Muntinlupa leads nation with first inclusive early warning system for deaf

Muntinlupa City launches the Philippines’ first citywide Early Warning System for the Deaf on Nov. 7, developed by the Department of Disaster Resilience and Management (DDRM) to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing residents with timely, life-saving alerts through color-coded LED beacon lights installed across the city. 

The project, officially called the Early Warning System for the Deaf (Beacon Light), serves as an innovative visual alert network that signals different hazards such as typhoons, earthquakes, and other emergencies. 

Mayor Ruffy Biazon, who led the launch alongside Representative Jimmy Fresnedi, said the initiative reflects the city’s mission to make disaster preparedness inclusive for all. 

“Preparedness should be inclusive,” Biazon said. 

Through this first-of-its-kind system, we’re making sure that every Muntinlupeño, especially those who cannot hear sirens or public announcements, receives life-saving warnings when it matters most,” he added. 

Twenty beacon lights have been installed in key locations, including schools, health centers, and major roads as part of the pilot phase, with expansion plans in partnership with the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) to reach more communities. 

Representative Jimmy Fresnedi commended the program as a model of inclusive governance, noting that Muntinlupa continues to lead as an example in promoting accessibility and safety. 

“This project is a statement that Muntinlupa’s disaster resilience is not only about infrastructure, it’s about inclusion,” DDRM head Dr. Erwin Alfonso added. 

The new beacon system complements the city’s seventeen existing siren-based early warning systems, enhancing its comprehensive disaster response network/ 

The initiative supports Republic Act (RA) No. 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which advocates for community-based and inclusive disaster preparedness.