ABS-CBN Corporate Services Group 1 head Mark Nepomuceno, ABS-CBN chief finance officer Aldrin Cerrado, ABS-CBN News head Ging Reyes, OIC for Access group March Ventosa, MMDA chair Francis Tolentino, ABS-CBN COO Carlo Katigbak, ABS-CBN digital terrestrial television head Chinky Alcedo, and ABS-CBN chief information officer Mark Lopez at the MOA signing between ABS-CBN TVplus and MMDA for the metro-wide earthquake drillABS-CBN TVplus does not only provide Filipinos a richer TV viewing experience. It can also aid them during disasters by providing them important information that will help save lives.

With the mahiwagang black box’s emergency broadcast warning system (EBWS), ABS-CBN TVplus will serve a bigger role by issuing emergency warning messages to viewers and telling them what they should do when an impending earthquake hits.

To help the public get prepared for the possibility of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, ABS-CBN TVplus has partnered with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for the metro-wide earthquake drill on July 30.

During the drill, subscribers of ABS-CBN TVplus will receive a warning message flashed on their TV screens and will deliver more information about the activity.

The EWBS is a feature readily installed in the Japanese standard for digital television. It is used in Japan, which is vulnerable to geohazards but has undertaken measures to mitigate their potential impact.

“We believe ABS-CBN can make a difference in helping the public become more informed and prepare for emergencies and disasters. We hope that our early warning broadcast system can become an integral part of all government efforts to ensure the safety of the general public,” said ABS-CBN COO Carlo Katigbak.

ABS-CBN Corporate Services Group 1 head Mark Nepomuceno, ABS-CBN chief finance officer Aldrin Cerrado, ABS-CBN News head Ging Reyes, OIC for Access group March Ventosa, MMDA chair Francis Tolentino, ABS-CBN COO Carlo Katigbak, ABS-CBN digital terrestrial television head Chinky Alcedo, and ABS-CBN chief information officer Mark Lopez at the MOA signing between ABS-CBN TVplus and MMDA for the metro-wide earthquake drill“This is huge. Four hundred thousand black box holders will have necessary awareness of what will happen on July 30. This will be a great help to the general public, especially to those who are uninformed, untrained, and unaware of the significance of what will happen. We assure you that even after a real quake occurs, the significance of this partnership will last,” said MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.

The warning message will only flash when the TV is tuned in to ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Sports+Action, as well as CineMo, Yey!, Knowledge Channel, and DZMM TeleRadyo, the four free premium channels offered by ABS-CBN TVplus.

ABS-CBN TVplus is the first and only brand to offer EWBS, a premium public service feature that is only available on ABS-CBN TVplus boxes.

ABS-CBN commercially rolled out ABS-CBN TVplus last February to prepare for the country’s switch to digital TV. It is the first TV network to offer the digital TV box in the country after having invested heavily in infrastructure and test broadcast activities in the past seven years. (Story/photos by Kane Errol Choa)

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino and ABS-CBN COO Carlo Katigbak

 MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino and ABS-CBN COO Carlo Katigbak

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino and ABS-CBN COO Carlo Katigbak

ABS-CBN TVplus users will receive warning messages on their TVs during the July 30 earthquake drill