Tonyo Cruz, delivering his message at Geeks on a Beach at Movenpick Hotel.(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
More than just a venue to inspire the startup community of, Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) can also be a catalyst for social good by using technology as a tool for disaster response.
“Maybe GOAB could think of disaster relief as its social good project moving forward,” said Tonyo Cruz, TweetupMNL co-founder, during a session on the second day of GOAB 2 yesterday.
After supertyphoon Yolanda and the massive digital response from netizens, “techies” and “geeks” are working toward an online clearinghouse that links donors, relief groups and beneficiaries.
Cruz said that in the last 2 or 3 years, the Philippines has been using hashtags like #ReliefPH and #RescuePH to coordinate relief and rescue efforts.
He said social and digital media made an impact in 2009 in the wake of typhoon Ondoy that ravaged Luzon when through the effort of netizens, responses to the disaster were created.
One opportunity Cruz sees for tech startups to participate in disaster response is by collaborating with relief agencies that are looking for help to navigate the digital space.
“In the Yolanda effort, millions of dollars went into the Philippines through relief efforts but only a small percentage of that was facilitated digitally,” Cruz said.
Techies can also help think of new tools and apps to help the public and improve existing ones, he said.
Cruz cited Project NOAH, a project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that harnesses technologies and management services for disaster risk reduction activities.
He also encouraged the tech community to engage in public service, making technology work for relief and rescue operations.
“It will open many opportunities for networking since many big companies, both foreign and local, are involved in disaster relief,” Cruz told the participants.
Cruz said that social good can also be a tool to inspire other people.
“I hope that the tech communities will take hold of social good as one of its causes aside from raising profits or similar things,” he said.
He encouraged that helping the public in terms of disaster response will also be beneficial to the tech community.
“Think about all your startups and home-based operations that are along the path of typhoons.
Think about all the places in the country that are situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and could be shaken by earthquakes anytime,” he told them.
According to Cruz, GOAB’s mascot “Ondoy” was named after one of the strongest typhoons that hit Luzon.
He said that it will serve as a constant reminder that people are always waiting to be amazed by tech innovations that would help them.
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