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Coloma defends emergency text alert system from criticisms   PRESIDENTIAL Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma fended off allegations that the government didn't use existing emergency text alert system to warn the residents of the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan that resulted to massive loss of lives. Coloma explained that the text alert system, which was set to caution communities during bad weather conditions, wasn't used in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities because the typhoon signal during the time of flashfloods was not at the required threshold alert level for issuing such warning. The threshold alert level is storm signal number three. Coloma issued the statement in view of a report published in a major broadsheet that the text alert system has not been used. He said in the cabinet meeting held last December 19, the President and members of the cabinet agreed to set up a dual-alert system that will include both a typhoon signal and a rainfall-flood alert. The Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) has been authorized to procure monitoring equipment to track water levels in the country's 18 river basins all throughout the year. Coloma said that as agreed upon with the telecommunications companies last June, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will send the text alert message to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that will in turn pass on the directive to the telcos. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), an attached agency of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), composed the message and passed this on to Undersecretary Benito Ramos, the NDRRMC executive director. Region 3 DRRMC chair and OCD Director Josefina Timoteo commended the PIA "for its essential role" during typhoons Pedring and Quiel, noting that "the timely information given by the PIA saved thousands of lives." Flash floods triggered by Sendong killed more than 1,200 people, mostly in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Northern Mindanao. Authorities said hundreds are still missing.  (PCOO)