero casualty goal a reality,” he said in a statement.

Marikina was one of the hardest-hit areas in Metro Manila in 2009 when Tropical Storm “Ondoy” unleashed monsoon rains which caused heavy flooding in the city, leaving scores of residents dead.