The Philippines now has a national text mate, but not everyone is pleased.
Filipinos received a flurry of text alerts from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) when tropical storm Maring entered the Philippines on Monday.
The alerts — which contained information like precise typhoon landfall times and flood warnings — got mixed reactions from Filipino netizens, making the NDRRMC a trending topic on Twitter until this morning.
Some netizens said they appreciate the information; some said they were annoyed by the multiple texts; while others were just amused that the government agency is now a constant in their messaging apps.
someone who wouldnt stop texting/updating u even if u dont reply. @/ndrrmc kudos bro, u da ril man.
— akhi (@akhisenpai) September 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/_john_keith/status/907538666800635905
https://twitter.com/juddyyygarcia/status/907495745984405505
https://twitter.com/CristeaSantos/status/908621227140431872
https://twitter.com/kristoff3r___/status/908597167564103680
https://twitter.com/arzyphi/status/907482628781105152
https://twitter.com/frelyasuncion/status/908592598394089472
Sino nagbigay ng contact number ko sa NDRRMC?
— lucipaul (@PAULRNDP) September 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/superathoi/status/908505437695131649
In an interview with GMA News, NDRRMC spokesperson Mina Marasigan said that some people sent them messages saying that the alerts were creepy and annoying. But she explained why they are important: “It’s sad but this warning is for you and your loved ones’ safety.”
She also told Inquirer.net that critics will one day understand the importance of the text alerts.
“I hope bashers should spare this. If ever they were disturbed by these text warnings, there will come a time that I’m sure, they will thank us for sending them these warnings [so] that they were able to evacuate to a safer area,” Marasigan said.
The Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, signed into law in 2014, requires all telecommunications companies to send free alerts during calamities.
