Disaster Drill: Call For Media Centre
By Asri Razak

Bandar Seri Begawan - In The recent disaster simulation exercise, Information Department personnel called for the establishment of a media centre to handle such scenarios.

Head of the Department’s Public Relations Division, hj Ali Noorashidah Hj Ali Omar spoke to The Brunei Times saying that a "proper operations room" equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to update and gather information in the case of a disaster is needed.

She said, "A proper operations room, will enhance the dissemination of information to media, newspapers, and internationally," adding that through this, coordination with other agencies will be more efficient.

An officer from the department Sastra Sarini Hj Julaini said, the department's role is to be "one voice for the community".

Responding to the emergency, the department deployed its staff both to Ternburong District, the site of the simulation and to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC). Through These teams, the department receives hourly updates and information.

Cooperating with Brunei's NDMC, the department gathered up-to-date information through the centre, said Sastra.

The exercise organised by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of all the agencies involved, which led to the establishment of a Standard Operating Procedures to be followed during a an actual disaster.

"During the exercise, the staff worked around the clock in shifts and from here, the department can learn and further improve," said Sarini.

Speaking to The Brunei Times in a phone interview, Pg Sabli Pg Damit, Head of Brunei's National Disaster Centre Secretariat said that during the exercise, personnel from the Information Department were on standby to retrieve information from the centre established on-site at the disaster.

He said, working together with other agencies is vital to coordinate action plans to be taken, as well as consolidating updated information to the public.

"Communication is very important, and is tale priority in the event of a national disaster," said Pg Sabli.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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