We are IT Professionals who volunteer our expertise for Information Communication Technology and Management before, during, and after emergencies and disasters. We believe that in a crisis situation, information is as essential as food and water. With timely and accurate information, sound decisions could be made, coordination is facilitated, and more lives could be saved. We are a non-government, non-profit and non-stock organization. We sustain our operations primarily from contracted projects, from our own personal savings, and donations from good-hearted citizens and generous institutions.
WHAT WE DO
We gather bits and pieces of information from victims and responders, from government and non-government units, from local and international organizations, and organize them into a unified situation-awareness platform that could be used by responding agencies, affected people, and any possible donors. It is our hope that with data and information management, gaps could be identified, and coordination is facilitated, response is maximized, and recovery is enhanced.
WHAT WE UPHOLD
We believe in the HUMANITARIAN spirit that bind all people as one family, regardless of race, religion or faith, political affiliation, and economic standing. We work, not in the spirit of competition, rather by COLLABORATION. We believe we achieve more if we work as a Team, complementing and supplementing each one’s needs and strengths. And for this reason, we take it as our solemn duty to respond to those in need. We aspire for EFFICIENCY and EFFECTIVENESS in all our missions. Ultimately, we work to save and protect as much lives as possible.
OUR LOGO
The color RED is purposely chosen to represent blood, the lifeline of humanity. It is also the color of urgency. WHITE represents the sincerity and purity of intention to serve. The CROSS, the symbol of the greatest love for humanity exemplified by Jesus, is our inspiration to serve all of humanity.
The LIGHTNING symbolizes the speed at which we aim to collect data. The letter “i” formed by the lightning represents INFORMATION, that we aim to generate from the ground zero and communicate to all humanitarian responders and DRR managers.
The BLUE line symbolizes the bond of FIDELITY, the unwritten commitment to come to the aid of disaster victims and be counted upon by the affected population and responders alike.
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
ERIC was born at the first critical hours of Typhoon Sendong (Washi) Operations in Cagayan de Oro City in 2011. Our database was used by the multi-sectoral response unit organized by the Archdiocese of Cagayan De Oro, and the results was used by the DSWD-R10. In 2012 Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) we monitored the needs and response situations for Campostela Valley and Davao Oriental. In 2013, we provided information and coordination facilities at the Command Center for the Black Nazarene Traslacion in Quiapo, Manila where devotees numbering 11 million people attended; and in the Redemptoris Custos Operation in Pagadian City’s Fiesta at the height of Aman Crisis. The devastation of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) summoned us to step forward and take a public involvement in the Response and Recovery Phases.
We are responsible for organizing the NDRRMC Information Management Technical Working Group that successfully gathered a multi-agency, multi-sectoral conference that laid down the foundation for data quality, availability, sharing, and inter-operability before-during-after emergencies. We are also the responsible for facilitating the workshop and training of the officers and staff of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on the National Disaster Response Plan.
At present we work and support Government Agencies, United Nations (UNOCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP), International NGOs, and Church emergency preparedness response groups. Across the Philippines, we conduct training during blue skies and serve during emergencies. Information is our passion, Saving Lives is our Mission.