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OAS Cataloging-in-Publication Data Country profiles : information and communication technologies : applying information and communication technologies for disaster mitigation in the Central American isthmus and the Dominican Republic / [prepared by the Department of Sustainable Development of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States].
p. : ill. ; cm. (OAS official records ; OEA/Ser.D/XXIII.4)(OEA documentos oficiales ; OEA/ Ser.D/XXIII.4) ISBN 978-0-8270-5469-1
1. Information resources management--Natural disasters--Central America. 2. Information resources management--Natural disasters--Dominican Republic. 3. Information technology--Central America. 4. Information technology--Dominican Republic. 5. Communication--Central America. 6. Communication- -Dominican Republic. I. Organization of American States. Department of Sustainable Development. II. Series. III. Series. OEA documentos oficiales ; OEA/Ser.D/XXIII.
T58.62.C4 P47 2010 OEA/Ser.D/XXIII.4 Eng
This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada
Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 3 PRESENTATION:
“Country Profiles: Information and be included as supplemental information in Communication Technologies” consists the country profiles presented by the Inter- of a brief presentation by country of the American Network for Disaster Mitigation technological, institutional and regulatory (INDM). frameworks supporting the development of the Information and Communication Technologies The information was obtained through desk in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, work, using the ICT statistics from official Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican sources as the main source of information, Republic. Each profile is accompanied by a and through systematic internet-based review general introduction to the national context of of the legislation, regulations and institutions disaster risk and an institutional and regulatory related to the thematic area of ICTs. A special framework analysis related to disaster risk effort was made to include the direct links to reduction. This publication is one of the final the information source available online through products of the project: “Applying Information the internet. and Communication Technologies for Disaster These profiles are intended to provide an Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus” overview of the development in terms of (hereinafter “the Project”), implemented by regulations and supports related to ICTs, in the Department of Sustainable Development order to assess and measure the opportunities of the Secretariat of the Organization of for the most specific application of ICTs in the American States (OAS/DSD), and funded field of disaster risk reduction. In that respect, by the International Development Research the country profiles are not necessarily Center (IDRC), through the Inter-American comprehensive nor do they claim to be the Institute for Connectivity (ICA). state of the art in the field, but instead, can The objective of this study is to support the be used as a context for the basic objectives development of the Project’s sustainability of the Project. On the other hand, in an area strategy as well as to provide a context as dynamic as ICTs, any descriptive attempt for the formulation of the Project´s Policy of what is currently happening in the countries Document. Similarly, these profiles will be an has a high probability of becoming outdated organic part of the website with access to the very quickly. Therefore, these profiles should ICT georeferenced online catalogue applied be considered as a complement for all the final to disaster mitigation, and will possibly products of the Project and not as an isolated product. Presentation 3
Background and justification 7
Description 9
Profile Structure 15
Introduction to the topic of Information and Communication 13 Technologies
Main technologies identified as common to the various countries in the region and three of the main institutions related to the topic of applying ICTs to disaster mitigation
General characteristics of ICTs and its application to disaster mitigation in the Central American region and in the Dominican
Republic
Country profile: Belize 16
Country profile: Costa Rica 25
Country profile: El Salvador 34
Country profile: Guatemala 45
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Country profile: Nicaragua 55
Country profile: Panama 65
Country profile: Dominican Republic 76
References 88
Annexes 89 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 7
GENERAL INFORMATION BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Background
The Department of Sustainable Development With the development of Information and (OAS/DSD) of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Communication Technologies (ICTs), a great deal Development (SEDI) of the General Secretariat of information and knowledge is available, including of the OAS is currently implementing a Risk the information generated by satellite systems Management Program (RISK-MACC) as part of the for terrestrial and atmospheric observation and activities intended to provide technical assistance other remote sensors, gathered by government to the OAS Member States for the development of agencies, private data and information providers, Natural Disaster Risk Management public policies. among others. To that end and within such Program’s framework, the OAS/DDS recently created an Inter-American Network for Disaster Mitigation (INDM) with the The use of ICTs for disaster mitigation responds to financial support of the Canadian government, the following needs: through its Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). a. Access and distribution of data: met through institutional strengthening, capacity-building, Reduction of vulnerability to natural risks, education and public awareness, active contingency planning and preparedness for involvement of the affected communities extreme events, and natural disaster mitigation and inter-agency coordination, at all levels demand “good” governance in order to coordinate and among all levels - local, national and efforts among a great number of governmental international; and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private enterprises, and civil society as a whole, b. Search for creative approaches: in order to including members of the communities located improve the preparedness and response furthest away from the capitals. This requires a mechanisms so as to reduce the vulnerability broad range of data and information ranging from to natural risks, particularly floods and risk and vulnerability mapping, evaluation of losses droughts, which represent a high impact topic and damages, scientific data and knowledge in development; and - including existing knowledge, knowledge of natural phenomena, such as El Niño Southern c. Timely availability of information: about Oscillation (ENSO), and regional and local climate the occurrence of extreme meteorological change scenarios, through early warnings and phenomena, in order to help the rural contingency and preparedness plans. communities to be prepared to cope with these kinds of events. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 8
Justification
The Project addresses the OAS/DSD on developing and implementing risk self- responsibilities emanating from the General assessment tools and systems…” Assembly and the Summit Process of the Americas. Specifically, this Project responds to AG/RES. The Project also responds to the mandates 2314 (XXXVII-O/07), which instructs the General emanating from the Santa Cruz Summit on Secretariat, through the Executive Secretariat Sustainable Development, the Santa Cruz for Integral Development and its Department of Declaration and Plan of Action + 10 and the Inter- Sustainable Development: American Program for Sustainable Development (PIDS 2006-2009) adopted by the Inter-American a. “To cooperate with member States and to Council for Integral Development (CIDI). coordinate its efforts with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency Finally, the Project is framed along the commitments (CDEMA), the Coordination Center for the agreed upon with the UNISDR through a Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central Cooperation Agreement signed in June, 2007, America (CEPREDENAC), the Andean during the First Session of the UNISDR Hyogo Committee for Disaster Prevention and Framework for Action Regional Platform of the Assistance (CAPRADE), relevant United Americas, for the implementation of the Regional Nations agencies, and other national centers Platform for the Americas. This agreement in the member States, in order to implement identifies the development of Information and the Hyogo Framework for Action; and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for the exchange of information and knowledge, including a. To work closely with the appropriate national, lessons learned and best practices for natural regional, and international agencies on disaster risk management, as one of the actions increasing the resilience of local communities to be developed in cooperation between both and the most vulnerable sectors, with emphasis organizations. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 9
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
Description of the Project
With the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), there is a great deal of information and knowledge available, collected and processed by organizations, both national and international, public and private, as well as by other data providers. However, this information does not reach the most vulnerable people, and even less at the time and in the manner they need it most.
After hurricanes Mitch and Georges in 1998, extensive efforts were made in the mapping of natural hazards and the mapping of the vulnerability of the social and economic infrastructures. Since then, ICTs have been developed to provide a tool for quick and expedient access to information. However, this valuable information, along with historic data is not readily available and regularly updated, and when it is available and updated, it does not come in a format and level to be understood by everyone.
Therefore, the problem is not the availability of data, but its delivery and accessibility, which can only be approached by institutional strengthening, capacity building, public awareness and participation, education and inter-institutional coordination.
In the countries of the Central American Isthmus, experience shows that even if the information is there, it reaches the communities at a much later time, increasing their vulnerability, the deterioration of their local infrastructure and the loss of lives.
This is why particular attention will be paid to innovative practices and tools which include technology applications with the participation of the civil society, including community-based organizations, such as local radios, agricultural cooperatives, schools, and cultural and community centers, among others.
Purpose of the project Beneficiary countries
To identify and assess the performance of The beneficiary countries of this Project are: Belize, innovative Information and Communication Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Technology applications (ICT), in order to close Panama and the Dominican Republic. the gap between information and data providers and the final users in the most vulnerable Objective communities of the Central American Isthmus and To identify and assess the performance of the Dominican Republic. innovative Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) providing expert criteria and opinions for an effective exchange of Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 10 lessons learned and practical experiences, so Expected results as to facilitate the adaptation, transfer and/or h reproduction of those experiences in vulnerable h Online ICT applications catalog, with communities in the Central American Isthmus. performance evaluation and technical criteria and opinions for its use and Applications to be considered selection. hh Needs assessments in two pilot sites: Río Even though the inventory contains a wide range of Negro and Río San Juan. Information and Communication Technologies, the emphasis will be on Communication Technologies, hh Guide and handbook, including criteria because of the need to develop, deepen and and parameters for the identification of the optimize communication mechanisms that most appropriate ICTs. would allow, not only to inform the communities but to reveal their needs, cultural values and hh A website integrated into the Regional idiosyncrasies with regard to disaster mitigation Disaster Information Center Latin America and the Caribbean (CRID, by its Spanish as well. Particular emphasis will be placed on acronym) and the Central American Communication as a “two way” or a “transaction” Coordination Center for the Prevention of mechanism, contrary to the “one way” information Natural Disaster (CEPREDENAC), online mechanisms. Also, it does not emphasize Early institutional database and GIS catalog. Warning Systems, since there are other initiatives underway and, in particular, one which is ready to hh Policy document with recommendations for begin with the OAS/DDS and the UNISDR on these the Regional Plan for Disaster Reduction. technologies. Other technologies to consider are Methodology the following:
hh GIS [Geographic Information System] The Project Document clearly stated its objectives applications and image processing for the and expected results, in addition to fostering the mapping of hazards vulnerabilities, and consolidation of local structures, and sought to floods and droughts models. act as a catalytic agent with other projects and initiatives developed or to be developed in the hh Application of remote sensors for weather region. forecast . The proposed methodology for developing activities h h Observation and monitoring systems and attaining objectives include methods and of hydrological and meteorological techniques such as desk research, surveys, data phenomena for floods, managed by the communities . collection, interviews, and public consultations, seeking to promote the broad participation of every hh AM/FM warning radio systems, with sector directly or indirectly involved in this thematic emphasis on rural communities and highly area, both from the public and private sector and vulnerable watersheds, and early warning from the civil society. communication systems through sirens located and activated by schools, assistance The methodology sought to coordinate efforts, centers or government facilities. exchange knowledge and experiences, obtain accurate and timely information, and establish hh Warning communication systems through and/or strengthen a consolidated and well- community local radio stations; other means available. informed institutional work structure, committed to the development of the project and its objectives. It is worth noting that this is not an attempt to create new ICT applications. The goal is to understand In response to this methodological approach and the existing technologies and to exchange “good taking into consideration the agreement reached practice” experiences in order to replicate them in by the Steering Committee, the organization of the region. National Working Groups will be promoted with the participation of governmental institutions, non- governmental organizations and other institutions. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 11
Finally, the methodology also aims at the development of strategies that along the way and based on each country´s own experience, can identify risks and critical paths so as to anticipate solutions and alternative avenues.
Duration of the project:
The duration of the project was 18 months and it was launched in May 2008.
Steering Committee
For purposes of decision-making on project execution, a Steering Committee was created, including the following members: the Office of the OAS/DDS Director, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Regional Office for the Americas (UNISDR), the Coordination Center for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC), the Regional Disaster Information Center Latin America and the Caribbean (CRID) and a National Operational Focal Point of the Inter-American Network for Disaster Mitigation (INDM) from one of the project participating countries. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 13 INTRODUCTION
It is essential to start with a clear and broad use information and knowledge, strengthening its vision of the approaches and concepts that will own management capacity. Taking this reality into provide a basis for the understanding of this consideration, efforts should be geared towards important subject. First, we will begin by stating the application and development of nontraditional that technology is much more than equipment technologies and towards the strengthening of the or devices; technology is directly related to the management capacity among producers and its economic, political and social values of a country, organizations, making it possible to respond to the whose goal should be to place knowledge at the issues surrounding these areas. service of human beings and allow them to reach their goals and solve their problems. The application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) contributes significantly to Central America has been affected by natural mitigate the impact and consequences of disasters. events that have caused deaths and destruction, The documented bibliography shows an important significantly impacting its development with the number of successful experiences on the different consequent poverty increase, particularly in ICT uses and applications on disaster mitigation the countryside, compromising food production and management, such as: and encouraging the deterioration of the natural h resources (soil and water quality), which are h Detection of adverse natural events: allows essential to the development of the agricultural for the detection of possible destructive events, which could somehow cause a sector. These events have shown the high disaster, by relying on satellites and sensors vulnerability of the Central American countries and that can remotely process data, measure particularly of their agricultural sector. and transmit climatic parameters or of any other kind. Inadequate or traditional farming practices which are not consistent with the preservation of natural hh Early warning: early detection of the resources (particularly regarding the management proximity of an event or disaster requires of soil, water and vegetation cover), and lack rapid communication. Mass telephone of preparedness on the part of institutions and warning systems can be a solution; cellular populations to cope with these kind of events, phones offer a huge potential in the poorest have resulted in damages that reached alarming regions, where prediction, prevention and proportions, making it imperative to redefine early warnings are essential to save lives and personal property. the technological strategy being applied, and to strengthen risk management capacity. hh Preparedness of the population: civil defense systems and scientific-technical Nowadays, disasters are one of the most institutions, which research and generate important obstacles for development. The loss of data and information use websites to inform human lives, the destruction of livelihood and the and train the population (soap operas, online devastation of natural areas are just some of the games), accessible through the internet resulting consequences. or through cell phones, which provide orientation, education and entertainment all This context requires the development of new at once. strategies to identify, obtain, process, adapt and Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 14
hh Access to information in real time: more vulnerable to the social and economic the internet is an excellent means of consequences of disasters. The contribution of communication to check for updated new technologies is clearly visible in the detection, information. There is an ever-increasing prevention, mitigation, preparedness and number of websites providing online response to disasters, including coordination and information which contribute data in addition management of humanitarian aid. to images, many of them from satellites. During the past few years, the Central American hh Coordination and humanitarian assistance: web information systems as countries and the Dominican Republic have made well as some software applications (SUMA) significant efforts in the massive use of ICTs, contribute to a more direct and efficient but we cannot ignore the fact that technology cooperation in the process of emergency of advances very rapidly, forcing us to face constant supplies and humanitarian help. challenges and move forward under the weak structural conditions of our development. We hope These are just some of the applications which that the tool resulting from this project contributes undoubtedly reduce disaster impact. However, this to the improvement of conditions in the region technology is not always within everyone´s reach. and becomes a significant contribution to the development process in the communities most Many remote or extremely poor areas in the vulnerable. countries of the region do not even have basic communications, and therefore, are Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 15
STRUCTURE OF COUNTRY PROFILES
Country Profiles - Information and Communication Technologies
Countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, hh TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT AND Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and the INFRASTRUCTURE Dominican Republic It consists of a description of the existing services, Country profiles are presented in alphabetical order infrastructure and facilities for the development starting with Belize and ending with the Dominican or coverage of ICTs in the country, from basic Republic [Translator’s note: the countries are services up to the level, scope, quality, use and in alphabetical order according to their names accessibility with selected statistics on landline in Spanish; therefore, in the English version the telephones, cellular phones, internet users and Dominican Republic will be placed at the end of access to personal computers, among others. the list]. Each country profile is structured in four h sections, followed by a list of source references. h REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL The four sections are described below: FRAMEWORKS hh GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE A description of the regulations and/or policies COUNTRY promoting and regulating the use of ICTs in the country, including plans, programs and actions General information on the country is presented, facilitating the service, scope and access to such as geographical location (borders), technology. In particular, the development population, language, currency, and a brief of policies for the telecommunications and socioeconomic description. broadcasting sectors is reviewed as well as the complete development of regulations regarding hh RISK SITUATION AND FREQUENT the Information Society in general. Even though HAZARDS emphasis is placed on the rules and regulations pertaining to ICTs, a brief section on regulatory Brief presentation of the country’s typical risk and institutional frameworks on risk management conditions, with a description of natural and in each country as well as on relevant risk man-made hazards, including references to the reduction regulations to key sectors, such as water, most important disasters and emergencies in the environment, health and education, is included. country´s recent history. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 16 PRELIMINARY INVENTORY:
1 BELIZE Capital city: Belmopan
Population: 307,899
Area: 22,966 km2
Population density: 13.4 h/km2
Urban population: 52%
Demographic growth rate: 2.154%
Currency: Belize dollar
Language: English, Spanish and Indigenous languages
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Republic of Belize is located in the Central Table 1: Administrative Division American Isthmus, bordered by Mexico to the northwest, Guatemala to the west and the Estimated Caribbean Sea to the east. Along most of its Districts Capital population coastline, there are barrier reefs, forming islands called cays. Belize is home to the longest barrier Belize Belize City 74,065 reef of the Western Hemisphere and the second longest in the world. It is the only country in Central Cayo San Ignacio 53,715 America without a coast to the Pacific Ocean. Belmopan is the capital city, although Belize City is Corozal Corozal Town 33,335 the biggest city and the one with more commercial activity. Its total area is 22,966 km2 with a total Orange Orange Walk 2 39,760 population of 307,988 . This is the only English- Walk Town speaking country in Central America, although Spanish is becoming more common. Because Stan Creek Dangriga 26,665 of its culture, politics and economy, it has many similarities with the countries of the Caribbean Toledo Punta Gorda 28 islands.
The territory is divided in six districts (see Table 1)
1 For more information on Belize´s disaster risk profile, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction website can be accessed at: http:// www.eird.org/perfiles-paises/perfiles/index.php/Belice 2 The World Fact book. USA-Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, ( https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html) Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 17
The climate in Belize is tropical, very hot and (Sources: EM-DAT: Emergency Events Database humid. The dry season lasts from February to May / Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of and the rainy season from May through November. Disasters (CRED) http://www.emdat.be/Database/ During the latter, the country becomes prone to CountryProfile/countryprofile.php?disgroup=natur devastating hurricanes, in addition to floods in the al&country=blz&period=2000$2009) southern coastal area. Hurricane Mitch in 1998 did not affect Belize RISK SITUATION AND FREQUENT directly, but it did cause severe rainfall and floods HAZARDS in the coastal areas. The Center for Emergency Operations was established in Belize City to Belize´s landscape consists of flat and swampy evacuate more than 75,000 people from the city coastal plains in the northern area, densely and the coastal islands to temporary shelters in forested in some places. The Maya Mountains, Belmopan. a low mountain range, is located in the southern area reaching its highest peak, Peak Victoria, at an During the decade of 1990, the average damage altitude of 1,160 meters [approximately 3,680 feet]. caused by disasters related to natural phenomena Although there are no volcanoes in the country, reached almost 10% of the country´s GDP. In the there are steep hills and fairly high mountain agricultural sector, the disasters caused by natural peaks, which carry the water to the region. hazards contributed to a decline in production and exports and to a short-term increase of food Natural hazards imports. The effects of tropical storm Roxanne (1995), hurricane Keith (2000), tropical storm The proximity of the country to the junction of three Chantal and hurricane Iris (2001) caused losses of tectonic plates makes it prone to moderate seismic over US$200 million of damages in the agricultural risk. The earthquakes occurring in the neighboring sector alone. For more information, please consult countries of Honduras, Guatemala and Southern the following information page: BelizeEmergency. Mexico are also felt in Belize. In May 2009 the net: http://www.belizeemergency.net/events.html. earthquake in Honduras caused severe damage Extreme climate-related events usually occurring in in Belize. The probability of volcanic eruptions is the country include floods, hurricanes, tidal waves zero, since the Pacific Ring of Fire is located in the and fires. Table 2 presents a brief description of Pacific coast without any border with Belize. some of the most significant emergencies and disasters that affected the country. Disasters occurring in Belize due to natural causes are: hurricanes, tidal waves, floods, landslides and Man-made hazard fires. Hurricanes have had the most devastating effects in Belize, in addition to strong winds, tides Some technological disasters arising from hazards and storm surges which cause severe damage to related to population growth, to the exploitation the population. of natural resources and to industrial and urban development, have been detected in Belize. Coastal areas are particularly exposed, due to frequent flash floods caused by the overflowing Some of the main hazards include: deforestation, of rivers. Storms and floods have been the worst river and lake pollution by domestic and industrial disasters related to natural hazards in Belize in the waste water, use of pesticides in agriculture, and past ten years (for example, hurricane Keith in the solid waste disposal. One of the most contaminated year 2000 caused three deaths and great damage). rivers is the Belize River, born from the union of Hurricanes Iris and Chantal in 2001 caused 22 the Mopán and the Macal rivers near San Ignacio. deaths because a boat capsized. On October 19, This river is an important source of drinking water 2008, an extensive flood left one person dead and and of other domestic uses for the population of caused damages to 38,000 people. Later on, a Belize. However, the water quality deteriorates tropical cyclone caused damages to 112,570 people rapidly, due to the sedimentation of solid materials and there were 45 deaths with losses of US$542,507. and the presence of pesticides and other toxic substances. The largest source of degradation of the Belize river basin is the big deforestation along Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 18
Table 2: Emergencies and disasters related to natural hazards
Hurricane Mitch (1998): Hurricane Mitch posed a serious threat to Belize during the last week of October 1998. Although the hurricane did not lash the country, it caused the largest evacuation ever. http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/paho_hurr_9belize.pdf
Floods and Hurricane Keith (2000): The heavy rainfall recorded in Belize because of Hurricane Keith caused serious floods and tides 1 to 2 feet high in the coastal areas.At least 72,000 people were affected by the disaster. http://smn.cna.gob.mx/ciclones/tempo2000/atlantico/keith/keith.html
Floods and Hurricane Keith (2000): The heavy rainfall registered in Belize due to Hurricane Keith caused serious floods and tides of 1-2 feet in the coastal areas.At least 72,000 thousand people were affected by the disaster. http://smn.cna.gob.mx/ciclones/tempo2000/atlantico/keith/keith.html
The earthquake in Honduras reached Belize (May 2009): Honduras was shaken by an earthquake of 7.1 on the Richter scale, which affected Belize more than Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Yucatán in México. http://www.redhum.org/emergencias-305-Sismo-en-Honduras--- mayo-2009.html the upper course of the Mopán river, as well as TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT AND certain non-sustainable agricultural practices. INFRASTRUCTURE
With regards to health hazards, there is a high risk During the past 10 to 15 years, the country has of infectious diseases in Belize. Cholera and other made progress in the use of technology, providing infectious intestinal diseases also pose a threat greater efficiency in the generation of information, to Belize. Cholera appeared in Belize in January through the use of models and systems of analysis, 1992. During the first year of the epidemic, there particularly in the area of Geographic Information were four deaths, followed by two more in 1993 System (GIS). The first contact that Belize had and two in 1996. The diseases caused by vectors with GIS was through the sugarcane industry. The such as malaria and dengue are still an important sugarcane industry in Belize used GIS and remote public health issue. Table 3 shows some of the sensors since the mid-1980s in order to monitor the emergencies and disasters connected to man- potential of farming and crops. Another milestone made hazards which affected Belize´s recent in this development took place in 1992, with the history. establishment of the Land Information Center, LIC, by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Somehow, LIC represents a unique window of georeferenced
Table 3: Emergencies and important man-made disasters in Belize
There were three unexpected emergencies: hh Political chaos in Belize (2005) On January 20, businessmen and trade unions called for a two day strike. Water services were interrupted because the employees did not report to work. On January 21, it was reported that there were scattered demonstrations in Belmopan and building fires, as well as blockades in highway roads carried out by demonstrators. hh Cholera epidemic (1992-1996)
hh Dengue and malaria epidemic (2009)
hh Fires in the free zone of Belize caused by short circuits (2008-2009) Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 19 information for Belize, with a Territorial System of Belize uses internet and more than 15% has Information that contains key information for the access to a personal computer (see Table 4). country´s land planning. Close to 70.2% of the population has television With regard to landline telephones, Belize recorded devices in Belize. There are two main channels that 11.2% of its population had landlines in 2007, and more than 20 repeater antennas. It is worth showing a decrease in comparison to the year mentioning that the main television station and 2000, when 14% of the population had access to provider of local and regional programming won this technology. On the other hand, 32. 35% of the international reputation for a high-quality production population owns cellular phones and the cellular with very limited resources. A substantial portion of phone use has been increasing persistently the population has radios in their residences and during the past seven years, contrary to landline there are three main broadcasting stations with telephones. A little over 10% of the population coverage throughout the country.
Table 4:
Indicator 1995 2000 2007
Cellular subscribers 0.73% 6.70% 38.90%
Internet users 0.05% 6.00% 10.50%
Personal computers 2.85% 12.00% 14.80%
Landline telephones 13.75% 14.30% 11.20%
REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL closely to its Central American neighbors as a FRAMEWORKS member of the Central American Integration System (SICA, by its Spanish acronym). Government National information policy: legislation and initiatives can be found in the following web page: regulation3 http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/index.php
During the past 10 years we have witnessed Following are some of the initiatives related to a breakthrough in the use of ICTs, making ICTs: development possible in the various fields of work of society. With the development of these hh Digital Government and National new technologies, new and interesting channels Information Systems open to obtain services and increase the quality and timeliness of information. However, the lack In this project, the hemispheric connectivity of government resources seriously hampers the framework, AMIGA, will be used for the process of implementation of new technologies in many areas control of immigration at ports of entry and remote of public work. borders in Belize and the Dominican Republic. http:// www.protic.org/proyectos.shtml?x=20172908 Since 2005, the government of Belize has developed initiatives for the modernization of the State, such as the promotion of social and hh Belize National ICT Strategy economic growth, the environment and sustainable development. Belize is actively involved with the This project includes the ICT Policy Statement group of Caribbean nations, CARICOM, and works within the National Development Plan (February
3 A national information policy is the coordination of public measures for the design of a strategy geared towards development and use or resources, services and information systems. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 20
2007), methodologies for ICT development, of Natural Resources. The introduction of GIS in e-Government methodology and presentation of Belize facilitates the development of integrated the ICT implementation and sustainability. http:// sources through the strengthening of planning, www.protic.org/proyectos.shtml?x=20191749 management and environmental monitoring. However, there is no understanding of the fact hh Initiatives and development for youth that together with technical implementation, it is important to build an infrastructure that would The project is about a program to train business ensure the maximization of the technological leaders regarding the importance of civil integration. If government efforts to provide a participation and good government. Through legal and political framework to environmental and advertising campaigns, profiles, presentations in natural resources management are successful, the media, using printed matter and the Internet, the application of technologies will be a success. YABT promotes entrepreneur capacities and However, everything is based mainly on the contributes to young people being publicly implementation of policies that could ensure the recognized. YABT puts special emphasis on necessary human and financial resources. technological applications, e-commerce and the Internet to accelerate the development of young More references to Belize´s legislation can be entrepreneurs. Its Internet site is the framework found in the following webpage: http://www. for a resource centre and Internetwork for belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html businessmen; it promotes the exchange of ideas between young people that they learn from the Broadcasting and Telecommunications experts and mentors and collaborate on business legislation and regulations projects. The program seeks to use the network as a model to disseminate business information A required quotation is “Belize Constitution for other young people. http://www.protic.org/ Act: Chapter 4”, where freedom of conscience proyectos.shtml?x=20170243 and freedom of expression for the citizen of the Republic4 are recognized. A few more specific laws hh Telepsychiatry in Belize are listed below:
The Telepsychiatry Project in Belize is an alliance hh Freedom of Information Act with the Canadian Homewood Health Center, which allows Canadian psychiatrists to supervise, Chapter 13, approved in 2000 and updated in 2003, support and train nurses in Belize to look after (http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/download/ patients with mental problems in 6 locations in the chap13.pdf). Broadcasting and Television Act: country. The program offers supportive telephone Chapter 227, updated: October 31, 2003, (http:// lines, computers and e-mail. www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html).
All these projects can be read in the web page of the hh Telecommunications Act: Chapter 229 Inventario Regional de Proyectos de Tecnología de Información y Comunicación para América Updated to October 31, 2003, (http://www. Latina y el Caribe (PROTIC), [Regional Project belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html). Inventory of Information and Communication There is a monopoly in the hands of a private firm, Technology Projects]. http://www.protic.org/ Belize Telecommunications Ltd., which is viewed proyectos.shtml?x=20172908 as having responded rather well to the country´s As mentioned in the previous section, Belize´s first telecommunications needs. The company is contact with the Geographic Information System profitable and has obtained good density, service 5 (GIS) was through the sugarcane industry. The extension, and quality and profitability indicators . second important benchmark was the creation of Table 5 contains a list of web pages and digital the Land Information Center, under the Ministry links with references to more detailed/specific ICT
4 For more information, please visit: http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html; and the 2003 revised version: http://www.belizelaw.org/ lawadmin/index2.html 5 Belize has joined the Plan Puebla-Panamá and one of Belize´s projects is the extension of the electrical interconnection. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 21 regulations existing in Belize. in Belize is the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). Disaster Risk Management: legislation and regulations Relevant regulations by sector
With regards to disaster preparedness and There are some regulations and guidelines which response, Belize has the following legislation: relate to some areas of the public-private arena that “Disaster Preparedness and Response Act” can also be considered as ICT strategies applied Chapter 145, approved as a result of the damages to disaster mitigation, either by those involved or caused by several hurricanes6. by the space created for the possible use of those technologies in risk management by sector. This law created the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), ( http://www. Health Sector: For the past few months, Belize has nemo.org.bz/) with the purpose of implementing been using a cutting edge digital health information the Belize Plan for Emergencies. system that links the Ministry of Health to public and private hospitals, laboratories and clinics. There is a National Coordinator, accountable to the Ministry of Government for the coordination of In the education and risk management sector the general policy on disaster preparedness and some strategies were also developed in the response. country, which are part of the initiatives at the Central American regional level. Such is the NEMO comprises the Cabinet Members with the case of the Regional Strategic Framework for Prime Minister as the Chairperson and the Cabinet Education on Disaster Risk Reduction, created Secretary as head of the NEMO Secretariat. Its with the participation of the Coordination Center objective is to inform the Prime Minister of any for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in possible emergency threat and recommends the Central America Center (CEPREDENAC) and activation of NEMO. http://www.belizelaw.org/ the Central American Education and Cultural lawadmin/index2.html. Coordination (CECC), as organizations assigned to SICA (Central American Integration System), Belize has a National Meteorological Service together with the ministries of education and the (MNS) found in webpage: http://www.hydromet. national systems for risk reduction and disaster gov.bz/. The meteorological office controls the management of the countries in the region, as formation and evolution of hurricanes through the well as other regional and national government “National Hurricane Center” http://www.nhc.noaa. and technical cooperation institutions. Its main gov/ purpose is to contribute to the strengthening of the No National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction countries’ private and public policies, programs has been identified. The focal point for the and projects, geared to the development of a implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action culture of prevention, risk reduction and resiliency in the education sector, as an essential component
Table 5: Links related to Digital Information and Telecommunications regulations hh Belize: Country Profile: http://www.emdat.be/Database/terms.html
hh Electronic signatures: http://www.belipo.bz/e_library/legislation/elec_trans_act(cap%20290)2.pdf
hh Digital Government: http://www.governmentofbelize.gov.bz/index.php.
hh Latin Law: Biblioteca Legal Latinoamericana. Belice. http://www.latinlaws.com/belize.html
hh Hemisphere Wide Inter-University Scientific and Technological Information Network (RedHUCyT): http://www.redhucyt.oas.org/WEBESP/web1s.htm#Academias%20Nacionales
6 This law can be found in the following web site: http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html) Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 22 of a sustainable and safe development process in wastewater treatment plants. But the tributary is the Central American region. (http://www.eird.org/ not affected by waste alone; the internal armed esp/novedades/Resumen-Ejecutivo.doc). conflict left its aftermath as well. Local authorities Belize belongs to the Academic Network of the from two municipalities in Guatemala and other University College of Belize (http://www.ucb.edu. two municipalities in Belize signed a bilateral bz/), which is part of the Hemisphere Wide Inter- agreement to reduce the river’s pollution in a University Scientific and Technological Network five-year time frame. 7 (RedHUCyT). The regulations to prevent and fight environmental Regarding the water and sanitation sector, Belize pollution are compiled in the articles of the Public is one of the members of the Aguasan regional Health Act, the Pesticides Control Act and the programme: sanitation and hygiene for Central Solid Waste Management Authority Act. The America: a challenge with a regional dimension. Environment Protection Act (1992), created a The objective of the regional component of the Department of the Environment, responsible the Aguasan programme is to comply with the for the application of the provisions stated in Millennium Goal 7 – target 10 to improve health the Law. During the past five years, legislative and reduce poverty in Central America, with more instruments have been drafted to control land efficient policies and programs from the main and water pollutants. Norms are still needed to regional and national actors in the drinking water regulate air quality in the industrial sectors, traffic and sanitation sector and their work through the and the environmental risk posed by tobacco connection to the web. The main national norms in smoke. The Housing Department sets the the education field are found in the Education Act: standards on the buildings ventilation system. Chapter 36 updated: September 30 2008.8 Legislation on hygiene and food safety is under preparation. Other legal/regulatory frameworks for sectors such as the Environment, Water and Sanitation, Food regulations are based on regional which are critical sectors both for development references for most local or foreign food. The in general and risk reduction management can Belize Workers´ Health Plan was replaced by create a space to promote the application of ICTs the Occupational Health and Safety Act, where within that context. various work environments are taken into consideration. Regardless of their territorial differences, the Governments of Guatemala and Belize have International Agreements signed by initiated a sanitation plan of the Mopán river basin Belize that will benefit the communities of both sides Biodiversity, climate change, Kyoto Protocol of the border. According to the analysis, water on Climate Change, decertification, hazardous contamination is estimated to be 60%, since waste waste, law of the sea, protection of the ozone water flows into the river from over 100 villages, layer, contamination by ships, swamps, whaling. and communities lack drainage systems and All were signed but none of them was ratified.
Table 6 includes links to Belize’s most relevant laws for those sectors.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
hh International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) The Americas. Country profiles:
7 Visit the following link: http://www.redhucyt.oas.org/WEBESP/web1s.htm#Academias%20Nacionales 8 See: http://www.moe.gov.bz/site/media/May%202%2009%20Education%20Act%20with%20Revisions%20Table.pdf Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 23
Table 6: Disaster mitigation legislation in critical sectors
Environment: legislation and regulations
Environmental Protection Act http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html
Environmental Tax Act http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/PDF%20files/cap064-01.pdf
Protected Areas Conservation Trust http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html
Revised: http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html
More detailed/specific regulations on the environment can be found in the following web pages:
hh http://www.latinlaws.com/belize.html
hh http://www.ccad.ws/legislacion/Belize.html
Water and Sanitation: Legislation and Regulations
Water Act: http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/legislacion/BZ/L9495.pdf
Action Plan for the integrated water management in the Central American Isthmus http://www. ccad.ws/documentos/pacadirh/PACADIRH.pdf Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 24
Belize. http://www.eird.org/perfiles-paises/ with%20Revisions%20Table.pdf perfiles/index.php/Belize hh Education in Belize. http://www.belizelaw.org/ hh Epidemiological Situation of Acute Pesticide lawadmin/index2.html Poisoning in the Central American Isthmus, 1992-2000 http://www.paho.org/spanish/sha/ hh Environment Protection Act. http://www. be_v23n3-plaguicidas.htm belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html hh Hurricane Mitch in Belize/PAHO-MS. http:// hh Environmental Tax Act. http://www.belizelaw. www.paho.org/Spanish/Ped/gm-belice.pdf org/lawadmin/PDF%20files/cap064-01.pdf hh Belize: Country Profile. http://www.emdat.be/ hh Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act. http:// Database/terms.html www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/index2.html; Revised: http://www.belizelaw.org/lawadmin/ hh Electronic signatures. http://www.belipo.bz/e_ index2.html library/legislation/elec_trans_act(cap%20 290)2.pdf hh Laws on waters and fisheries. http://www.ccad. ws/documentos/legislacion/BZ/L9495.pdf hh Digital Government. http://www. governmentofbelize.gov.bz/index.php. hh Legislation and policies. http://www.ccad.ws/ legislacion/Belize.html hh Latin Law: Biblioteca Legal Latinoamericana Belize. http://www.latinlaws.com/belize.html hh Latin Laws. Biblioteca Legal Latinoamericana. http://www.latinlaws.com/belize.html hh Hemisphere Wide Inter-University Scientific and Technological Network (RedHUCyT). hh Action Plan for Integrated Water Resources http://www.redhucyt.oas.org/WEBESP/web1s. Management of the Central American Isthmus htm#Academias%20Nacionales Action http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/ pacadirh/PACADIRH.pdf hh National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). http://www.nemo.org. COSTA RICA9 bz/ GENERAL INFORMATION hh Education Act: Chapter 36 updated: December 30, 2000. http://www.moe.gov.bz/site/media/ May%202%2009%20Education%20Act%20 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 25
The Republic of Costa Rica is located in the Capital: San José
Population: 4.5 million
Area: 51,100 km2
Population density: 82 h/km2
Urban population: 61.7%
Demographic growth rate: 2.5
Currency: El Colón
Language: Spanish
Central American Isthmus, bordering Nicaragua to winds systems affecting the country and by its the north and Panama to the south, the Caribbean topography, with mountain ranges across the Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. country from the northwest to the southeast with The total land area of Costa Rica is 51,000 km2, peaks of 3,820 meters of altitude over the mean sea with a population of 4.4 million (2007)10. The level (Cerro Chirripó). This fluctuation is reflected country is organized in 7 provinces, 81 cantons in the precipitation distribution. In general, there is and 463 districts (see Table 7). a dry season, from December through April, and a rainy season, from May to November. Rainfall Because of its geographical location, Costa Rica determines Costa Rica´s division into five regions: has a tropical climate influenced by the main the North Pacific, the Central Pacific, the South mountain ranges. Due to the influence of the Pacific, the Central Valley and the Atlantic sector. Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the small continental area, the climate does not fluctuate Table 7: Administrative division during the year as much as it would over large continental landmasses. The main fluctuation present during the year is the wind and it is caused mostly by the interaction between the various
Province Capital Area (km2) Estimated population
Alajuela Alajuela 9,753 716,286 Cartago Cartago 3,125 432,395 Guanacaste Liberia 10,141 264,238 Heredia Heredia 2,657 354,732 Limón Limón 9,188 339,295 Puntarenas Puntarenas 11,277 357,483 San José San José 4,959 1,345,750 Source: National Institute of Statistics and Census of Costa Rica (http://www.inec.go.cr) RISK SITUATION AND FREQUENT HAZARDS
9 The UNISDR Americas has developed country profiles with specific information on all aspects of risk reduction, including national counterparts, regulatory frameworks, projects and initiatives on risk management in the country at hand. For a more detailed information on the Costa Rica Country Profile visit the following web site: http://www.eird.org/wikiesp/index.php/Costa_Rica 10 The Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 26
Because of its geographical location, Costa Rica earthquakes occurred are: Golfito, Pérez Zeledón, is prone to multiple natural hazards which may Los Santos, Cóbano, Limón and Piedras Negras unleash emergencies resulting in disasters when (Alajuela). they overlap in time and space with vulnerable segments of the population. Historical records Heavy rainfall and droughts are the extreme of disasters affecting the country reveal its high climatological events in the country. Extreme rainfall degree of vulnerability to natural hazards, as well is caused by hurricanes, tropical depressions and as the country´s various levels of social, economic cold fronts and as a consequence, large floods and environmental vulnerability. and landslides occur in December and January.
Below, there is a summary of the main natural and Some of the major emergencies and disasters man-made hazards linked to emergencies and striking Costa Rica in recent history are briefly disasters in the Costa Rican territory. described in Table 8.
Natural hazards Man-made hazards
Costa Rica is located in the central area of the Because of the nature of the Costa Rican industry Central American Isthmus, in the so-called “Pacific and in view of the type of processes used, it has Ring of Fire”, where the largest volcanoes in been established that the chemical industry entails the world are found. The country lies on the the greater risk. Furthermore, the transportation convergence area of the Pacific Cocos and the of hazardous materials has been identified as Caribbean tectonic plates, in the southeastern another cause for this type of accident. According part of the country; both plates interact with the to the International Labor Organization (ILO) Nazca plate, one of the plates causing most of these accidents can pose risks to the population the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions affecting in general and can have physical and toxic the country and South America. Volcanic activity consequences due to spillages, fires, leaks and is the result of the Coco plate sinking under the explosions. Caribbean plate. There are more than 200 volcanic Transportation is the sector most vulnerable sources, distributed all over the country and six of to disasters, since, in addition to the adverse them have posed threats throughout history. circumstances caused by a disaster related to The regions more prone to volcanic activity natural phenomena, the impact of disasters is are: El Valle Central and the Chorotega region, often intensified as a consequence of deficiencies where the most active sources are found, close in the standards of design and construction of the to the populated areas. The regions where big infrastructure (civil and road), technical deficiencies
Table 8: Emergencies and disasters caused by natural hazards
Hurricane Mitch (1998): Hurricane Mitch caused both direct and indirect damages to approximately 16,500 people, including those individuals who had to seek shelter or were evacuated to neighbors or relatives´ homes, or to safe areas, as a result of precautionary measures. http://www.imn.ac.cr/educacion/huracanes/huracan06.html
Floods (2002): Heavy rainfall caused severe floods affecting the Caribbean drainage basin and the northern area of Costa Rica. Floods caused basins to overflow, landslides and severe damage to infrastructure. The Government declared a state of emergency. http://www.paho.org/Spanish/DD/PED/COR-floods02.htm
Arenal volcano (1968): On the morning of Monday, July 29, 1968, the once known as Cerro Arenal revealed its full volcanic force and with a humongous explosion on its west slope, brought hundreds of human lives to an end, while floods crops, villages and property with ashes, gases and lava. Huge hot rocks, burning gases and tons of ashes finished off what used to be a hill. http://www.guiascostarica.com/rios/arenal.htm
Limón earthquake (1991): On April 22 1991 at 3:57:00 local time a strong earthquake shook the Limón area in Costa Rica with a magnitude of 7.7 M and a depth of 10km. In total, there were 48 deaths, 651 people wounded and 4,452 houses collapsed. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terremoto_de_Lim%C3%B3n Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 27 related to the site of such infrastructure (transport system, human settlements, etc.) or due to a lack of Table 9: Recent emergencies and man-made protective structures (walls, dikes and sluiceways). disasters Several domestic emergencies occurred, namely: TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT AND poliduct fire (Santo Domingo de Heredia 1994); overturn INFRASTRUCTURE of a liquefied petroleum gas container (at km.103 of the Inter-American Pérez Zeledón, 1995); laboratory fire Costa Rica is one of the most developed countries (Zapote 1993); intoxication of 30 children in a school in the field of Information and Communication in Guadalupe de Cartago by contact with incomplete Technologies (ICTs) in Central America and the combustion of Terbufos organosphosphorate pesticides products (Cartago 1995); overturn of container in the Caribbean, and it is the main software producer Florencio del Castillo highway (Curridabat 1995); fire in the region. As opposed to the other Latin in pesticide warehouse (Alajuela 1999); hazardous American countries, Costa Rica decided to keep waste disposal at the Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo public institutions, mainly for the service industry (Heredia 2000); chlorine gas leak from an industrial (power, telecommunications, water and the facility in Concepción de Tres Ríos (Cartago 2002); fire at the State Hospital Rafael Calderón Guardia (2005). insurance markets). This is also the case for the ICT industry where the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad emerges as the main provider subject. On the other hand, the Advanced Internet of supports for these technologies. It is worth Network was connected to other networks such mentioning that the prevalent notion of ICTs in as CRNE GOBNET (connects to Congress and to the country is based on the definition made by the the Government), EDUNET (connects to schools) national institute of statistics and census, where and to the Internet Network 2 (connecting to the following types of technologies are considered universities and research centers in the country). ICTs: landline telephones, cellular phones, cable The Advanced Internet Network uses optical fiber internet access, TV, computers, internet access by rings, SDH (Synchronous Data Hierarchical) telephone, Cable TV and Fax. circuits and the existing copper network, which Regarding Internet Access, an estimated 33.8 % allows the transfer of voice, images and data at of the population has the service; close to 23% of high-speed as well as access to digital broadband households have a computer and approximately 24 hours a day. 300,000 families are familiar with and have used In the area of landline telephone services, 32% internet (see Table10). One of the strengthening of the citizens of Costa Rica have a fixed-line plans for this area was to increase the internet telephone. The country has 1,045,000 active service capacity (or bandwidth) and reduce its fixed-lines but there are 400,000 available in the costs, and to provide top level infrastructure to telephone company station which will be used to the different service users in the country, while meet the users’ demands. The landline telephone attempting to increase internet access. In this company is ICE, which has the monopoly of the regard, the country is taking steps regarding service. The country´s connectivity has improved, technology and the drafting of legislation on the through the existing telephone infrastructure and
Table 10:
Indicator 1995 2000 2007
Cellular subscribers 0.56% 5.40% 33.80%
Internet users 0.43% 5.80% 33.60%
Personal computers - 15.30% 23.10%
Telephone landlines 14.18% 22.90% 32.20% Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 28 by extending connectivity to the cable television Moreover, significant efforts are being made in the companies. telecommunications infrastructure area. One of the main objectives is to increase the capacity (or Moreover, fiber optic ring connections have been bandwidth) of the internet service and reduce its installed throughout the country, and in 2001, the costs, in order to provide top quality infrastructure connection to the world was launched through to service users, while extending internet access. optical fiber submarine cable Maya 1 and Arcos 1, connecting the country to the international In this regard, the country is taking steps regarding telecommunications networks. With regard to technology and legislation. mobile telephone systems, 34% of users own a cellular telephone. Nowadays, there are 300,000 Because of the country´s political stability, it has new GSM lines in the country with the purpose become the host country of several international of increasing the number of users throughout the institutions dealing with cooperation, development, country, with 600 GSM lines mainly used in public, research and/or training in agricultural related economic and social infrastructure. Network sciences. National policies on science and 1800, compatible with most telephones, is used to technology have various reference points such implement mobile services called 3-G. as public universities, the Ministry of Science and Technology and institutions such as the Academy In the area of broadcasting, the country has 91 of Sciences, CONICIT, CENAT, among others. authorized radio stations in the country, such as Radio Columbia Radio Monumental, FIRE Radio According to the “Global Competitiveness Report Internacional Feminista, Radio Faro del Caribe, 2009-2010” of the World Economic Forum, in the Radio Dos and Radio FIDES, with microwave Latin America region, Chile is followed by Panama receptors adapted to receive satellite signals in the and Costa Rica, as the most competitive countries 3700 to 4200 MHz frequency. Channels 88 to 108 in Central America. The report highlights Costa MHz assigned to FM sound broadcasting services Rica in particular, having significantly improved its can be identified by its central carrier frequency competitiveness, after moving up nine positions in and channel number. Costa Rica is implementing the ranking since 2006. With regard to legislation projects in order to create community broadcasting on the use of information and communication services which would be used to channel collective technologies (electronic trade, digital signature interests. It is estimated that approximately 94% of and consumer protection), the report ranks Costa the population has units with this kind of technology Rica as 3.83, with 1= non-existent and 7=very in their homes. developed. National Information Policy: legislation and REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL regulations11 FRAMEWORKS Costa Rica has been developing legislative and For the past several years, the country has regulatory frameworks which work as the basis for been implementing an information technology the development and application of ICTs. One of development policy in order to provide those the main ones goes back to May 1988, when the benefits to a population of over 4 million people. A first National Committee for Policy on Informatics number of policies are being implemented in order to (COPOIN) was created by Executive Decree No. universalize access and promote its development. 18166-MICIT-PLAN, as an agency of the Ministry These policies are part of the so-called “Digital of Science and Technology. Two years later, on Agenda”, consisting of five main areas: 1) June 26, 1990, the Law of Promotion of Scientific infrastructure improvement, 2) universalization and Technological Development: Law No.7169 of internet access, 3) advancement of a new and Decree No. 32817-MICIT were approved, economy, 4) advancement of digital government, creating the National Science and Technology and 5) revision of the legal framework. System (SINCITi). More recently, on March 17,
11 A national information policy is the coordination of actions at the national level for the creation of a strategy to address development, use of resources, services and information systems. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 29
2004, the National Committee for Information and An important milestone in the telecommunications Communication Technologies (CONATIC) was legal framework is the development of the National created by Executive Decree No. 3168112. Telecommunications Development Plan for 2009- 2014. The methodology used to approach the Costa Rica has also developed numerous relevant subject consists of two phases: Phase I, Definition plans and programs in order to encourage and of the structure and vision of the Plan (PNDT, by frame all the topics concerning ICTs, such as: its Spanish acronym) and Phase II: Feedback on the Plan. Phase I contains a “To do activities” list: hh IT National Program (1990-1994); a), b), c) and d). hh National Program for Technological Development (1994-1998); Formulation of a case study, where the degree of development of the information society is analyzed hh Program Impulso (1998-2002); in three specific areas, namely:
hh Digital Government Plan (2002-2006); and a) Situation of key indicators on access, coverage and projects based on Information hh Digital Government Action Plan (2008- and Communication Technologies in key 2010). sectors of Government activities such as Broadcasting and Telecommunications: Legislation health, education, digital government and and Regulations agriculture; b) Articles related to topics such as Broadcasting activity in Costa Rica is regulated emergencies, natural disasters, management by various norms ranging from constitutional of telecommunications environment; and to regulatory levels, with several international c) Comparative studies of trends in the area instruments in between. All these rules constitute of telecommunications in governments, a legal bloc which functions as the regulatory sector leading businesses, and main framework for radio broadcasting. academic research centers worldwide.
The Broadcasting Law (Law 1758) was passed Table 11 provides a list of web pages and digital on June 19, 1954 and amended by Law no. 3981 links with more detailed/specific information on the on November 12, 1967. That law has laid the existing ICT norms in Costa Rica. foundations, after 51 years, of the prevailing basic framework in the broadcasting activity. However, Disaster Risk Management: Legislation and radio communications regulations are more recent Regulations and were passed by Executive Decree 31.608-G, on June 28, 2004 and amended by Executive In addition to the specific regulatory framework related Decree 32.168-G of May 18, 2005. The radio to ICTs, Costa Rica has made significant progress communications regulation is probably the most regarding regulations and institutional frameworks comprehensive body of norms on this subject in related to disaster risk management. The National Costa Rica. Emergency Commission (CNE) is the institution responsible for coordinating risk prevention, mitigation On the other hand, there is a Telecommunications and emergency response. The enactment of the Law: Law 8642, of June 30th, 2008 and its National Law on Emergencies and Risk Prevention, Regulations: no.34.765-MINAET of September 22, of August 14, 1969, establishing the institution, came 2008. There is also a Law on the Modernization and about in a period of crisis due to the eruption of Volcán strengthening of the Telecommunications sector Irazú between 1963 and 1965, and to the eruptions public entities: Law No.8660 of July 29, 2008. of Volcán Arenal in 1968. This law complements Decree No.449 dated April 8, 1949 when the Costa Rican Electrical Institute After 37 years, the Law underwent several (ICE) was created. amendments, the most recent on October 25,
12 More information is provided by the following link: http://www.una.ac.cr/ottve/Reglamentos/LeyPromocionDesarrolloCientifico.htm Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 30
Table 11: Links related to Regulations on digital information and telecommunications
hh Costa Rica’s digital strategy: an agenda of digitization to promote social equity, economic development and governance in the country: http://www.clubdeinvestigacion.com/costaricadigital/costaricadigital.pdf
hh Camara Costarricense de Tecnologias de Informacion y Comunicacion [Costa Rican ICT Chamber]: http://www.camtic. org/ES/
hh Public Services Regulatory Authority: Telecommunications and Postal Services: regulations (ARESEP): http://www. aresep.go.cr/cgi-bin/index.fwx?area=08&cmd=servicios&id=0438&sub=6640
hh Plan of Action – Digital Government : http://www.gobiernofacil.go.cr/gobiernodigital/documentos/PlanAccion-2008-2010. pdf
hh Legislation and Right to communication Program: Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC): Costa Rica. http:// legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=/paises/34/15
hh Law for the Promotion of Scientific Development: http://www.una.ac.cr/ottve/Reglamentos/ LeyPromocionDesarrolloCientifico.htm
hh Legal framework of CINACIT: http://163.178.205.7/marco_legal//sinciti.html
hh Law on Digital Signature and Digital Certificates.;http://www.conicit.go.cr/boletin/boletin4/ley.html
hh Country Report: Costa Rica AMARC Global Advocacy Project (2004-2005) Page 1 of 41: La Radio Comunitaria en Costa Rica [Community radio in Costa Rica]: http://documents.amarc.org/files/2006-01-12/Costa_Rica_Country_Report.pdf
hh MINARE- Ejes Estratégicos/Telecomunicaciones [Strategic axis/telecommunications]: http://www.minae.go.cr/ejes_ estrategicos/telecomunicaciones/PNDT/PNDT_Final.pdf
hh Nation Development Plan: http://www.mideplan.go.cr/content/view/69/371/
hh National Telecommunications Development Plan 2009-2014: http://www.minae.go.cr/ejes_estrategicos/ telecomunicaciones/PNDT/Metodologia_PNDT.pdf
2005 with Law no. 8488/05. The main objective with the areas of academic specialization in the of the norm is to safeguard human life and it country´s universities is noteworthy. Also important establishes how to understand, manage and is the development of a radio communications prevent disasters. The National Commission´s system coordinated by CNE, connecting various Council of Directors, which brings together several institutions, emergency commissions and ministries (Ministry of the President, Health, Public observation and surveillance posts throughout Works and Transportation, Housing and Human the country, in order to expedite the exchange of Settlements, Environment and Energy, Economy, information for decision-making in situations of Public Security and the Joint Institutes of Social warnings or emergencies13. Also, in connection Assistance and National Insurance, as well as a with the cooperation between CNE and the representative from the Costa Rican Red Cross), academic institutions, it is worth mentioning that in has been identified as the National Platform for compliance with Law 8488: National Emergencies Risk and Disaster Reduction and it is the focal point Law, CNE contributes with part of its budget to for the implementation of the Hyogo Framework the strengthening of the research in risk reduction for Action in Costa Rica. related areas undertaken by universities in Costa Rica. The significant development undertaken in the production of digital mapping, promoted by the Costa Rica has also been working with SUMA: National Emergency Commission, in cooperation PAHO/WHO Humanitarian Supply Management 13 For more detailed information, please see the “Red Nacional de Comunicaciones”[National Communications Network] at the CNE´s electronic portal (http://www.cne.go.cr). Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 31
System in emergency situations, an information in risk management by sectors. management tool which employs an easy-to-use computerized system in order to follow up the In this regard, it is worth noting that in the health items from the moment they are distributed to the sector there are fairly developed regulations, affected population. (http://www.disaster-info.net/ with specific material from the Ministry of Health SUMA/spanish/index.htm). on ICTs applied to primary health care in remote/ isolated/marginal areas of the country (http:// Relevant regulations by sector eurosocialsalud.eu/files/docs/00503.pdf or more general frameworks such as those included in the It is worth noting the existence of the “Jorge chapter on Costa Rica: Compilation of Regulations Manuel Dengo Obregón” National Development on Health and Disasters: Latin America, developed Plan 2006-2010 and its December 2008 updated by the PAHO. http://www.disaster-info.net/PED- version, divided by sectors: Environment, Science Sudamerica/leyes/vgpccd.html). and Technology, Foreign Trade, Government Coordination, Culture, Education, Finance, We should also mention the National Education Infrastructure and Transportation, Foreign Policy, Plan for Risk Reduction in Costa Rica. Experience Production, Health, Citizen´s Security, Social, has shown that, it has successfully managed Financial Supervision, Labor and Tourism. to mobilize the country with regard to disaster prevention. It represents a multidisciplinary effort The new National Development Plan was built between national and international organizations with a strategic purpose and under the sectorial and institutions committed to the subject of risk guidelines established by Decrees 33.151-MP, of management. (http://cidbimena.desastres.hn/ May 18, 2006 and 33.178-MP of June 14, 2006, docum/crid/Educacion/pdf/spa/doc15094/doc15094- in order to improve the coordination of the public contenido.pdf). sector institutions and build a new united and integrated vision of the sectors’ work, in order to In the same way, other legal/regulatory frameworks improve its efficiency and ensure a better allocation for sectors such as the Environment and Water and of public resources. http://www.mideplan.go.cr/ Sanitation, which, being critical sectors both for content/view/69/371/). development in general and for the management of risk reduction, can find an appropriate space to In addition to the above, the country has rules and promote the implementation of ICTs in that context. guidelines related to the various areas of the public Table 12 includes links to the more relevant laws and private sectors which can also be considered for these sectors in Costa Rica. as strategic for applying ICTs to disaster mitigation, either by the actors involved or by the space created for the potential use of these technologies
BIBLIOGRAPHY Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 32
Table 12: Legislation in critical sectors for disaster mitigation
Environment: Legislation and Regulations
Environment Law: No.7554 of October 4, 1995. http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/legislacion/CR/L-7554.pdf
Forestry coverage study in Costa Rica with LANDSAT TM7 images for the year 2000. http://documentacion.sirefor.go.cr/archivo/cobertura/INFORME_COBERTURA_97_00.pdf
More information on specific/detailed regulations can be found in the following web pages: hh http://www.ccad.ws/legislacion/Costa_Rica.html hh http://www.latinlaws.com/legislacion/modules/mylinks/viewcat.php?cid=98
Water and Sanitation: Legislation and Regulations
Law of Water: No.276 of August 26, 1942. http://www.oas.org/dsd/environmentlaw/waterlaw/documents/Costa_Rica-Ley_276.pdf
General Law on Potable Water: No.1634, of September 18, 1953. http://www.poder-judicial.go.cr/salatercera/leyes/leypenal/leygralaguas.htm
Law creating the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewerage: Law No.2726 , of August 27, 1961. http://www.dse.go.cr/es/02ServiciosInfo/Legislacion/PDF/Ambiente/Aguas/L-2726ICAA.pdf Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 33 hh PAHO/WHO. Area of preparedness for hh National Emergency Law No.4374 of 1969 and situations of emergency and relief in case of regulations on national emergencies- Executive disasters, country profiles: Costa Rica. http:// Decree- No.25216-MOPT http://www.crid.or.cr/ www.disaster-info.net/PED-Centroamerica/ cd/CD_CNE/pdf/spa/doc190/doc190.htm index.php?option=com_content&task=view&i d=75&Itemid=207 hh Emergency commissions regulations / National Emergency Commission, San José, 1998 http:// hh Compilation of regulations on health and www.crid.or.cr/cd/CD_CNE/pdf/spa/doc1552/ disasters: Latin America: PAHO/WHO http:// doc1552.htm www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/ vgpccd.html hh Costa Rica´s National Emergency Commission: national emergencies, legal framework. http:// hh International Strategy for Disaster Reduction www.cne.go.cr/index.php?option=com_conten (UNISDR): the Americas. Country profiles: t&task=view&id=23&Itemid=1 Costa Rica. http://www.eird.org/perfiles- paises/perfiles/index.php/Costa_Rica hh Towards a society of and knowledge in Costa Rica. http://www.gobiernofacil.go.cr/ hh Situation in the Central American countries. gobiernodigital/informes/cap4.pdf Summary of national studies: Costa Rica http:// legislaciones.item.org.uy/files/Marco%20 hh Management informatics, Ministry of Public regulatorio%20de%20Radiodifusion%20-%20 Education, Costa Rica. http://www.mep.go.cr/ Costa%20Rica.pdf InformaticaGestion/informacion.aspx hh The Global Information Technology Report hh National Development Plan 2006-2010 “Jorge 2008–2009: Mobility in a Networked World Manuel Dengo Obregón” http://www.mideplan. http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gitr/2009/ go.cr/content/view/69/371/ gitr09fullreport.pdf hh Action Plan, Digital Government 2008-2010 hh The Global Competitiveness Index 2008-2009: http://www.gobiernofacil.go.cr/gobiernodigital/ World Economic Forum. http://72.52.156.225/ documentos/PlanAccion-2008-2010.pdf Estudio.aspx?Estudio=indice-competitividad hh Costa Rica’s digital strategy: an agenda hh Ciudades digitales...ya casi. Iberomunicipios of digitization to promote social equity, .org. http://iberomunicipios.cpedreno.com. economic development and governance in the ar/?p=500 country. http://www.clubdeinvestigacion.com/ costaricadigital/costaricadigital.pdf hh National Emergency Law No.4374 of 1969 and Regulations on national emergencies- hh Forestry study of Costa Rica with LANDSAT Executive Decree No.25216-MOPT. San José, TM7 images for the year 2000. http:// 1996. http://cidbimena.desastres.hn/docum/ documentacion.sirefor.go.cr/archivo/ crid/Riesgo/pdf/spa/doc190/doc190.htm cobertura/INFORME_COBERTURA_97_00. pdf hh Costa Rica: institutional framework, legislation, strategies, policies and tools for prevention, hh Implementation of the Education National mitigation and disaster. http://www.crid.or.cr/ Plan for Risk Reduction in Costa Rica cd/CD_CNE/pdf/spa/doc1203/doc1203.htm (PLANERRYD). http://cidbimena.desastres. hn/docum/crid/Educacion/pdf/spa/doc15094/ hh National law on national disasters / National doc15094-contenido.pdf Emergency Commission, San José, 1993 http://www.crid.or.cr/cd/CD_CNE/pdf/spa/ doc128/doc128.htm Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 34
14 El SALVADOR Capital: San Salvador
Population: 6.9 million
Area: 21,040 km2
Population density: 321 h/km2
Urban population: 46%
Rate of demographic growth: 2.1
Currency: Dollar
Language: Spanish
located in the Central American Isthmus. It has an extension of 21,040 km2 with a population of 6.9 million15. It is bordered by Guatemala to the northeast and by Honduras to the northwest, Nicaragua to the southeast and by the Pacific GENERAL INFORMATION Ocean to the South. The territory is organized in 14 departments (comprised in three regions) The Republic of El Salvador - the smallest and which, in turn, are divided in 262 municipalities most densely populated country in the region - is (see Table 13).
Table 13: Administrative Division Estimated Department Capital Area (km2) population Cabañas Sensuntepeque 1,104 138,426 Cuscatlán Cojutepeque 756 178,502 Chalatenango Chalatenango 2,017 177,32 Libertad, La Nueva San Salvador 1,653 513,866 Paz, La Zacatecoluca 1,224 245,915 San Salvador San Salvador 886 1,512,125 San Vicente San Vicente 1,184 143,003 Ahuachapán Ahuachapán 1,24 261,188 Santa Ana San Ana 2,023 458,587 Sonsonete Sonsonete 1,226 360,183 Morazán San Francisco Gotera 1,447 160,146 San Miguel San Miguel 2,077 403,411
Unión, La La Unión 2,074 255,565 Usulután Usulután 2,13 310,362
14 The UNISDR Americas has developed country profiles with specific information on all aspects of risk reduction, including national counterparts, regulatory frameworks, and projects and initiatives on risk management in the country at hand. For more detailed information please visit the country profile of El Salvador at the following link: http://www.eird.org/wikiesp/index.php/El_Salvador 15 The Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 35
El Salvador is located in the northern part of the The most severe earthquakes in El Salvador took tropical belt, so that in November and October, place in January and February 2001, caused by winds blow from the northeast and, occasionally, several earthquakes and numerous aftershocks, from the north, bringing fresh air from the polar which left a balance of 1,159 deaths, 8,122 regions of North America, but it warms up when it wounded and 1.5 million casualties. crosses the Gulf of Mexico on the way to Central America. Every year, during the rainy season (July to October) there is floods and landslides. The The climate in El Salvador varies according to the overflowing of the Lempa and Grande rivers in San altitude. Miguel pose a constant threat to the population living along the shoreline. The most severe floods There are three distinct areas according to the in the recent years was caused by the passage of average air temperature during the year. Hurricane Mitch in October 1998. hh From 0 to 800 meters: the average temperature On the other hand, the volcanic eruptions have decreases with height from 27 to 22 degrees buried large areas throughout the country´s Celsius in the coastal plains and from 28 to 22 history. The most serious eruption took place in degrees Celsius in the inner plains; 1917 in the Boquerón Volcano. Today, only a few volcanoes are continuously active: the Santa Ana hh From 800 to 1,200 meters: average temperature volcano, the San Salvador volcano, the San Miguel decreases with height from 22 to 20 degrees volcano and the Izalco volcano, although we can´t Celsius in the high plains and from 21 to 19 rule out the reactivation of some volcanoes which degrees Celsius in the mountain sides; and were active in the past. hh From 1,200 to 2,700 meters: 20 to 16 degrees Below there is a brief description of the main natural Celsius in the high plains and valleys; 21 to 19 and man-made hazards linked to the occurrence in the mountain sides and 16 to 10 degrees of emergencies and disasters in the country. Celsius in valleys and depressions over 1,800 meters. The highest elevation in El Salvador is Natural hazards El Pital, in the Chalatenango Department, with 2,700 meters. By looking at the geography, physiography, climatology and geology of El Salvador, the type RISK SITUATION AND FREQUENT and magnitude of the events that are likely to occur HAZARDS in the country, can be determined. The probability of earthquakes is very high in the northwest and Due to its geographical and geological lower in the rest of the country. The probability background, El Salvador is vulnerable to several of landslides is very high in a large area of the kinds of disasters: earthquakes of high magnitude, country. When observing the climatic phenomena volcanic eruptions, droughts, tropical storms and the probability of storms and hurricanes is 0 to 2 severe floods. Most of the territory is mountainous, per year, which increases the probability of floods. volcanic, with a coastal belt. The country is divided in two regions by two mountain ranges, running The most severe climatological events in the country parallel from west to east: mountains, central are floods, landslides, hurricanes and droughts16. plateau and coastal plains (Pacific lowlands). The Currently, a project financed by the European Union southern mountain range has 20 volcanoes. is being implemented through CEPREDENAC, as a member country of the Central American The largest devastations have been caused by the Integration System (SICA): “Regional Program for earthquakes in the volcanic mountains that cross the Reduction of Vulnerability and Environmental the country parallel to the Pacific coast and which Degradation” (PREVDA), whose general objective belong to the Ring of Fire, and in the geological is: to advance change towards an integrated faults system towards the northeast and southeast. environmental management with emphasis on the
16 Disaster Relief, 1999; World Map of Natural Hazards, 1978; CIAT/World Bank/UNEP, 2000 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 36
Table 14: Emergencies and disasters related to natural hazards
Hurricane Mitch (1998):
The passage of Hurricane Mitch through El Salvador brought a situation of national which affecting in particular the communities located along the Pacific coast and the Lempa and Grande riverbanks communities in San Miguel. http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/paho_hurr_7elsalv.pdf
Floods (1998 because of Hurricane Mitch) and (2005):
Deaths, floods and landslides due to rainfall in El Salvador. The rainfall lasted three days leaving the country with four deaths, and 160 families evacuated from the high risk areas; there were floods and landslides. http://mapas.snet.gob.sv/hidrologia/view.php?id=373
Earthquake in El Salvador (2001):
On January 13, 2001, a seismic crisis began with several earthquake and numerous aftershocks, causing serious damage to the population and the infrastructure, productive activities and the environment in the country.
http://www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/spa/doc14197/doc14197.htm
Volcán de San Salvador (1917):
On June 7, 1917 the Boquerón volcano erupted for the last time, erasing a lake and leaving an elevation in the center of the crater. http://www.snet.gob.sv/Geologia/Vulcanologia/paginas/Mapa%20de%20Amenaza%20VSS.htm water resources and the reduction of the social and excess of garbage or sediments deposited on the natural hazards and vulnerabilities of the Lempa riverbeds. Deforestation, misuse of the soil and river´s basin (sub-basins: Shushula and Nunuapa) mismanagement of the watersheds contribute http://www.sica.int/prevda/ugn_es.aspx. to the degradation of the environment and to increased threats to the population. Some of the large-scale emergencies and disasters that have affected El Salvador are briefly detailed One of the most shocking events was lead was in Table 14. lead contamination, produced in the Sitio del Niño by a battery manufacturer. It is estimated that the Man-made hazards contaminated area extends within 8 km radius, and the impact on the area has not been measured Technological disasters have also occurred, yet, except for the presence of lead detected in the although with less frequency, resulting from blood of the residents who live near the factory. various threats linked to population growth, Another type of contamination is noise. In El exploitation of natural resources, and industrial Salvador, the main sources of noise are those of and urban development. Some areas in the mass transportation. Table 15 shows some of the cities of San Salvador and San Miguel are emergencies linked to human made hazards in El very vulnerable to floods due to deficiencies of Salvador. drainage, of hydraulic infrastructure and to the Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 37
Table 15: Emergencies and man-made disasters in El Salvador
The following serious emergencies occurred in El Salvador: hh Dengue epidemic (1983). hh Lead contamination in the Sitio del Niño [the Place of the Child] caused by a battery manufacturing company (2007). hh Food intoxication outbreak by Salmonella Enteritidis at the National Zacamil Hospital (2007).
TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE Table 16: Evolution of ICTs in El Salvador
El Salvador has shown a significant commitment hh 1960-1980: Big computers and development in the area of ICTs, as well as leadership at the regional level on the topics hh 1981: First personal computers related to the “Information Society”17. Many hh 1984: First computing career sources indicate that El Salvador has had an active participation on the subject, revealed by the hh 1992: Deferred Electronic mail creation of a national strategy called e-País, based on the opportunities provided by ICTs as tools hh 1995: In December, connection to the which energize the country´s economic and social Internet development and seek to improve the citizen´s quality of life. Table 16 presents a chronology hh 1998: Beginning of CRA Project* of the systematic progress made by this Central hh 2000: National Policy on Informatics American country. hh 2000: First 5 Infocentros The National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT) is the institution that promotes hh 2004: IT Master Plan technology and innovation for a sustainable economic and social development by means hh 2005: Plan 2021 of a national policy on science, technology and innovation18. E-País is an integral program which hh 2005: In December, connection to gathers all the existing initiatives on ICTs and brings Advanced Networks in new ones. Five lines of action encompassing hh 2006: e-País Strategy and e-Gob Platform all identified bills have been defined. El Salvador considers the E-País program as a national effort hh 2008: II Ministerial Conference about the with a vision shared by all Salvadorans, accepting Information Society the use of ICTs as the main vehicle to have access to a better standard of living for everyone. Some hh (*CRAs: rural grouped schools, by its of the action lines of e-País are: a) promotion of Spanish acronym) ICTs, b) promotion of education through ICTs, c) transparency and access to public information, d) promotion and protection of electronic transactions, e) creation of an institutional framework for the e-País program.
17 By Information Society we understand “a society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, uses, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity.” (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociedad_de_la_información; 18 For more information, please visit CONACYT page at: http://www.conacyt.gob.sv/ Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 38
In February 2008, El Salvador hosted the Second hh Infocentros: it is about ICTs bringing access Ministerial Conference on the Information Society, to information to the public, through a national where 26 LAC countries reached the “San Salvador Infocentros network. (http://www.infocentros. Commitment” and where El Salvador had to follow org.sv/nai/); up on the commitments reached. (http://www. elac2007.org.sv). hh FutureKids: provides educational institutions with different solutions to support the adoption In terms of fixed-line telephone services, an of ICTs as tools to enrich the teaching-learning approximate 16% of the population has access process. (http://www.futurekids.com.sv); and, to telephones, while the number of cellular phone users increased from 20% in 2000 to 90% in 2007 hh Arroba de Oro [Golden @] Ciber olimpíadas (see table 17). The costs of fixed-line telephone [Ciber olimpics]: Arroba de Oro was born in the services for residential users have dropped year 2001 in El Salvador, as part of a strategy considerably in the past seven years. seeking to encourage the development of the Internet industry in the country. Its significance Regarding internet access, El Salvador went from transcends the country, through a competition over 1% of the population having access to this where a prize is awarded to the website which technology to 11% in 2007, and 94% of them are better contributes to the development of the subscribed to fixed broadband. Internet services internet industry in all Latin America. (http:// prices have decreased in 2003 and have stayed www.arrobadeoro.com). below the average for Latin America and the Caribbean. The percentage of personal computers REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL is slightly above 5% of the population and 83% of FRAMEWORKS households have television sets. According to the Global Competitiveness Index El Salvador has a significant number of relevant 2008-2009 of the World Economic Forum, in the initiatives related to the development and Latin American region, El Salvador ranks number strengthening of ICTs, among others: 79 with a competitiveness index of 3.99. With regard to legislation related to the use of information hh Program CONECTATE [Get connected] of the and communication technologies (electronic trade, Ministry of Education, promising to improve digital signature and consumer protection), the the current situation of ICTs in education with report gives El Salvador a ranking of 3.42, with 1= technological tools, promoting their productive nonexistent and 7= well developed. use (http://www.conectate.gob.sv/); It is worth mentioning the role of the National hh Establishment of NAP: Internet exchange point Service of Territorial Studies (SNET), whose (IXP). Establishment of neutral access points goal is to contribute to disaster risk reduction for everything related to the exchange of data and prevention. Moreover, SNET promotes and furthering the development of the Information facilitates the development and implementation of Society (http://www.epais.gob.sv/nota_1.html);
Table 17:
Indicator 1995 2000 2007
Cellular subscribers 0.24% 12.00% 89.60%
Internet users - 1.10% 11.10%
Personal computers - 1.90% 5.20%
Landline telephones 5.03% 10.10% 15.80% Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 39 policies, strategies, programs and projects which of the main frameworks dates back to 1983 with would benefit and foster the crystallization of the passage of the Constitution of the Republic the interventions that national public and private of El Salvador through Decree No. 38-1983, later organizations, institutions and communities amended by Decree-Law No. 154 of 2003. implement to foster development and where risk reduction and control would constitute Community Development Act, Decree 425-1977 of crosscutting and integrating activities. In order to December 20, 1977. This law was created with the develop its activities, SNET compiles, manages purpose of attaining better economic, social and and produces information and therefore, requires cultural development in the municipalities. a broad technological electronic support for most One of the goals of the National Committee on of its activities, which go from the establishment of Informatics (CNI) of El Salvador, established by basic electronic communication and cooperation the National Council of Science and Technology mechanisms and tools up to information systems, (CONACYT) in 1966, is to create and present of operational and managerial nature that expedite proposals on information technology policy the institutional processes. in the country. For that purpose, CNI has the In addition to the roles common to all information representation and participation of twenty eight technology organizations, a specialized institutions from the public and private sectors technical area is included for the management and from the academic and academic/non- of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), an government sectors. They also count on the important tool for monitoring the space patterns of support of CONACYT in their capacity of permanent natural phenomena and the analysis and modeling secretariat of CNI. With the cooperative work of of hazards and vulnerability for various areas or this group of institutions and the validation from sectors. The objective of the National Service other entities, the National Information Technology of Territorial Studies (SNET) is to support the Policy was formulated to provide a strategy for the generation of knowledge and the optimization of country in the area of Information Technology, also the institution’s information assets, also facilitating known as Informatics. the socialization of this knowledge through the On December 2004, through Executive Decree establishment of mechanisms of dissemination No.79-2004, the National Committee for the and access to information. Therefore, when Information Society was created to function as an combining information technology with the advisory and consultative entity to the President modern tools of the Geographical Information of the Republic regarding the development and System, the institution can work with databases consolidation of the information society in the that incorporate risk mitigation and prevention country20. measures, at the national, regional and local levels, becoming basic information in decision-making In August 2006, this Committee prepared the for territorial planning and for the implementation National Strategy for e-país program, to make of development strategies which effectively knowledge available to everyone through the incorporate Risk Management criteria. (http:// use and application of the Information and www.snet.gob.sv/usi.htm). Communication Technology (ICT) and thereby raising the competitiveness level of every National Information Policy: Legislation and Salvadoran. This was the motto of the National regulations19 Committee for the Information Society21. El Salvador has been developing legal and The Puebla –Panama Plan (PPP) is a regional regulatory frameworks which provide the basis development plan with eight main areas and with for the development and application of ICTs. One
19 A national information policy is the coordination of public measures for the design of a strategy geared towards development and use or resources, services and information systems. 20 Please visit the following link: http://www.csj.gob.sv/leyes.nsf/ef438004d40bd5dd862564520073ab15/89deb6c6263c733206257118005807 d8?OpenDocument
21 Please visit this link: https://www.bmi.gob.sv/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/BMI_HTMLS/BMI_PULSO_INDUSTRIA_IMG/PROGRAMA_EPAIS_ RESUMEN.PDF Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 40 each country in charge of one topic. Within that system. The International Telecommunications framework, El Salvador is in charge of Electronic Convention has also been ratified. The norms Government (e-Government) and to that end, more closely related to the operations of radio in December 2006, the Feasibility study for the stations and access to the radio spectrum are: establishment of e-Government in El Salvador was developed. The goal of the study is to prepare a 1. Creation of the General Superintendency specific plan to establish an e-Government platform of Electricity and Telecommunications Act in El Salvador taking into account the subsequent (SIGET) Legislative Decree N° 808-1996 implementation of the plan to be financed by dated September 12, 1996 and its enabling various sources including a loan from the Japan Regulation: Executive Decree Nº: 56 of May 23 Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). 13, 1998 .
Broadcasting and Telecommunications 2. Telecommunications Act: Legislative Decree No. 142-1997 of November 6th, 1997 and its Broadcasting in El Salvador is regulated by enabling Regulation: Executive Decree No. 56 various norms ranging from constitutional level of May 13, 199824. (This version incorporates to regulatory level. Article 6 of the Constitution the amendments up to 2006; among them of El Salvador of 1983 relates to freedom of are those required by the FTA with the United expression and information22. It is also part of the States). most significant international treaties on human rights. In this manner, rules regarding freedom Legislative Decree No. No.808-1996 created of expression, such as article 13 of the American the General Superintendency of Electricity and Convention on Human Rights and article 19 of Telecommunications (SIGET) and revoked the International Covenant and Civil and Political the previous National Telecommunications Rights are fully integrated in the national legal Administration (ANTEL, by its Spanish acronym).
Table 18: Links related to regulations on digital information and telecommunications hh National Service of Territorial Studies/Informatics services (SNET/USI): http://www.snet.gob.sv/usi. htm hh National Informatics Committee (CNI): www.cni.org.sv hh National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT). http://www.conacyt.gob.sv/ hh Feasibility study for the establishment of e-Government in El Salvador. http://lvzopac.jica.go.jp/ external/library?func=function.opacsch.mmdsp&view=view.opacsch.mmindex&shoshisbt=1&shosh ino=0000170299&volno=0000000000&filename=11838869.pdf&seqno=1 hh General Superintendency of Electricity and Telecommunications (SIGET). http://www.siget.gob.sv/ index.aspx?tipo=17 hh Legislation and the Right to Communication Program: Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC): El Salvador. http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=paises/36 hh Situation in the Central American countries. Summary of national studies: El Salvador http:// legislaciones.item.org.uy/files/Marco%20regulatorio%20de%20Radiodifusion%20-%20El%20 Salvador.pdf
22 For more information see the following link: http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=node/564 23 See texts of the law at: http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/files/Ley_General_de_Creacion_de_SIGET.pdf ; See full text of Regulations [Reglamento] at: http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/files/Reglamento_de_la_ley_de_creacion_SIGET.pdf 24 Ver link: http://www.siget.gob.sv/documentos/telecomunicaciones/legislacion/reglamento_de_la_ley_de_telecomunicaciones0.pdf Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 41
SIGET became the competent agency to apply people, as well as the safety of public and private the norm contained in international treaties on property. Its goal is to establish the National electricity and telecommunications in effect in El System of Civil Protection and Disaster Mitigation Salvador and in the laws and regulations that rule and Prevention (SISNAE) with the responsibility the electricity and telecommunications sectors. to formulate and implement the appropriate work plans for civil protection, work plans for prevention, The objective of the Telecommunications Act is to risk management and impact mitigation. regulate the activities of the telecommunications sector, particularly the public telephone service, The system consists of: a) the National the use of the radio spectrum, the access to the Commission of Civil Protection and Disaster essential resources and the numeration plan, Prevention and Mitigation, b) the Departmental including the assignment of access keys of the Commissions for Civil Protection, Prevention multicarrier system. Likewise, it is established that and Disaster Mitigation, c) the Municipal and the General Superintendency of Electricity and Communal Commissions for Civil Protection and Telecommunications will be the responsible entity Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. for applying and ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations established in this Law and National Emergency Plan: one of the components its Regulations25. of the National Emergency Plan is the Emergency Operations Center (COE, by its Spanish acronym), On April 22, 2009, Resolution no. T-0390- whose goal is to coordinate the multisectoral and 2009 came into effect, on the basis of which inter-institutional efforts when a warning has been the General Superintendency of Electricity and issued countrywide. The Emergency Operations Telecommunications (SIGET) decided to accept Center has a manual of procedures and functional the ATSC US norm for radio and digital TV26. organization created in 2001, which includes the organizational structure, institutional functions and Table 18 presents a list of web pages and response plans, as well as the logistic aspects of links where more detailed/specific regulatory the operation and coordination for the emergency. frameworks related to ICTs in El Salvador can be accessed. Executive Decree no. 96 of September 14, 2001, created the National Service of Territorial Studies Disaster Risk Management: Legislation and (SNET), a public institution assigned to the Ministry Regulations of the Environment and Natural Resources. The main objective of SNET is to contribute to disaster On April 8, 1976 Legislative Decree No.498: Civil prevention and reduction. Therefore, the research Defense Act was passed, establishing the National and study of nature’s phenomena, processes and Emergency Committee (COEN) with the purpose dynamics, the environment and society which of coordinating actions and making decisions in are directly or indirectly related to the probability emergency situations, in order to respond quickly of disasters and, consequently, of losses and and timely. physical, economic, social and environmental On August 31, 2005 Decree No.777-2005: the Civil damages, falls under its jurisdiction. All ensuing Protection, Prevention and Disaster Mitigation Act responsibilities and functions assigned to SNET was approved. The goal of this decree was to have been structured in four units: Geological, prevent, mitigate and efficiently handle natural and Meteorological, Hydrological and Territorial man-made disasters in the country, and if need Studies, and Risk Management services. They be, to deploy the civil protection public service, are supported by the Informatics’ Services Unit which should characterize itself by its generality, and Administrative and General Services Unit (for obligatory nature, continuity and regularity, in more information refer to the previous section on order to ensure the life and the physical integrity of technological support and infrastructure).
25 The legal and regulatory framework of SIGET can be found at en : http://www.siget.gob.sv/BusquedaPublica.aspx?tipo=3&titulo=to1&ordena do=0&dir=DESC 26 See text of Resolution at: http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=node/969 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 42
On May 18, 2007, Executive Decree No. 42 of formulating and leading the national policy was approved, after which the National Service regarding scientific and technological development of Territorial Studies (SNET) becomes part of geared toward economic and social development the Ministry of the Environment and Natural in the country.29 Resources. On July 16, 2008 the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was approved. The In addition to the above, there are norms and focal point for the implementation of the Hyogo guidelines developed in the country with regard to Framework for Action in El Salvador is the National various areas of public and private business which Service of Territorial Studies (SNET). http://www. can also be considered as strategies for ICTs preventionweb.net/files/globalplatform/entry_pre applied to disaster mitigation, either by the actors sentation~ElSalvadorNP150609%5B2%5D.pdf 27 involved or the space created for the possible use of these technologies in risk management by In addition to the regulatory framework more sector. In this regard, the chapter on El Salvador specific to ICTs, El Salvador has also made some on the “Compilation of regulations on Health and progress with regard to norms and institutional Disasters: Latin America”, developed by the Pan frameworks related to disaster risk management. American Health Organization presents a fairly developed set of regulations for the health sector.30 In emergency situations, El Salvador also works with SUMA: PAHO/WHO Humanitarian Supply In the education sector, the National Informatics Management System: an information management Commission developed the National Informatics tool which employs an easy-to-use computerized Policy, whose objectives are mentioned in chapter system to follow up the items from the moment II: “Education and training of human resources”. they are actually distributed to the affected Objective no.1 is to: “provide and advise with regard population. (http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/ to access to Information and Communication spanish/index.htm). Technologies”. The national systems of formal and informal education and complementary programs SUMA in El Salvador: Humanitarian assistance are supporting the consolidation of a computerized 28 management following the 2001 earthquakes Salvadoran society with the willingness to become knowledge-based society. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and four other United Nations agencies have just With regard to water and sanitation, a Water and completed the first development phase of a new Sanitation Network (RASES) was established, as system: Logistics Support System (LSS), based a space for interested organizations to exchange on the SUMA system of the PAHO for managing experiences on the sustainability of potable water humanitarian resources following disasters. Both and sanitation systems in the urban and surrounding LSS and SUMA are systems based on computer areas in El Salvador. The institutions which reviewed software that help response systems consolidate this initiative were: the National Administration of and exchange information, improve operational Aqueducts and Sewerage (ANDA), the Ministry of transparency, register and monitor the distribution Public Health and Social Work (MSPAS), the Pan of undocumented elements, especially donations American Health Organization (PAHO), UNICEF not expressly requested. and the American Cooperative of Remittances Abroad (CARE), among others. Relevant regulations by sectors In 2001-2003 RASES underwent an internal On January 4, 1993, the National Council on reorganization process with the purpose of Science and Technology (CONACYT) is created obtaining commitments by its members and to by Decree no. 287-93, with the main functions
27 For more information visit : http://www.eird.org/perfiles-paises/perfiles/index.php/El_Salvador 28 For more information visit: http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/spanish/documentos/Revista%20SUMA_Ayuda_Transparente.pdf 29 See text of decree at: http://www.conacyt.gob.sv/Ley%20del%20Consejo.pdf 30 See more information at: http://www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/vgpccd.html Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 43 carry out a strategic planning to expand the network’s frame of reference to include the topic of protection of the water resources. Currently, RASES is managed through a management group, with representatives of governmental, nongovernmental and cooperation institutions.
Table No. 19 shows some of the regulatory frameworks relevant to the education and other critical sectors, such as water and environment.
Table 19: Legislation in critical sectors for disaster mitigation
Environmental Law: http://www.cesta-foe.org/recursos/pdfs/Ley_de_medio_ambiente.pdf
More specific/detailed regulations on the environment can be found in the following web pages: hh http://www.latinlaws.com/legislacion/modules/mylinks/viewcat.php?cid=154 hh http://www.ccad.ws/legislacion/El_Salvador.htm
Law on the integrated management of water: http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/legislacion/ES/DL-886.pdf
Plan of action for the integrated water management in the Central American Isthmus): http://www.ccad.ws/ documentos/pacadirh/PACADIRH.pdf
General Education Law: Decree No.917-1996 of December 12, 1996 and its amendment: Decree Law. 687, of May 13, 2005 http://www.mined.gob.sv/descarga/Ley-general-de-educacion-reformas-2005_0_.pdf
National Education Plan 2021: Metas y políticas para construir el país que queremos”. [Goals and policies to build the country we want] http://www.oei.es/quipu/salvador/plan2021_metasypoliticas.pdf
For more information on the legislation on education in El Salvador, please visit: http://www.oei.es/quipu/salvador/ index.html#legi Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 44
BIBLIOGRAPHY hh Hurricane Mitch in El Salvador / OPS-MS.http:// www.paho.org/Spanish/Ped/gm-salvador.pdf hh PAHO/WHO. Area of preparedness for situations of emergency and relief in case of hh Legislation and the Right to Communication disasters, country profiles: El Salvador. http:// Program: Latin America and the Caribbean www.disaster-info.net/PED-Centroamerica/ (AMARC): El Salvador http://legislaciones. index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcat item.org.uy/index?q=paises/36 egory&id=60&Itemid=240 hh National Council of Science and Technology hh Compilation of regulations on health and (CONACYT): http://www.conacyt.gob.sv/ disasters: Latin America: PAHO/WHO. Ley%20del%20Consejo.pdf http://www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/ leyes/vgpccd.html hh The Water and Sanitation Network of El Salvador (RASES): http://www.rases.org.sv hh International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Regional Office for the Americas hh Education Progress Report: El Salvador 2002. (UNISDR) the Americas. Country profile: El http://www.oei.es/quipu/salvador/preal_2002. Salvador. http://www.eird.org/perfiles-paises/ pdf perfiles/index.php/El_Salvador hh SUMA: Humanitarian Supply Management hh Situation in the Central American Countries: System. http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/ Summary of National Studies: El Salvador. http:// spanish/index.htm legislaciones.item.org.uy/files/Marco%20 hh National Educational Systems / OEI. http:// regulatorio%20de%20Radiodifusion%20-%20 www.oei.es/quipu/salvador/index.html El%20Salvador.pdf hh Legislation and policies. http://www.ccad.ws/ hh The Global Information Technology Report legislacion/El_Salvador.htm 2008–2009: Mobility in a Networked World. http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gitr/2009/ hh Latin Laws. Biblioteca Legal Latinoamericana. gitr09fullreport.pdf http://www.latinlaws.com/elsalvador.html hh The Global Competitiveness Index 2008-2009: hh Plan of action for the integrated water World Economic Forum. http://72.52.156.225/ management in the Central American Isthmus. Estudio.aspx?Estudio=indice-competitividad http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/pacadirh/ PACADIRH.pdf hh Epidemiological Situation of Acute Pesticide Poisoning in the Central American Isthmus, 1992-2000. http://www.paho.org/spanish/sha/ be_v23n3-plaguicidas.htm Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 45
31 GUATEMALA Capital: Guatemala
Population: 13.3 million
Area: 108,890 km2
Population density: 135 h/km2
Urban population: 47.2%
Demographic growth rate: 2.4
Currency: El Quetzal
GENERAL INFORMATION Language: Spanish
The Republic of Guatemala is located in the a population of 13.3 million (2007)32. The territory Central American Isthmus, bordering Mexico to is organized in 22 departments (see Table 20). It the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the south, is called the “country of eternal spring”; it does not Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast, and have extreme temperatures. The climate varies Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the northeast. Its according to the altitude. territory covers an area of 108,890 km2 and has
Table 20: Administrative division33 Estimated Department Capital Area (km2) population Alta Verapaz Cobán 8,686 920,707 Baja Verapaz Salamá 3,124 263,189 Chimaltenango Chimaltenango 1,979 520,21 Chiquimula Chiquimula 2,376 110,063 Escuintla Escuintla 4,384 658,643 Guatemala Guatemala 2,126 3,483,929 Huehuetenango Huehuetenango 7,4 927,838 Izabal Puerto Barrios 9,038 395,384 Jalapa Jalapa 2,063 348,722 Jutiapa Jutiapa 3,219 498,995 El Petén Flores 35,854 397,632 El Progreso Guastatoya 1,922 158,052 Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango 1,951 752,285 El Quiché Santa Cruz del Quiché 8,378 717,879 Retalhuleu Retalhuleu 1,856 311,881 Sacatepéquez Antigua Guatemala 465 289,116 San Marcos San Marcos 3,791 831,276 Santa Rosa Cuilapa 2,955 332,321 Sololá Sololá 1,061 371,634 Suchitepéquez Mazatenango 2.510 469.340 Totonicapán Totonicapán 1.061 435.646 Zacapa Zacapa 2.690 259.256
31 The UNISDR Americas has developed country profiles with specific information on all aspects of risk reduction, including national counterparts, regulatory frameworks, projects and initiatives on risk management in the country at hand. For a more detailed information please visit El Salvador Country Profile at the following web: http://www.eird.org/wikiesp/index.php/Guatemala 32 The Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009. 33 Figures come from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) in Guatemala - 2002 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 46
The coastal zones and the northeast (river valleys) have warm temperatures throughout the year; in the central area of the country, between 700 and 1,800 meters of altitude the climate is moderate. The area above 1,899 meters of altitude is called “cold zone”, and it has a drier climate. In Guatemala there are two well-defined seasons: the dry season and the rainy season, which lasts from May to November (in some Atlantic areas the rainy season lasts practically all year, like in Verapaces and El Petén) with abundant precipitation. In general, temperatures drop abruptly at night.
Table 21: Emergencies and disasters related to natural hazards
Floods (2005): Heavy rainfall caused by the passage of Hurricane Stan in several Central American countries. Among them, Guatemala was the most affected one, experiencing floods and landslides due to the heavy rainfall level attained in just a few days. http://www.usaid.gov/gt/espanol/disaster.htm
Hurricane Mitch (1998): Hurricane Mitch affected Guatemala particularly between the last week of October and the first week of November in 1998; the magnitude of the damages was large, although smaller than in other countries of the region. The meteorological phenomenon moved at a lower speed, and from a total of 22 departments, 14 were affected, according to official sources. The eastern area and the southern coast were the most affected regions in the country.http://www.paho.org/Spanish/Ped/gm-guatemala.pdf
Santa María Volcano (1902): Considered the strongest in the last 500 years in Guatemala and one of the 10 most severe worldwide in the XX century. The pyroclastic flows caused 6,000 casualties. http://es.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Santa_Mar%C3%ADa_(volc%C3%A1n)
Guatemala earthquake (1976): In 1976, 23,000 people died in the Guatemala earthquake and close to 90% of constructions in the central area of the highlands were destroyed or severely damaged. The collapse of the slopes where thousands of people with scarce resources were living caused most of the deaths in Guatemala City.http:// www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/spa/doc6785/doc6785.htm
RISK SITUATION AND FREQUENT departments, and at the beginning of 2001 there HAZARDS was seismic activity due to the earthquake in El Salvador. In November 1998, hurricane Mitch Guatemala’s geographical location and geological caused damage in 14 of the 22 departments in the traits make it a country with multiple and diverse country, leaving 268 deaths. As in all the Central landscapes, and a country highly vulnerable and American Countries, deforestation and soil erosion exposed to different types of disasters. Guatemala add to the destructive consequences of heavy is located in one of areas of the world more prone rainfall. to natural hazards. Following is a brief description of the main natural Guatemala has Los Cuchumatanes, the highest and man-made hazards linked to emergencies elevation in Central America and Sierra Madre, and disasters in the Guatemalan territory. which forms the country’s central high plateau, and marks the watershed. From the Sierra Madre Natural hazards system several branches emerge; among the most important ones are the Minas and Santa Guatemala is located on three tectonic plates: Cruz highlands. The country has five main lakes: North American, Caribbean and Cocos, whose Amatitlán, Atitlán, Guija, Izabal and Petén Itzá, and movements, together with 40 volcanoes (all of a great number of ponds. them along the mountain range stretching parallel to the Pacific coast: Sierra Madre), three of which Throughout history, volcanoes have been are active, and the emergence of six geological associated with important events, such as the faults expose the country to natural hazards. transfers of the capital city of Guatemala. In 1999 and 2000, earthquakes caused damage to 12 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 47
Guatemala has active volcanoes and is affected Extreme climatological events in this country by the cycle of Caribbean hurricanes and by include floods, hurricanes, droughts and rising sea very heavy rainfall. The regions which are level. Some of the emergencies and disasters of most vulnerable to volcanic activity are the greater magnitude that have affected Guatemala departments of Guatemala and Escuintla, where are briefly described in Table 21. the Pacaya Volcano is located, the departments of Sacatepéquez and Escuintla in the central- south TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT AND area of Guatemala City where the Fuego volcano INFRASTRUCTURE is located and the department of Quetzaltenango, where the Santiaguito volcano is found. In Guatemala, 10% of the population has access to telephone lines totaling 1.5 million lines installed. The most vulnerable regions with the highest risk Among the enterprises which provide fixed-line of earthquakes are: Guatemala, El Progreso, telephony is Telecommunications of Guatemala Zacatepequez, Chimaltenango, Escuintla, San (TELGUA), an international operator of América Rosa, Sololá, Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango, Móvil and Telefónica de Guatemala, belonging to Suchitepéquez, Retalhuleu, San Marcos, Baja the Spanish international operator Telefónica. The Verapaz, Zacapa, Chiquimula, Jalapa and Jutiapa. increase of the landline telephone market is under Guatemala belongs to an area of persistent hazards consideration, through the installation of more and its high risk situation is, to a large extent, the telephone lines in the urban and rural areas of the result of an equation where poverty intervenes as country in order to compensate for the existing a determining factor. The valley where Guatemala high demand. City stands and its surrounding areas is formed, for the most part, of pumice deposits, containing lesser With regard to cellular telephones, 74% of amounts of other types of lithology (limestone, Guatemalans have cellular phones (see Table granite to the north, fluvial deposits and tertiary lava 22). The telecommunications sector invested in the eastern and western borders). The slopes 2,400 million to provide better coverage and deal of ravines, due to its incline and the properties with the market demands. Coverage is expected of the material they are made of (mainly their to increase. The three operators have improved resistance), are prone to landslides. In the most its GSM networks, going from GPRS to EDGE, common cases (pumice) the stability of the slope is and they are planning to launch the UMTS/HSPA. influenced by the water content of the material it is Strategies have been implemented in order to made of: the higher the water content, the lower the keep the growth rate of fixed-line telephony; the stability of the slope. The areas more susceptible building of new transmitting antennas will increase to landslides are those with steep inclines, slopes the coverage area. There are three operators with low resistance to cutting (commonly made of for cellular telephones in the market which use 34 pumice and/or weathered rock). In these areas, GSM technology . In general, cellular telephones there are precarious human settlements which are are accessible to the poorest segments of the particularly vulnerable to these phenomena. population.
Table 22:
Indicator 1995 2000 2007 Cellular subscribers 0.30% 7.60% 76.00%
Internet users 0.70% 10.10%
Personal computers 0.30% 1.20% 2.10%
Fixed-line telephony 2.87% 6.00% 10.40%
34 Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala (TELGUA); Millicom; Telefónica de Guatemala and Intelfón. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 48
Around 10% of Guatemalans are Internet users, and would contribute to the future development and 2% of the population has personal computers. of the country by providing world quality digital The private sector expects to create connectivity products and services, of high aggregate value points to Internet from all municipalities in the and highly profitable, for international markets. The country, from places already in operation where role on the part of the private initiative is to create people can get different services. Through an enterprises that generate employment and provide electronic e-Government initiative and with the new services; on the part of the government, support of institutions such as the Superintendency the role is to prepare and support initiatives that of Telecommunications SIT (www.sit.gob.gt), an allow the enterprises to compete nationally and ambitious connectivity project was developed, internationally, and on the part of the academia the seeking to set up a large capacity center in more role is to integrate the private initiative and prepare than 300 different rural nodes in the country. Most professionals to respond to the market real needs. Guatemalans do not have broadband connection, With the purpose of improving productivity, as well with the most common connection being ¨dial up¨ as local and international positioning, agendas telephone dialing. Internet sites in Guatemala are would be developed and the competitiveness of classified by domain: com.gt, net.gt, .org.gt, .edu. the sectors involved would be promoted. gt, .mil.gt, .gob.gt y .ind.gt. Twenty eight companies provide wireless or cable internet, of which only a National Information Policy: Legislation and 35 few provide satellite connection, such as: YEGO regulations (http://www.yego.com.gt) and CONVERGENCE Guatemala has been developing legislative and (www.guate.net). regulatory frameworks which provide a basis for Guatemala has 772 private broadcasting stations the development and application of ICTs. One with their own programs. There is an average of the main precedents dates back to January of 230 AM radio stations, 517 FM stations 30th, 2002, when the Presidential Commission and 21 shortwave stations. Projects are being for State Reform, Decentralization and Citizen managed with the purpose of creating community Participation (COPRE) was created and regulated broadcasting services which will be used to channel through Government Accord 24-2002 and No.312- collective interests. 2002, of September 6, 2002, with the purpose of strengthening the representative, participatory Half of Guatemalan households have television and intercultural democracy, and refocusing the equipments and can have access to 14 channels Government´s policies towards an effective State with authorized repeater stations to broadcast its Reform aiming at increasing, consolidating and signal to the whole country. There are over six strengthening the democratic system, by means (6) television channels, in addition to 25 relay of Political and Institutional Modernization. On antennas. Television channel TV-USAC establishes November 4th 2004, the Reform was approved a communication link between the university and by Governmental Accord No.346-2004, where society. the basic COPRE work areas and powers are defined. REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS The basic work areas will be: formulation of policies and strategies, as well as execution of In Guatemala, the initiative to group the main plans, programs and actions necessary for the sectors of the Information and Communication implementation of the electronic Government in the Technology (ICTs) industry in a cluster was done country, promotion of consensus and coordination in order to join forces to bring the country to the of those actions with all the institutions of the position of a Latin American technology center, executive body. Electronic Government should generating businesses that would allow for the be understood as the application of information creation of new jobs, mainly based on knowledge, and communication technologies, with the
35 A national information policy is the coordination of public action for the design of a strategy geared towards development and use or resources, services and information systems. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 49 purpose of attaining efficiency and transparency of the Office of Broadcasting. On the other hand, in government management. Its functions will be: the Telecommunications Act: Law 94-96 of October to formulate, execute and coordinate the policies, 17, 1996, establishes the general framework plans, programs and actions for the implementation of telecommunications systems in Guatemala of public services online, the reduction of the digital and defines the features and jurisdiction of the divide, the creation of a geographical information Superintendency of Telecommunications (SIT). system for the country, the connection of technology Later on, this law is amended by decrees 115-97 to development and the promotion of civil society and 47-2002. intervention and consensus regarding electronic Government; In Guatemala, there are the so-called Community Radios, currently operating illegally since Guatemala also developed a few plans and they are waiting for an amendment of the programs to promote and frame the ICTs thematic, telecommunications law to allow them to operate some of which are: without having to resort to public auction. hh National Science, Technology and Innovation These radios do not have the economic resources Plan (2005-2014). to participate in those auctions. In the AMARC report (see Table 19), an amendment to the law is hh National Competitiveness Plan (2005-2015). proposed, in order to introduce the legal concept of obtaining the frequency through permits and not Broadcasting and Telecommunications: Legislation through auction as it is currently done. Through and Regulations Governmental Accord 43-2007 of February 13, The broadcasting activity in Guatemala is regulated 2007, the new policy was approved, with a focus by various norms ranging from constitutional to on dissemination and raising the awareness about regulatory levels, beginning with Article 35 of the risk of illegal use of radio frequencies. the Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, Table 23 presents a list of web pages and digital amended in 1983, which legitimates the right links with more detailed/specific regulations to information, followed by the Broadcasting existing in Guatemala with regard to ICTs. Act Decree-Law No.433-1980 of March 10th, 1966. This law regulates the aspects referring to broadcasting and the general features and goals
Table 23: Links related to regulations on Digital Information and Communications hh Digital Government Plan of Action. http://lac.derechos.apc.org/es.shtml?apc=s1635500e_1 hh Legislations and the Right to Communications Program: Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC): Guatemala. http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=paises/28 hh National Plan of Science, Technology and Information (2005-2014). http://www.concyt.gob.gt/ attachments/207_PlanNacional%202005-2014.pdf hh The situation in the Central American Countries. Summary of National Studies: Guatemala http:// legislaciones.item.org.uy/files/Marco%20regulatorio%20de%20Radiodifusion%20-%20Guatemala. pdf hh Community radio in Guatemala / Country Report: Guatemala. AMARC Global Advocacy Project (2004-2005) http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache%3A93lLaC5zSlUJ%3Adocuments.amarc. org%2Fgetfile hh Guatemala: ¿Una economía al servicio del desarrollo humano?: Human Development National Report 2007-2008. http://www.desarrollohumano.org.gt/ Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 50
Disaster risk management: legislation and necessary to development. Moreover, there is a regulations Social Development Act (Decree 42-2001), which promotes inter-institutional participation as well, The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction in addition to the fact that its policy indicates the of Guatemala (CONRED) was created by Decree- need to study the population at-risk, as well as Law No.109-96, on November 7, 1966 and encourage social protection measures in case of regulated by Governmental Accord 443-2000, of disasters. September 12, 2000. It is the institution responsible for coordinating all matters related to disaster hh General Decentralization Law: Law No.14- prevention, reduction and response, creating 2002, giving priority to human security, emergency plans according to the occurrence and necessary for development. http://www. presence of natural phenomena and designing iica.org.gt/agrileyes/2002/decretos/ and implementing early warning systems. It brings abril/11.04.02_14_2002.pdf together various sectors, namely: Ministry of Health, Education, Finances, Communications, hh Social Development Act: Law No.42-2001. Government, Fire Department and Coordinating http://www.mintrabajo.gob.gt:8080/org/ Committee of Agricultural Associations. leyes-y-convenios/leyes-ordinarias/ley-de- desarrollo-social This same law in chapter III, article 22 creates the National Emergency Operations Center (COE) With the objective of encouraging the as an operating system. The national COE is the deconcentration and decentralization of disaster first one in the Central American and Caribbean risk reduction management, CONRED created a region, to complete its organization, training and Strategic Institutional Plan 2004-2008, projected equipment. Under this legislation, in addition to into 2012. Since 2004 the CONRED Secretariat the Public Order Act, Decree No.7 of December 9, has carried out actions leading to the prevention 1975, CONRED developed the National Response and mitigation of the effects of disasters to the Plan. Guatemalan population. It has also promoted the introduction of Management Sectorial Units for hh Decree-Law No.109-96. http://www.conred. Disaster Risk Reduction (USGRD). gob.gt/biblioteca/documentos/Decreto%20 Legislativo%201096.%20%20Ley%20de%20 With a view to reducing vulnerabilities and CONRED.pdf/view the impact of disasters, some public sector institutions, NGOs, CONRED, National Institute hh Governmental Accord 443-2000. http://www. of Seismology, Volcanologist, Hydrology and disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/ Meteorology (INSIVUMEH), Ministry of Agriculture leyes/centroamerica/guatemala/sistemnac/ and Food (MAGA), Secretariat Planning and Acuerdo_Gubernativo_443.pdf Programming (SEGEPLAN), the Geological Service of the United States (USGS) and others hh Public Order Act. http://www.mintrabajo.gob.gt/ have developed a Geographic Information System org/leyes-y-convenios/leyes-constitucionales/ (GIS), as an instrument to consolidate information ley-de-orden-publico management strategy.
Due to the fact that CONRED is a system organized Even though CONRED is a focal point for the in the national, regional, departmental, municipal implementation of the Hyogo Framework for and local areas, it is largely complemented by the Action in Guatemala (for more information visit the National Systems on Urban and Rural Development following link: http://www.conred.gob.gt/biblioteca/ Councils (Decree 11-2002), providing the basis documentos), there is no National Platform for for a decentralized integrated task, in the same Disaster Risk Reduction. territorial space. The latter is in full agreement with the Decentralization Law and Policy (Decree 14- In addition to the more specific ICT regulatory 2002), which gives priority to human security as framework, some progress has been made Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 51 by Guatemala with regard to regulations and which aims at creating a general framework for the institutional frameworks related to disaster risk promotion, organization and orientation of scientific reduction. In emergencies, Guatemala also works and technological activities, in order to promote their with SUMA: PAHO/WHO Humanitarian Supply creation, dissemination, transfer and utilization. In Management System, an information management addition to the foregoing, there are regulations and tool to help national authorities bring order to guidelines developed in the country with regard the usual chaos caused when humanitarian to different areas of the public and private fields assistance is uncoordinated. SUMA employs an which can also be considered strategic for ICTs easy-to-use computerized system to track items when applied to disaster mitigation, either by those from the moment they are distributed effectively to involved or by the space created for the possible the affected population36. use of these technologies in risk management by sector. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and four other United Nations agencies have just Significantly, there is a fairly developed set of completed the first development phase of a new norms for the health sector in the chapter on Logistic Support System (LSS), based on the Guatemala: Compilation of Regulations on Health PAHO SUMA system to manage humanitarian and Disasters: Latin America developed by the resources following disasters. Both LSS and PAHO.37 SUMA are systems based on software programs which help the response teams to consolidate Likewise, other legal and regulatory frameworks and exchange information, improve operational for sectors such as Environment and Water and transparency, register and monitor the distribution Sanitation, which, being critical sectors both for of undocumented elements, especially donations development in general and for risk reduction not specifically requested. management, can find the appropriate space to promote the application of ICTs within that context. Relevant regulations by sector Table 24 includes links to the most relevant laws for those sectors in Guatemala. On July 18th, 1991, the Law on the Promotion of the National Scientific and Technological Development
36 For more information on SUMA, please visit: (http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/spanish/index.htm, and see also the Report on the activities in the emergency of Hurricane Stan: http://www.lssweb.info/lss//files/guatemala_stan_informe_final.pdf 37 For more information please visit: http://www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/vgpccd.html Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 52
Table 24: Legislation in critical sectors for disaster mitigation
Environment: Legislation and Regulations
Protection and Improvement of the Environment Act http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/legislacion/GT/DL-68-86.pdf
Strategic Institutional Plan of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources: 2008-2012 http://www.marn.gob.gt/documentos/documentos_apoyo/pei.pdf
More detailed/specific norms on the environment can be found in the following web pages: hh http://www.ccad.ws/legislacion/Guatemala.html hh http://www.latinlaws.com/legislacion/modules/mylinks/viewcat.php?cid=172
Water and Sanitation: Legislation and Regulations
Law on Water: Even though this law was widely accepted in August 2005, the initiative has not been passed by Congress yet.
Plan of action for the integrated water management in the Central American Isthmus . http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/pacadirh/PACADIRH.pdf
Municipal water and sanitation manual for emergencies or disasters/ CONRED. http://www.conred.gob.gt/biblioteca/documentos/Manual%20municipal%20de%20agua%20y%20 saneamiento%20en%20emergencias%20o%20desastres.pdf/view Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 53
BIBLIOGRAPHY hh PAHO/WHO. Area of preparedness for hh Legislation and the Right to Communication situations of emergency and relief in case of Program: Latin America and the Caribbean disasters, country profiles: Guatemala. http:// (AMARC): Guatemala. http://legislaciones. www.disaster-info.net/PED-Centroamerica/ item.org.uy/index?q=paises/28 index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcat h egory&id=68&Itemid=241 h National Plan of Science, Technology and Information (2005-2014). http://www.concyt. hh Compilation of Regulations on Health and gob.gt/attachments/207_PlanNacional%20 Disasters: Latin America: OPS/OMS. http:// 2005-2014.pdf www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/ h vgpccd.html h Community radio in Guatemala / Country Report: Guatemala. AMARC Global Advocacy hh International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Project (2004-2005). http://docs.google.com/ (UNISDR) The Americas. Country profiles: gview?a=v&q=cache%3A93lLaC5zSlUJ%3Ad Guatemala. http://www.eird.org/perfiles- ocuments.amarc.org%2Fgetfile paises/perfiles/index.php/Guatemala hh Guatemala: ¿Una economía al servicio del hh The situation in the Central American desarrollo humano? [An economy at the service Countries. Summary of National Studies: of human development?] National Human Guatemala. http://legislaciones.item.org. Development Reports 2007-2008. http://www. uy/files/Marco%20regulatorio%20de%20 desarrollohumano.org.gt/ Radiodifusion%20-%20Guatemala.pdf hh Decree-Law No.109-96. http://www.conred. hh The Global Information Technology Report gob.gt/biblioteca/documentos/Decreto%20 2008–2009: Mobility in a Networked World. Legislativo%201096.%20%20Ley%20de%20 http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gitr/2009/ CONRED.pdf/view gitr09fullreport.pdf hh Governmental Accord 443-2000. http://www. hh Global Competitiveness Index 2008-2009: disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/ World Economic Forum. http://72.52.156.225/ leyes/centroamerica/guatemala/sistemnac/ Estudio.aspx?Estudio=indice-competitividad Acuerdo_Gubernativo_443.pdf hh Strategic communication plans for risk hh Public Order Act. http://www.mintrabajo.gob.gt/ management. http://www.comminit.com/ org/leyes-y-convenios/leyes-constitucionales/ es/node/285824/549# ley-de-orden-publico hh Hurricane Mitch in Guatemala /PAHO- hh National Systems on Urban and Rural MH. http://www.paho.org/Spanish/Ped/gm- Development Councils: Decree No.11-2002. guatemala.pdf http://sistemas.segeplan.gob.gt/discode/ sche$portal/documentos/ley_concejos_ hh USAID responds to the Stan disaster. http:// desarrollo_guatemala.pdf www.usaid.gov/gt/espanol/disaster.htm hh General Decentralization Law: Law No.14- hh Santa María Volcano. http://es.wikipedia.org/ 2002. http://www.iica.org.gt/agrileyes/2002/ wiki/Santa_Mar%C3%ADa_(volc%C3%A1n) decretos/abril/11.04.02_14_2002.pdf hh Testimonies of parties: the Guatemala hh Social Development Act: Law No.42-2001. earthquake of 1976. http://www.crid.or.cr/ http://www.mintrabajo.gob.gt:8080/org/ digitalizacion/pdf/spa/doc6785/doc6785.htm leyes-y-convenios/leyes-ordinarias/ley-de- desarrollo-social hh Plan of Action – Digital Government. http://lac. derechos.apc.org/es.shtml?apc=s1635500e_1 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 54 hh National Coordination for Disaster Reduction hh Legislation and politics. http://www.ccad.ws/ of Guatemala (CONRED). http://www.conred. legislacion/Guatemala.html gob.gt/biblioteca/documentos hh Latin Laws. Biblioteca Legal Latinoamericana. hh SUMA: Humanitarian Supply Management http://www.latinlaws.com/legislacion/modules/ System. http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/ mylinks/viewcat.php?cid=172 spanish/index.htm hh Action Plan for Integrated Water Resources hh National Education Act: Legislative Decree Management of the Central American Isthmus. No.12-91 of January 12, 1991 http://www. http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/pacadirh/ oei.es/quipu/guatemala/Ley_Educacion_ PACADIRH.pdf Nacional.pdf hh Municipal water and sanitation manual hh National Educational Systems / OEI. http:// for emergencies or disasters / CONRED. www.oei.es/quipu/guatemala/index.html http://www.conred.gob.gt/biblioteca/ documentos/Manual%20municipal%20de%20 hh Protection and Improvement of the Environment agua%20y%20saneamiento%20en%20 Act:http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/ emergencias%20o%20desastres.pdf/view legislacion/GT/DL-68-86.pdf hh Strategic Institutional Plan of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources: 2008- 2012http://www.marn.gob.gt/documentos/ documentos_apoyo/pei.pdf Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 55
38 NICARAGUA Capital: Managua
Population: 5.6 million
Area: 120,339 km2
Population density: 42.7 h/km2
Urban population: 59%
Demographic growth rate: 1.7
Currency: El Córdoba
Language: Spanish DATOS GENERALES:
The Republic of Nicaragua is located in the 120,339 km2, with a population of 5.6 million39. Central American Isthmus, bordering to the north The territory is divided in 15 departments, two with Honduras and to the south with Costa Rica, to autonomous regions and 153 municipalities (see the east with the Caribbean Sea and to the west Table 25). with the Pacific Ocean. Its total territorial area is
Table 25: Administrative Division40 Estimated Department Capital Area (km2) population Boaco Boaco 4.176,68 150.636 Carazo Jinotepe 1.081,40 166.073 Chinandega Chinandega 4.822,42 378.97 Chontales Juigalpa 6.481,27 153.932 Estelí Estelí 2.229,69 201.548 Granada Granada 1.039,68 168.186 Jinotega Jinotega 9.222,40 331.335 León León 5.138,03 355.779 Madriz Somoto 1.708,23 132.459 Managua Managua 3.465,10 1.262.978 Masaya Masaya 610,78 289.988 Matagalpa Matagalpa 6.803,86 469.172 Nueva Segovia Ocotal 3.491,28 208.523 Río San Juan San Carlos 7.540,90 95.596 Rivas Rivas 2.161,82 156.283 RAAN (1) Puerto Cabezas 33.105,98 314.13 RAAS (2) Bluefields 27.260,02 306.51
38 The UNISDR Americas has developed country profiles with specific information on all aspects of risk reduction, including national counterparts, regulatory frameworks, projects and initiatives on risk management in the country at hand. For a more detailed information please visit Nicaragua Country Profile at the following web //www.eird.org/wikiesp/index.php/Nicaragua 39 The Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009 40 http://www.inec.go.cr / 1) North Atlantic Autonomous Region; (2) South Atlantic Autonomous Region Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 56
The climate of this country varies greatly from one has active volcanoes and it has been often struck coast to the other, and there are three types of by earthquakes, hurricanes and eruptions. The climate according to the region we are referring most active seismic area runs along the Pacific to: plate, so that the greatest threat is in the Pacific coast, gradually declining towards the Atlantic hh The area located between the Nicaragua and Ocean. Due to the high population density, seismic Managua lakes and the Pacific Ocean is usually risk in this area presents a greater risk. Managua, very dry, with little rain and temperatures ranging Nicaragua´s capital, is directly located on the axis from 27°C to 32°C during the summer; of the volcanic chain, having been twice this century the site of devastating earthquakes. Managua is hh The Nicaraguan central and mountain areas the only municipality in the whole country with level have a cold and humid climate, particularly in 10 in the scale of seismic risk, because it sits on a the east; and volcanic range and because of its unique tectonic hh In the Caribbean coast the climate is very location. The same scale applies to volcanic humid and tropical, with high temperatures eruptions. Regarding hurricanes it ranks 8 in the and strong precipitation. scale and 7 for floods risk.
RISK SITUATION AND FREQUENT The main areas where seismic activity is present in Nicaragua are: Madriz, Matagalpa, HAZARDS Boaco, Jinotega, Chontales and Rio San Juan, Nicaragua is the largest and poorest country in Chinandega, Managua, León, Masaya, Carazo, Central America, with a long history of unequal Rivas and Granada, Nueva Segovia, Estelí. Some distribution of land, internal conflict and political of the cities directly located on the most dangerous instability. Due to its geographical location, seismic zone are: Chinandega, Managua, León, Nicaragua is subject to multiple hazards which can Masaya, Carazo, Rivas and Granada. There are unleash emergencies and result in disasters when six active volcanic systems in the country, namely, they co-occur in time and space with vulnerable San Cristóbal, Telica, Cerro Negro, Momotombo, segments of the population. Masaya and Concepción, and they pose a permanent threat to the population of Nicaragua in From 1892 to 1998, thirty nine (39) severe the Pacific zone. meteorological phenomena developed in the Caribbean Sea and affected the country; Extreme climatological events in the country namely, tropical depressions, tropical storms and include floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, etc. hurricanes. The capital, Managua, is the city with Frequent floods and landslides are caused by the a higher risk of seismic hazards, due to its location country´s water systems and highlands. El Niño on a volcanic mountain range that changes track, exacerbates these hazards with more rainfall and because the interaction of tectonic forces is and droughts, wildfires, landslides and floods. more complex than in other areas. During the past Although these events do not occur frequently, thirty years, seven important hurricanes and five their intensity can be devastating as registered in tropical storms have impacted the country. the annals of history. The hurricanes of greatest intensity so far experienced in Nicaragua have Following is a brief description of the main natural been: Fifi (September 1974), Joan (October 1988), and man-made hazards related to the occurrence Mitch (October 1998) and Felix (September 2007). of emergencies and disasters in the Nicaraguan Some of the emergencies and disasters of greater territory. magnitude that affected Nicaragua in recent history are detailed in Table 26. Natural hazards Even though the events are caused by natural Nicaragua is located at the edge of a subduction phenomena, the losses they entail are, mostly, zone of two tectonic plates (Cocos and Caribe), consequences of human activity or inactivity. One belonging, therefore, to the so-called “ring of fire” of the key challenges for Nicaragua´s development around the Pacific Ocean, in an area which is one is to reduce its vulnerability with regard to the of the most prone to natural hazards in the world. It Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 57
Table 26: Emergencies and disasters related to natural hazards
Hurricane Mitch (1998): Hurricane Mitch caused at least 3,800 deaths in Nicaragua, 2,000 of which occurred in the villages of El Porvenir and Rolando Rodríguez, due a landslide of the Casita Volcano. The avalanche buried at least four villages under several meters of mud. All along the country the hurricane left between 500,000 y 800,000 people homeless.http://www.paho.org/spanish/dd/ped/gm-nicaragua.pdf
Floods (1982): Torrential rainfall lasted for almost ten days, leaving a balance of approximately 30 deaths and extensive material damages mainly due to the agricultural resources and the economic and social infrastructure. The considerable magnitude of the damages caused by the rain and the subsequent floods was due mainly to the vast extension covered and particularly, to the fact that it happened at a time when the country was expending significant efforts to recover from the two previous disasters. http://cidbimena.desastres.hn/docum/crid/ Octubre2004/pdf/spa/doc9029/doc9029-1.pdf
Cerro Negro Volcano (1992): The Cerro Negro volcano is the youngest in the continent, making it more active and dangerous. On April 9, one of the most violent eruptions in the history of the Cerro Negro volcano took place. Since there was no seismic network at the time, INETER was not able to send a warning message. But we know there was some seismic activity before the eruption. The local population felt them a week before. The estimated number of affected people is 263,240 in the Department of León. This volcano erupted in 1999 for the last time. http://desastres.usac.edu.gt/documentos/pdf/spa/doc2019/doc2019-contenido.pdf
Seaquake and Tsunami in the Pacific Ocean (1992): In September 1992, in the Pacific Ocean, one of the biggest earthquakes ever in Nicaragua, took place, with a magnitude of 7.3 in the Richter scale and caused a tsunami which swept away resorts and entire villages along the Nicaraguan Pacific Coast, causing widespread material damage and loss of human lives. http://www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/spa/doc6895/doc6895-contenido. pdf
Managua earthquake (1972): One of the worst earthquake disasters of the year and the most lethal registered in the western hemisphere above South America, happened on December 23, when a huge shock destroyed most of the capital city of Nicaragua, Managua. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terremoto_de_Managua_de_1972
impact inflicted by hazards and the potential kind of disaster. Sometimes there can be alterations losses that may come as a result. Like the rest of in the water reservoirs as well as inadequate the countries in the area, economic unbalances, drinking water treatment. Illegal or inadequate poverty and the non-rational exploitation of human electrical connections are also commonplace. resources increase vulnerability and therefore, the Regarding Nicaragua´s war conflict, there is still risk of disasters. investment in demining the territories which used to be the scenario of a war in the eighties. Table Man- made hazards 27 lists some of the main emergencies related to man-made hazards. Nicaragua, like some of the other Central American countries, is experiencing the pollution caused by Technological Infrastructure organic waste and sewage. Contrary to what most and Support people think, environmental pollution has not been caused by industries alone; in fact, the greatest The national telecommunications network numbers of pollutants are the sum of thousands of is essentially concentrated in the strip along small landfills which feed on the residential waste. the Pacific coast, with extensive areas with low population density lacking adequate Inadequately maintained industrial or technological telecommunications infrastructure. In general, systems, such as gasoline stations or deposits of the capacity of national broadcasting networks is fuel or toxic substances, also pose serious threats limited and insufficient to satisfy the demand of the to the population. Transportation of hazardous telecommunications services; thus, it is necessary materials has also been identified as causing this to expand these services to the large northern area Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 58
Table 27: Recent emergencies and man-made disasters
Some man-made emergencies were:
Dengue epidemic in Nicaragua: (October 2002).
http://db.doyma.es/cgi-bin/wdbcgi.exe/doyma/press.plantilla?ident=22864
Massive intoxication by methanol in Nicaragua: (September 2006)
http://www.paho.org/spanish/DD/PED/nicaraguaMetanol.htm
Plague of hydrocarbon spill: (September 2007)
http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2007/09/03/nacionales/57942
Tractor breaks an oil pipeline: (November 2007)
http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2007/11/19/nacionales/64210
Spill of dangerous toxics on the road: (May 2009)
http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2009/05/15/nacionales/101571 and eastern part of the country, where there are no telecommunications and postal services or use telecommunications services whatsoever. radio spectrum frequencies41.
On the other hand, there is a relatively large In terms of satellite technology, Nicaragua shows network of bi-directional fibre optic for cable TV leadership precisely in fields related to Earth which offers capacity to Internet Service (PSIs) Science with concrete application to disaster providers and Internet corporate clients. 2.8% of risk management. In particular, the Nicaraguan the population uses Internet, the majority being Institute on Territorial Studies (INETER) has been residents of the capital, Managua. 80% of the applying for some years now, space technology users subscribe to broadband. About 4% of the provided by various satellites, to their technical population has personal computers and 60% of and scientific activities to address the social and household have television sets (see Table 24). economic development of the country and the prevention and mitigation of natural hazards. Also, The Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications since 1995, the Ministry of the Environment and and Postal Services (TELCOR) is the regulatory Natural Resources (MARENA, by its Spanish agency for telecommunications and postal acronym) uses space technology to detect forest services. It is a national institution with the fires (See Table 28). following responsibilities: regulation, technical planning, supervision, application of the law, Access to telephone lines is essentially limited monitoring of compliance with the laws and to densely populated areas in the strip along the rules governing the installation, interconnection, Pacific coast and 4.5% of the population has operation and provision of telecommunication access to their own telephone line (see Table and postal services. TELCOR is responsible 29). Nicaragua has 68 GSM new bases and 12 for the management and regulation of the RF new CDMA, a total of 48 base stations, bringing spectrum, as well as the granting of concessions, coverage for mobile telephone services to 70% of licenses, permits or registration certificates the population, but only 38% of the population has (according to the law and all other applicable legal access to this technology. Nicaragua was the site provisions) to companies interested in providing for the commercial launch of the satellite telephone
41 TELCOR electronic portal http://www.telcor.gob.ni/Default.asp Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 59
service in the region, with the opening of an earth the vast areas of the country, according to sources station in the country (Gateway Globalstar, S.A.), it was reported that already in 2001 this initiative by the multinational communications company was not producing the expected dividends in the Globalstar, to provide services for the whole Central country due to the limited number of subscribers42. American region. Even though this technology was a viable option to provide communication to
Table 28: Background on the applications of satellite technology with regard to risk management in Nicaragua
With the launch of the LANDSAT 1 satellite in 1972, the old National Geographic Institute began using imaging in the production of small scale maps.
(1:1.000.000). More information was obtained after the launch of LANDSAT 2 in 1975. In 1978, in cooperation with the US Geological Survey, a Central American regional mosaic of LANDSAT images was prepared with the participation of the countries of the area. The map was printed at the National Geographic Institute of Guatemala.
From 1975 until 1981, with the cooperation of IAGS-EROSINFORMATION and DISTRIBUTION CENTER, Nicaragua received information from the EROS program (Earth Resources Observation System Program), very useful for surveying work. In 1994, the global positioning system equipment operating under the Navigation Satellite Timing and Ranging Global Position System (NAVSTAR GPS) was used for the first time. In 1999, there were already 12 GPS observation equipments. That same year, in cooperation with NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration), the program HORIZONTAL & ELLIPSOID HEIGHT DATUM DEFINITION was implemented, with the establishing of the Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS).
In 1993, INETER started using the Geostationary Weather Satellite GOES 8 on a permanent basis, and later on, beginning in 1997, the French satellites SPOT 1, SPOT 2 and SPOT 4. The information provided by the GOES 8 satellite is essential in order to issue early warnings in case of potentially harming meteorological events, as evidence showed at the time of Hurricane Mitch. INTELSAT 325.5 is another satellite used by INETER, which provides basic meteorological information used for weather forecast for the general public, for the agricultural sector, for the fishing sector and for the national and international air force. Furthermore, INETER receives additional information, such as, weather forecasts from NOAA on significant weather conditions, reports from the National Hurricane Center in Miami on dangerous meteorological events and information on the occurrence of tsunamis.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA, by its Spanish acronym), through the Forest Fire Control Project uses high resolution images from NOAA 12 and 14 polar orbiting satellites. These images allow the detection and location of wildfires in the national territory. In June 1995, the Natural Resources and Fires Monitoring Project in Nicaragua (NOAA Project) established its base in MARENA through funding from the British Government and the assistance of the Natural Resource Institute (NRI). This project’s main objective was to develop, through satellite remote sensing, a tool which would allow this Ministry to produce relevant information on various events that affect our natural resources, independently and in real time.
INETER also uses satellite technology for the monitoring of geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. For volcanic surveillance, routine infrared imaging is used from the NOAA 12 and NOAA 14 satellites, so as to identify thermal anomalies which could be an indication of a volcanic eruption. The eruption process is monitored through satellite pictures, and the impact is studied through volcanic ashes. For example, the gas issued by the Massaya volcano can also be seen on satellite pictures.
Source: Based on the article from the magazine: Mapping Interactivo, “Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Espacial en Nicaragua”, entrevista el Director del INETER, 1999 (http://www.mappinginteractivo.com/plantilla-ante.asp?id_ articulo=585)
42 See article published by the newspaper La Prensa (http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2001/ Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 60
Table 29:
Indicator 1995 2000 2007 Cellular subscribers 0.10% 1.80% 37.90%
Internet users 0.03% 1.00% 2.80%
Personal computers 1.03% 2.30% 4.00%
Fixed-line telephony 2.22% 3.20% 4.50%
One of the areas in the public sector with a in January 2009, with the purpose of creating the management system designed with cutting- legal framework necessary for the creation of the edge technology geared towards Internet is the Council and to allow the creation of a National Plan Integrated Financial Management and Audit of Science and Technology. This new law would System (SIGFA). This management system facilitate scientific research and technological allows for the registration, monitoring, follow- innovation to be applied to various sectors of the up, evaluation, regulatory centralization and Nicaraguan society. operational deconcentration of the budget execution43. Also, through CONICYT, The National Strategic Plan - ALFA – is being developed, with the purpose INSTITUTIONAL AND REGULATORY of strengthening government institutions. The FRAMEWORKS development of ICTs policies is intended to take place within the framework of the plan, so as to National Information Policy: Legislation and include the formulation of norms and patterns, regulations 44 and new laws concerning: electronic signatures, software copyrights, confidentiality, integrity The Nicaraguan government is aware of the and protection of data registry, etc. Also, laws potential of ICTs as tools for development, and and regulations on telecommunications will be has, therefore, initiated ICTs projects in several revised. sectors, financed mostly through donations and loans from international development agencies. The Organic Law of the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (INETER), Law No.311 of The Nicaraguan Council on Science and June 24, 1999, is an important legal tool for the Technology (CONICYT by its Spanish acronym) creation of the Geographic Information System was created through Decree No. 5-95 of June (GIS) and management of basic information in 29, 1995 and amended by Decree No.14-2002, the country. One of the most significant aspects of of February 11, 2002. It has administrative and this organic law is the development of a National operative autonomy, of scientific-technical nature Digital Cartographic System, the promotion and indefinite life span. It is made up of several and coordination of inter-sectorial relations and sectors: government, civil society, and academic technology of GISs, the maintenance of Property and production sectors. Currently, it is an agency Registry and Cadastre National System and of the National Education Council by Law No. the use of GIS for information management on 582, Article 80. Its main goals are to coordinate, meteorology, hydrography, natural threats and administer and promote the National Science, territorial legislation. Technology and Innovation System (SINACYT, by its Spanish acronym) that will be created with future passage of the Science, Technology and Information Draft Bill. This Draft Bill was presented
43 For more information please visit the electronic portal: www.hacienda.gob.ni/hacienda/dr_sigfa_esigfa.jsp 44 A national information policy is the coordination of actions at the national level for the creation of a strategy to address development, use of resources, services and information systems Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 61
Nicaragua has also developed many relevant As a result of Hurricane Mitch and its devastating plans and programs to promote and formulate the effects in Nicaragua, the Government, with the subject matter of ICTs; among them: support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), designed a system sanctioned by Law hh Profile of the Science, Technology and 337-2000 of March 8, 2000. The task of creating a Innovation Strategic Plan (2006-2014); Disaster Operations Center (CODE), was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, establishing that such hh PROCIG Nicaragua: Central American Center will have the means to fulfill the functions as Geographic Information Project; and assigned by the National System for the Prevention, hh Electronic Government Plan (2009). Mitigation and Attention of Disasters (SINAPRED), which has a set of General Regulations (Decree 53- Broadcasting and Telecommunications: Legislation 2000), and a manual where the functions of each and Regulations member of the system are specified (Decree 98- 2000), making a significant step in the treatment of Radio broadcasting in Nicaragua is regulated disasters. by various norms ranging from constitutional to regulatory levels with several international SINAPRED has been identified as the National instruments in between. All of these regulations Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and it is the constitute a legal bloc which functions as a focal point for the implementation of the Hyogo regulatory framework for radio broadcasting. Framework for Action in Nicaragua.
It is worth mentioning the General Law on In emergencies, Nicaragua also works with SUMA: Telecommunications and Postal Services: Law PAHO/WHO System for Humanitarian Supply No.200 of July 21, 1995, and its Amendment, Management: an information management tool Law 326 of December 7, 1999. Also, the Law of which employs an easy- to-use computerized system Superintendency of Public Services, Law No. 511 of in order to track the items from the moment they are February 24, 2005, which revoked the Organic Law effectively distributed to the affected population45. of the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services (TELCOR) and its Regulations Relevant regulations by sectors Decree No. 2-96, replaced by Decree No.128 of It is equally important to highlight the National Plan November 19, 2004. This law is complemented with for Disaster Response in Nicaragua (PNRDN): it the new Organic Law on the Nicaraguan Institute provides a framework for the actions to be taken of Energy: Law No. 271 of March 3, 1998. at the national level in case of an emergency or It is also important to highlight the Rural disaster. The Plan describes the mechanism that Telecommunications Project, which is being the Government has to use to mobilize institutional developed by TELCOR with funds donated by resources. (http://www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/ the World Bank and aims mainly at fostering spa/doc15470/doc15470.htm). competition in this sector and to bring telephone There is also a Municipal Plan for Disaster Reduction services to remote areas, lowering the cost and (PMRD) which describes the actions necessary to connecting rural communities to the world. Table reduce risks in the presence of identified hazards. 24 presents a list of web pages and digital links (http://www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/spa/ where there is more detailed/specific information doc15496/doc15496-a.pdf). related to ICTs in Nicaragua. Taking into account the Central American region, Disaster Risk Management: Legislation and there are several Regional Plans for Disaster Risk Regulations Reduction that can be accessed at the following In addition to the more specific regulatory framework web page: (http://www.disaster-info.net/PED- on ICTs, Nicaragua has institutional and regulatory Centroamerica/index.php?option=com_content&ta frameworks related to disaster risk management. sk=view&id=47&Itemid=184).
45 For more information on SUMA, please visit the following link: http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/spanish/index.htm Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 62
Table 30: Links related to regulations on digital information and telecommunications hh Internet: Domain Names Center. Nicaragua: http://www.latinlaws.com/legislacion/modules/mylinks/viewcat. php?cid=407 hh Superintendency of Public Services Act: http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/($All)/DCAE361D0 9DFA90C062570A100583D12?OpenDocument hh General Telecommunications and Postal Services Act: http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/($All) /7CE6A7BD73C1E32D062570A10058026A?OpenDocument hh Telephone Service and telex regulations: http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/ d0c69e2c91d9955906256a400077164a/a627978b14bd82d7062570a10057c5f9?OpenDocument hh Organic Law of the Nicaraguan Energy Institute (INE) http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/($All)/ DF81A795F789FBF4062570A100577787?OpenDocument hh The situation in the Central American countries: summary of national reports: Nicaragua http://legislaciones. item.org.uy/files/Marco%20regulatorio%20de%20Radiodifusion%20-%20Nicaragua.pdf hh Legislation and the Right to Communication Program: Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC) http:// legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=paises/38 hh Science, Technology and Innovation Draft Bill http://www.enlaceacademico.org/uploads/media/ LeyGeneraldeCYT13_enero.pdf hh Profile of the National Strategic Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (2006-2014) http://unpan1. un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/ICAP/UNPAN029747.pdf hh PROCIG Nicaragua: Central American Geographic Information Project http://www.procig.org/esp/procig- nicaragua.htm hh Legal Framework of CONICYT: http://www.oei.es/guiaciencia/Nicaragua.pdf http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/ Normaweb.nsf/($All)/8C66DAEA44CD9ABD062570F900595064?OpenDocument hh National Telecommunications Plan of Nicaragua http://www.iadb.org/projects/project. cfm?id=TC7205017&lang=es hh Electronic Government Plan (2009) http://www.gobiernoelectronico.org/node/212
In addition to the above, there are regulations and Likewise, other legal/regulatory frameworks for guidelines developed in the country with regard to sectors such as Environment and Water and different sectors of the public and private arenas, Sanitation, which because they are critical sectors which could be considered strategic when applied both for development in general and for risk to ICTs for disaster mitigation, either by those reduction management, can find an appropriate involved or by the spaces created for the potential space to encourage the application of ICTs within use of those technologies in risk management that context. Table 31 includes the links to the by sector. In this respect, there are health sector more relevant laws related to those sectors in regulations quite developed included in the Nicaragua. The following webpage provides chapter on Nicaragua: ¨Compilation of regulations information on legislation regarding education in on Health and Disasters: Latin America developed Nicaragua: (http://www.oei.es/quipu/nicaragua/ by the PAHO¨46. index.html#sis2).
46 For more detailed information please visit: http://www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/vgpccd.html. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 63
Table 31: Legislation in critical sectors for disaster mitigation
Environment: Legislation and regulations hh General Law on the Environment and Human Resources: Law no. 217 passed on March 17, 1966 (http:// www.ccad.ws/documentos/legislacion/NC/L-217.pdf) hh Gradual Integral Plan for the Reduction of Industrial Contamination: Ministerial Resolution 04-2000 http:// legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/($All)/BD89C67796A71391062570A1005815DF?OpenDocume nt hh More detailed/specific regulations on the environment can be found in the following web pages:
hh http://www.latinlaws.com/legislacion/modules/mylinks/viewcat.php?cid=244
hh http://www.ccad.ws/ecoportal/legislacion/lnc.htm
Water and Sanitation: Legislation and Regulations hh Law creating the Nicaraguan Enterprise of Aqueducts and Sewers (ENACAL): Law no.276 of January 20, 1998. http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/cd38/Nicaragua/L-276.pdf hh General Law on Potable Water and Sewage Services: Law No.297 of July 30th, 1998. http://www.bvsde. paho.org/bvsacd/cd38/Nicaragua/L-297.pdf hh National General Water Law: Law No.620, of May 15, 2007. http://www.cedha.org.ar/es/iniciativas/derecho_ al_agua/contenido/legislacion/internacional/ley_620.pdf Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 64
BIBLIOGRAPHY hh Proyecto de Reducción de la Vulnerabilidad ante Desastres Naturales, Reporte sobre las hh PAHO/WHO. Area of preparedness for Amenazas, Vulnerabilidad y Riesgos ante situations of emergency and relief in case of Inundaciones, Deslizamientos, Actividad disasters, country profiles: Nicaragua. http:// Volcánica y Sismos: [Project on natural disaster www.disaster-info.net/PED-Centroamerica/ vulnerability reduction, and report on floods, index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcat landslides, volcanic activity and earthquake egory&id=70&Itemid=244 hazards, vulnerability and risks] CHINANDEGA, octubre 2005. (http://www.ineter.gob.ni/ hh Compilation of regulations on health and geofisica/proyectos/30municipios/corinto/ disasters: Latin America: PAHO/WHO. http:// informes/NiR%20C%20RA%20Corinto%20 www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/ 20051024%20MG.pdf). vgpccd.html hh Risk Management National Training Program hh International Strategy for Disaster Risk / SINAPRED (http://desastres.cies.edu. Reduction (UNISDR) The Americas, Country ni/documentos/doc15384/doc15384-4f.pdf). Profiles: Nicaragua.http://www.eird.org/ perfiles-paises/perfiles/index.php/Nicaragua hh Strategies of Information and Communication Technologies / CONICYT. (http://unpan1. hh Situation in the Central American countries. un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UN/ Summary of national studies: Nicaragua. http:// UNPAN020037.pdf). legislaciones.item.org.uy/files/Marco%20 regulatorio%20de%20Radiodifusion%20-%20 hh Profile of the National Strategic Plan for Science, Nicaragua.pdf Technology and Innovation 2006-2014. (http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/ hh The Global Information Technology Report documents/ICAP/UNPAN029747.pdf). 2008–2009: Mobility in a Networked World http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gitr/2009/ hh Draft Bill on Science, Technology and Information gitr09fullreport.pdf (http://www.enlaceacademico.org/uploads/ media/LeyGeneraldeCYT13_enero.pdf) hh Competitiveness Global Index 2008-2009: World Economic Forum http://72.52.156.225/ hh Legal Framework of CONICYT, NICARAGUA. Estudio.aspx?Estudio=indice-competitividad (http://www.oei.es/guiaciencia/Nicaragua.pdf). hh Internet Association of Nicaragua e-Nicaragua: hh National plan for disaster response in Goal no.18 Catástrofes: fortalecer la Nicaragua: Preliminary version. (http://www. interconexión regional e internacional de las crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/spa/doc15470/ redes digitales de información para prevención doc15470.htm). de desastres naturales considerando el monitoreo ambiental, así como la gestión y hh Analysis of natural hazards and municipal plan coordinación regional de la asistencia en caso of disaster reduction. (http://www.crid.or.cr/ de ocurrencia de desastres.[ Catastrophes: digitalizacion/pdf/spa/doc15496/doc15496. strengthen regional and international htm). interconnection of digital information networks for disaster prevention considering environmental monitoring, as well as management and regional coordination of assistance in case of disasters]http://www.enicaragua.org.ni/cms/ downloadFileOfDirectory.do~itemId=113 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 65
47 PANAMA Capital: Panama
Population: 3.3 million
Area: 78,200 km2
Population density: 37.6 h/km2
Urban population: 70.8%
Demographic growth rate: 2.1
Currency: Dollar
GENERAL INFORMATION Language Spanish
The Republic of Panama is located in the Central Caribbean Sea to the north, the Pacific Ocean to American Isthmus, in the inter-tropical zone near the south, the Republic of Colombia to the east the terrestrial equator. It is a narrow strip of land and Costa Rica to the west. expanding from east to west, and a coastline bathed by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The The territory is organized in nine provinces and country extends over an area of 78,200 km2 and three districts, according to the year 2000 Census has a population of 3.3 million48. It borders the (see Table 32)49.
Table 32: Administrative Division50
Province/District Capital Area (km2) Estimated population
Bocas del Toro Bocas del Toro 8.745 89.269 Coclé Penonomé 4.927 202.461
Colón Colón 4.89 204.208
Chiriquí David 8.653 368.79 Darién La Palma 12.491 40.284
Herrera Chitré 2.341 102.465 Los Santos Las Tablas 3806 83.495
Panama Panama City 9.814 1.388.357
Veraguas Santiago de Veraguas 11.239 209.076 Comarca Kuna Yala ------32.446 Comarca Emberá ------8.246
Comarca Ngöbe ------110.08
47 UNISDR Americas has developed country profiles with specific information on all aspects of risk reduction at the national level. For more detailed information on Panama´s profile, please visit the following webpage: http://www.eird.org/wikiesp/index.php/Panama 48 The Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009 49 Panama has a new political division which still shows the nine provinces, but including the Kunna Yala district and the districts of Ngöbe-Buglé and Emberá-Wounnan, in addition to the kuna districts of Madungandí and Wargandí. 50 http://www.contraloria.gob.pa/dec/Aplicaciones/POBLACION_VIVIENDA/volumen1/cuadro1.htm Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 66
Panama´s climate is tropical and it can be divided com.pa/sp/InicioFrm.htm). in two regions according to the climate: one of them includes tropical rainy climates where the Below there is a brief description of the main natural average monthly temperature year-round is 18°C and man-made hazards related to the occurrence and another one with rainy temperate climates of emergencies and disasters in the country. where the warmest average monthly temperature is over 10°C, and the average monthly temperature Natural hazards is under 18°C, but over -3°C. Part of the Panamanian territory is vulnerable to According to the amount of precipitation, Panama landslides because of its topographic, geological is divided into two regions: and hydrological conditions, the indiscriminate use of the soil, precipitations, seismic activity and Pacific region: it is characterized by abundant activities caused by disorderly housing construction rainfall, from moderate to high intensity; lightening and deforestation. Even though Panama is occurs particularly in the afternoon. The rainy located in the tropical Caribbean, it has been only season starts firmly in May and lasts until November, been affected by hurricane Marta (1969), since the September and October being the rainiest. The dry country is not situated on the main path of these season lasts from December through April. types of natural events.
Central region: rainfall in this region occurs The most serious floods registered in the country generally in the afternoon. The rainfall is moderate in the past few years were caused by Hurricane and heavy, along with electrical storms and wind. Mitch in October 1998, causing floods problems and rivers to overflow in the provinces of Chiriquí, Atlantic region: in this region it rains during most Veraguas and Darién. Another hurricane close to of the year. Rain is very heavy between December Panama was Hurricane Joan in 1988; the excessive and February. rainfall caused the rivers in the capital city and in Colón to overflow. The last two hurricanes indirectly
affecting Panama were Isidore and Lili in 2002. RISK SITUATION AND FREQUENT HAZARDS Even though there are no historic records of any volcanic activity in Panama, it has been possible to Even though disasters are not too frequent in locate 26 aligned volcanic systems, which created Panama, the country is considered at risk for the Talamanca mountain range. The eastern border earthquakes with frequent hydro-meteorological of this volcanic system is located approximately events such as floods, strong winds, tornados and at 80 degrees west longitude in the province of waterspouts. Floods are produced particularly in Panama, and Cerro Cabra is the last volcano in the capital city, and the provinces of Bocas del the line, located on the right margin of the Panama Toro, Darién and Colón. Canal entrance, in the Pacific Ocean. The main volcanoes in Panama are: Barú, La Yeguada and Floods occur in the rainy season, which runs El Valle. Barú, 3,475 meters high, is the highest from May through December and with greater elevation and the tallest volcano in southern intensity in the months of September, October Central America. It is a dormant volcano. and November. The prolonged rainy seasons have produced landslides and floods with serious The country belongs to the Panama Microplat, economic losses, deaths and injuries, throughout an area of seismic activity. The most important the country´s history. In 2005, floods in the area geological faults are Tonosí, Gatún and the of Tocumen produced more than 20 deaths “Panama Deformed Belt”. Seismic activity in and considerable damages. A similar situation Panama is moderate; however, because of occurred with the overflowing of River Sixaola. Panama´s geography, physiography, climatology In that respect, we can make reference to the and geology, the directors of the Geosciences document drafted by ETESA in September 2008: Institute and the National System of Civil “Analysis of Maximum Floods in Panama: 1971- Protection, argue that Panama is not free from 2006”, September 2008. (http://www.hidromet. earthquakes impacting the city. In fact, there is a Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 67
Table 33: Emergencies and disasters related to natural hazards
Hurricane Marta (1969) and Mitch (1998): Panama has been directly affected by hurricane Marta in 1969 and although it was not declared an emergency zone because of Hurricane Mitch, its influence was strong in the eastern area of Chiriqui, in the south of Darién and in the Bayano watershed during that period. (http://www. unisdr.org/eng/mdgs-drr/national-reports/Panama-input.pdf); (http://www.hidromet.com.pa/sp/huracanes.htm)
Floods (November 2008): As of now, the number of casualties reported is 23,287, with 14,667 people sheltered and six dead in the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Veraguas, Darién, Colon, Eastern Panama and Northeast Panama. (http://www.redhum.org/emergencias-244-Inundaciones-en-Panam%C3%A1--- noviembre-2008.html)
Earthquake in Bocas del Toro (Panama) (1991): On April 22, 1991, the western area of Panama was strongly shaken by a seismic movement of 7.4 magnitude. The seismic was destructive and eleven days later on May 11, 1991 there was a 6.2 magnitude aftershock. Houses were partially or totally destroyed; 23 deaths and 559 wounded were registered. (http://www.crid.or.cr/digitalizacion/pdf/spa/doc2203/doc2203.htm; http://www.reliefweb. int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/STRI-7TPN3G?OpenDocument)
Barú Volcano (500): It is a dormant volcano. The most important eruption took place around the year 500. There are reports and evidence of a minor eruption around the year 1550. (http://www.volcanbaru.com/)
50% probability that it could happen at any time. towards an integrated environmental management, There are records of earthquakes that occurred with emphasis on water resources and reduction in the province of Los Santos (1913), Bocas del of the socio-natural hazards and vulnerabilities Toro (1916), Veraguas (1941), Panamá (1971), of the Indio River Basin (sub-basins: El Jobo, La Darién (1974), the most severe of which happened Encantada, El Guásimo, Indio). Also in Pacora in Bocas del Toro in 1991, leaving a balance of River (sub-basins: Cabobré, Utivé, Tataré and 23 deaths, 337 injured and 720 homes destroyed. Indio)51. More recently, some movements occurred, such as those in Chiriqui (2001), Colón (2003) and the Man-made hazards waterspouts in the Panama Bay (2002). Some emergencies and disasters affecting Panama are Some technological disasters have occurred in briefly detailed in Table 33. Panamá, caused by different hazards such as population growth, natural resource exploitation Deforestation, misuse of the soil and disorderly and industrial and urban development, much like management of watersheds contribute to in other Central American countries. According to environmental degradation and to a higher the Pan American Center for Sanitary Engineering incidence of hazards on the population. Some and Environmental Sciences (CEPIS), Panama areas in the cities, in the country, in the communities City is one of the Central American cities with the and ecosystems have been destroyed in order to highest degree of atmospheric lead contamination. build buildings, houses, etc, causing considerable The highest levels occur during the rainy season environmental disarray in the country. According to and during the school year. Permanent sources of environmentalists´ studies, this is the number one contamination come from battery manufacturers, cause for disasters produced by the floods affecting recyclers (scrap merchants) and metal founders, the country today. Currently, a project financed by as well as from buildings and houses painted with the European Union through CEPREDENAC as lead (see Table 34). a member country of the Integrated Information System of Central America (SICA): Regional TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT AND Program for the Reduction of Vulnerability and INFRASTRUCTURE Environmental Degradation, PREVDA, is being carried out with the purpose of fostering change Information and Communication Technologies
51 For more information please refer to: http://www.sica.int/prevda/ugn_pa.aspx Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 68
Table 34: Emergencies and important man-made disasters in Panama
Some serious emergencies have been identified, namely:
hh Dengue epidemic (2001)
hh Food intoxication (2009) affected more than 300 people and exceeded the capacity of the emergency centers of public hospitals in the western provinces of Coclé and Veraguas
hh Contamination of military bases occupied by the United States in Panama. Up until recently, there were close to 17,000 hectares occupied by shooting ranges and military bases; seven thousand of those hectares are identified by army authorities in the US as high risk impact areas.That is the situation of the Centro Experimental de Piña, located in the Panamanian Caribbean, of Nuevo Emperador, West Balboa and San José Island; the latter is located in the Pacific, a few kilometers away from the capital city.
in Panama consists of 200 companies, most of has personal computers (see Table 35). 87% of them medium and small size, dedicated mainly households have television sets. to the commercialization of technological goods instead of the provision of services. A significant A must-see in Panama is the City of Knowledge percentage of these companies are regional (CDS, by its Spanish acronym), which congregates branches of international companies, set up in an important number of companies, universities Panama because of the geographic location and and organizations geared towards innovation 52.In tax incentives. Panama has undergone many the City of Knowledge the international Tecnopark changes in telecommunications, including the of Panama (TIP, by its Spanish acronym) stands privatization of the telecommunications market in out, as a technological center where more 1997, and its deregulation in 2003. In general, the than 63 member companies, research centers telecommunications infrastructure has improved and public projects share the same space for with the installation of network centers of operation technological development on subjects such as, on national territory, taking advantage of the telecommunications, electronics, multimedia, geographic location and the abundant supply of developments for e-Government, information submarine circuits of communication (see Table technology security, corporate solutions, among 36). others.
With respect to fixed-line telephone services, Also operating in the City of Knowledge are the 14.85% of Panamanians have telephone lines and Institute of Advanced Scientific Research and there has been an explosive growth in the number High Technology Service (INDICASAT, by its of people using mobile telephones, from almost Spanish acronym) and the Water Center for the 14% in the year 2000 to 90% of the population Humid Tropic of Latin America and the Caribbean, having access to cellular phones in 2007. With dedicated to the production, dissemination and regard to Internet users, 22.3% of the population knowledge application of water resources and of Panama uses this technology and less than 5% climatic change mitigation with a module of satellite
Table 35: Indicator 1995 2000 2007 Cellular subscribers 0.00% 13.90% 90.01% Internet users 0.06% 6.60% 22.30% Personal computers ---- 3.60% 4,60% Telephone lines 11.56% 14.5% 14.85%
52 For more information about the City of Knowledge, visit the following site: www.cdspanama.org Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 69 images of Central America and the Caribbean run node of entry (Point of Presence, POP), with by NASA. In the Tecnopark, we can also find the direct access to the land portion of 5 international “Panama Business Accelerator”, which promoted fibre optic cables crossing Panama (PAC, SAC, the Angels Investors Sector, with investments of ARCOS, Pan-American and Maya), and provides more than $700,000 in innovative projects of young telecommunications services, informatics and Panamanians entrepreneurs, a great number of educational technological services, including them related to the development of ICTs. Many UN a high technology intelligent center with the agencies have their regional offices in the City of necessary capacity for teleconferences, distance Knowledge, including the Regional Office for the education, high speed connections to the Internet Americas of the International Strategy for Disaster and other ICT services. Reduction (UNISDR, www.eird.org). Also worth noting is the Panamanian initiative with It is worth noting that the City of Knowledge headquarters in the City of Knowledge, namely the works towards the creation of online platforms for International Center for Sustainable Development the generation of synergies and the transfer of (CIDES), established in 2005 with the purpose of knowledge, with the priority of bringing Panama encouraging an integrated knowledge management and the City of Knowledge into the digital model for sustainable development, with one of universe. The City of Knowledge itself offers a its cross- cutting priority themes being the role of
Table 36: Internet Infrastructure and Telecommunications in Panamá
Telecommunications companies are building Network Operations Centers in Panama, taking advantage of the geographic location and the abundant supply of fibre optic submarine communication circuits in both sides of the coasts, making the interconnection with North America, Asia, Europe, Africa and the world in redundant routes possible. Those submarine networks supply Panama with 4 international connections through high broadband, fibre optic trunk routes, replacing the current feeding system through satellite link, now in operation.
Moreover, these new cables carry a new technology of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) which will allow extraordinary applications of ultra-high speed broadband, like multimedia, for example and digital video. This, in turn, makes connections fast and reliable for B2B, banking, e-commerce and other business as well as high speed additional units for consumers.
The MAYA-1 ring has repeaters in Florida, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Gran Cayman Island, and besides its own communications structure, it provides a recovery route for the Pan-American cable. The trunk ARCOS-1 includes Florida, México, Belice, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá, Colombia, Aruba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Bahamas
GLOBAL CROSSING Project connects Asia, the United States, crosses the Panama Canal, the Caribbean countries and Europe. MAYA and ARCOS ring systems link the continental Americas to the Caribbean Basin.
The total investment for both fibre optic trunk systems is $217 million and it will be divided among a consortium of fourteen members, including world class carriers such as AT&T, CTCMundo, France Telecom, MCI, SPRINT, Star Telecom, Swisscom, TelMex World Exchange and Cable & Wireless.
Network OXIGEN links the Caribbean to the United States, through Panama and it connects with the Pacific Ocean inside Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Europe. Projects: MAYA-1, GLOBAL CROSSING, OXYGEN y ARCOS-1 represent another cornerstone in Panama’s endeavor to become the Center of Telecommunications in Latin America, which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) anticipated it would happen within a few years. At the national level Panama has four optic cable systems extended throughout the country.
Source: extracted from “frequently asked questions”, Panacom: (http://www.panamacom.com/panama.html) Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 70
ICTs in knowledge management for sustainable is an academic non-profit organization that links development. One of the ongoing projects is the research organizations and higher education establishment of a Telecommunications Sectorial institutions. Universities and research institutes Professional Formation Centre (CIDES), in of Panama can, with these resources, develop cooperation with the National Institute of Vocational projects in the field of distant learning, digital Training for Human Development (INADEH), libraries, telemedicine, virtual reality, e-learning, Mondragón Group and CDS. videoconferences and weather forecasting systems, among others. Some of the applications INSTITUTIONAL AND REGULATORY on development in the Internet 2 project at the FRAMEWORKS international level range from telemedicine and digital libraries to virtual laboratories and distance National Information Policy: Legislation and handling and visualization of 3D models. regulations 53 Executive Decree No. 102 of (09/01/2004) created Panama has been developing legislative and the Presidency Office for Governmental Innovation, regulatory frameworks for the development and dependent on the presidency and the cabinet and application of ICTs. One of the main precedents responsible for the functions, personnel, assets dates back to 1972 with the approval of the Political and resources of the Commission e-Panama. Constitution of the Republic of Panama, revised a few times, the last revision being in 2004. Article The Republic of Panama, known for its famous 83 states the following: The State will formulate Canal, started the XXI century with an innovative the national scientific policy aimed at promoting outlook materialized through two instruments: the the development of science and technology. National Agenda for Governmental Innovation and Connectivity and the Program “Panama With Executive Decree No. 72 of June 4th, 2002, Inteligente”. The National Agenda on innovation and the Cabinet approved the creation of an ad hoc connectivity: Panama in the society of knowledge Permanent Commission for the Modernization is a presidential commitment supported by the of Panama according to New Information and Cabinet to modernize public services and promote Communication Technologies, better known as the development of the citizen’s skills in the use of Commission e-Panama. connectivity. It includes four strategies:
On July 30, 2002, the first alliance between the hh State´s information system: it operates in National Government, through the Ministry of those that are critical or those more related to Economy and Finance and the United Nations citizens, in order to modernize the operations and Development Program (UNDP) was signed. availability. It includes efforts at rationalization, They subscribed an Agreement of Preparatory concentration and interconnection of systems, Assistance for the Electronic Government Progra, services, infrastructure and databanks; e-Panama, to be executed by the Permanent Commission for the Modernization of the State hh Digital Panama: it operates to improve of Panama, according to New Information and transparency and fight against corruption and Communication Technologies54. to increase citizen´s participation. The Panama Compra system was set up (Executive Decree On September 2002, the second strategic alliance Nº 98 of 09/02/2005), and created the Public was signed with the Inter-American Development Procurement Electronic System, strengthened Bank (IDB). On August 30th, 2004, the Inter- by Law no. 22 of 07/27/2006 as well as with University Scientific and Technological Information Regulatory Decree No. 366 of 12/28/2006), Network (REDCyT), officially launched the Panama Tramita, Panama Emprende broadband internet known as Internet 2. REDCyT Conéctate al Conocimiento, Gaceta Digital,
53 A national information policy is the coordination of public action for the design of a strategy geared to development and use or resources, services and information systems. 54 See information at: http://www.mef.gob.pa/Archivos_Comunicados/2002-comunicados/comunicado-MEF%20Y%20PNUD%20FIRMAN%20 ACURDO%20PARA%20LA%20MODERNIZACION%20DEL%20ESTADO-30-07-02-.asp Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 71
among others. It includes other programs; in Panama, with the general goal of promoting the development of this sector (see: http://www. hh Citizens’ participation: together with the capatec.org.pa/). National Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat (SENACYT), created by Law The Panamanian market has 17 enterprises with No. 50 of December 21, 2005, a plan was concessions for basic telephone services, granted established to multiple points of citizen’s by the National Public Services Authority (ASEP) access to information networks in the whole with very little additional investment made to country to the project “Infoplazas”. The public extend the fixed network to other areas in Panama. administration is committed to designing Analysts believe that the rate of growth of mobile services that further participation and learning. telephone services will slow down and that the SENACYT is an autonomous institution with a supply of services will increase for clients in one mission: to turn science and technology into whole package, including fixed-line telephones, tools of sustainable development for Panama. internet and cable television services. http://www.senacyt.gob.pa/); and According to the Competitiveness Global Index hh Panama Inteligente: focuses on the 2008-2009 of the World Economic Forum, in development of citizens since elementary the Latin American region, Chile is followed by school, the skills to cooperate, builds and Panama and Costa Rica, as the most competitive disseminates, based on a strategy of countries in Central America. Panama ranks “significant learning” that uses advanced tools, 58 with a competitiveness index of 4.24. With such as Conceptual Maps and CmpTools regard to legislation on the use of information and software, developed by the Institute for Human communication technologies (electronic trade, and Machine Cognition. The project connects digital signature and consumer protection) the about 1,000 public schools in a national report ranks Panama 4.18, with 1= non-existent network to the Infoplazas network, universities, and 7=very developed. governmental institutions and businesses. For more legislation regarding Panama, please Law No. 53 of December 28, 2005 recognized visit the following web pages: the legal validity of the Gaceta Oficial por Internet [official gazette online]. The norm states that those hh http://www.asamblea.gob.pa/busca/ interested in printing copies of the Official Gazette legislacion.html Online may do so, using their own means. hh http://www.lexadin.nl/wlg/legis/nofr/oeur/ Regulations on the use of documents and electronic lxwepan.htm signatures and the Certification agencies in Broadcasting and Telecommunications Panama are included in two norms: Decree no. 21 of 12/07/2000, Electoral Tribunal and Regulations Broadcasting activity in Panama is regulated by on the use of electronic signatures supported by various norms, ranging from the constitutional digital certificates, and Law no. 43 of /07/23/2001 level to the regulatory level. Article 37 of the that defines and regulates documents and Constitution of Panama states that: “every person electronic signatures, as well as the Certification may freely express its opinion verbally, in writing agencies in electronic trade and the exchange of or by any other means, without subjection to prior electronic documents. censorship. However, legal liability shall be incurred when by any of these means the reputation or One of the initiatives of the Panamanian Information honor of person is assailed or when social security and Telecommunications Chamber (CAPATEC) or public order is attacked.” http://www.iijlac.org/ is to develop a Strategic Plan of Information apc/panama.2.htm and Telecommunications Technologies (ICTs) On September 20, 1973, law No. 80 created the
55 For more information please refer to: http://www.asamblea.gob.pa/legispan/PDF_NORMAS/1970/1973/1973_027_2292.pdf y http:// legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=node/1000. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 72
National Institute of Telecommunications (INTEL, the following: Civil School Protection, Technical by its Spanish acronym) whose goal is to plan, Assistance, Self-protection, Family plans, design, build, operate, manage and improve Neighborhood Plan and Institutional Assistance. telecommunications55. 59 The Emergency Operations Center (COE), also reorganized by Law No.7 of 2005, with the On July 29, 1987, Law No.14 was passed to regulate establishment of SINAPROC was assigned to National and International Telecommunications SINAPROC. This is the COE where coordination in the Republic of Panama, in order to organize among the institutions takes place, either at public telecommunications services, as well as the political or technical level, once a warning generally regulating national and international is issued, to maintain control and ensure an 56 telecommunications in the Republic of Panama . immediate response to the emergencies and disasters occurring in the country. On May 12, 2009, Executive Decree 96-2009, through which the President of Panama, by Through the law of February 3, 1997, the Electric means of the Ministry of Government and Justice, Transmission Enterprise, Inc. (ETESA) and its accepted the European norm of digital TV: Hydrometeorology Management, functions as standards DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting) a National Meteorology Service and Hydrology for land digital television and IBOC (In Band on in Panama. ETESA is responsible for weather Channel) for digital radio. http://legislaciones.item. monitoring in the country and serves as liaison 57 org.uy/index?q=node/1000) . with the National Meteorological Services of other countries in the area and coordinates warnings with Table 37 presents a list of web pages and digital the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) links where more detailed/specific regulations in cases of extreme meteorological phenomena. related to ICTs existing in Panama can be found. In this manner, the surveillance and monitoring Disaster Risk Management: Legislation and processes performed by the forecast personnel Regulations of Area Panama, is reinforced by the use of all the technological advances of the digital world, The National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) with satellite information, radar and information was created on February 11, 2005, through generated by Global Climate Models, in order Law No. 758, with the duties of establishing and to issue warnings at the right time60. For more implementing all policies and action plans directed information, please visit the page at UNISDR at: at the prevention of material and psychosocial http://www.eird.org/perfiles-paises/perfiles/index. risks from natural and man-made disasters. In this php/Panama. way, it compiles and keeps an information system, promotes a national plan for risk management, In December 2005 the National Platform for Disaster develops and implements strategies and Risk Reduction for the Republic of Panama was vulnerability reduction plans and risk management, approved through the CEPREDENAC-PANAMA draws up plans and actions to strengthen and National Commission (under Executive Decree improve the response capacity and humanitarian 402 of November 12, 2002). The focal point for assistance, promote or propose a design of the the implementation of the Framework for Action plan to the Executive Agency and the adoption of in Panama is the National Civil Protection System 61 regulations on civil protection and security in the (SINAPROC) . whole country (http://www.sinaproc.gob.pa/). In addition to the more specific ICT regulatory Some of SINAPROC´s National Programs are framework, Panama has also made some progress
56 See text of the Law at: http://www.asamblea.gob.pa/legispan/PDF_NORMAS/1980/1987/1987_013_0468.pdf 57 For more legislation on Telecommunications in Panama: http://207.42.179.84/leyes/Panama/Panama.pdf. 58 To see full text of the law, visit: http://www.sinaproc.gob.pa/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=13&Itemid=26 59 Sectorial Plans can be found at: http://www.sinaproc.gob.pa/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=119, y la cooperación internacional en http://www.sinaproc.gob.pa/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=40&Itemid=52 60 For more information, please visit: http://www.hidromet.com.pa/sp/index.htm 61 For more information please visit: http://www.eird.org/esp/foro-panama/data/doc_foro/present_2008/tema_1.pdf; y http://www.eird.org/ perfiles-paises/perfiles/index.php/Panamá Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 73
Table 37: Links related with regulations on Digital Information and Telecommunications hh National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT): http://www.senacyt.gob.pa/ hh Electronic Signature Act: http://www.tradepuertorico.com/pdf/Panama/leycomercioelectronico.pdf hh European norm Digital -TV: http://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/26279/17612.pdf hh General Superintendency for Electricity and Telecommunications (SIGET): http://www.siget.gob.sv/index. aspx?tipo=17 hh Programa de Legislaciones y Derecho a la Comunicación. América Latina y el Caribe (AMARC): Panamá http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=paises/37 hh Cámara Panameña de Tecnologías de Información y Telecomunicaciones (CAPATEC): http://www.capatec. org.pa/ regarding regulatory and institutional frameworks also be considered as strategies for ICTs applied related to disaster risk reduction. Panama to disaster mitigation, either by the actors involved also works with SUMA: Humanitarian Supply or by the space created for the possible use Management System, an information management of these technologies in risk management by tool which employs an easy-to-use computerized sectors. In this regard, the chapter on Panama system to track items from the moment they are on the “Compilation of regulations on Health and effectively distributed to the affected population62. Disasters: Latin America” developed by the Pan American Health Organization presents a quite The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) developed set of regulations on the health sector63. and four other United Nations agencies have just completed the first development phase of a new Decree Law No. 6 of February 10, 1998, approves system: Logistics Support System (LSS), based the contract between the State and the City of on the SUMA system of the PAHO for managing Knowledge Foundation for the establishment humanitarian resources following disasters. Both and development of the City of Knowledge (CDS, LSS and SUMA are systems based on computer by its acronym in Spanish) and in November software that help response systems consolidate 1999, the national Government presented the and exchange information, improve operational Foundation with the facilities that became the City transparency, register and monitor the distribution of Knowledge of today in the former Clayton Base, of undocumented elements, especially donations across the Miraflores Lock of the Panama Canal. not expressly requested. Panama was the first The City of Knowledge is a state project, home country in the world to receive this type of training to over a 150 organizations, where researchers with the latest version of LSS/SUMA, which was work and develop plans, where high level training introduced in the country in 2005; through the programs are offered, innovative business projects program 30 people from different institutions of are conceived, and where humanitarian action the Panamanian Government received training, and development projects of various international specifically those involved with humanitarian aid organizations and NGOs are managed64. and assistance. There are more details on the relevance of the Relevant regulations by sector City of Knowledge in the context of ICTs and disaster management in the previous Section on Norms and guidelines have been developed in the Technological Support and Infrastructure. country and in the region with regard to various areas of public and private business which can Regarding the education sector, SENACYT
62 Please, see more information at: (http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/spanish/index.htm). 63 For more information visit: http://www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/leyes/vgpccd.html 64 Publication for the 10 years of the City of Knowledge: (www.cdspanama.org) Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 74 developed a Scientific and Technological the National Water Commission to regulate the Development Plan for the Education Sector in exploitation of the country´s water resources66. Panama. The Ministry of Education opened the Portal EDUCA PANAMA with the purpose of On June 11, 1997, Law no. 19: the Panama Canal developing an interactive space of continuous Authority Organic Law was passed to regulate the Authority of the Panama Canal67. Other legal and training and incorporated the Panamanian regulatory frameworks for sectors such as Environment education portal to the Latin American Education and Water and Sanitation, which are critical sectors Portals Network (RELPE, by its Spanish both for development in general and for risk reduction acronym)65. management, can find a relevant space to promote the application of ICTs in this context.Table 38 includes links Decree Law 35 of September 22, 1966 created to the most relevant laws for these sectors in Panama.
Table 38: Legislation for disaster mitigation in critical sectors
Environment: Legislation and Regulations hh General Environmental Act. http://www.anam.gob.pa/joomla/images/stories/normasambientales/Ley_ general_del_ambiente_panama.pdf hh Regulations of the General Environmental Law. http://www.cnpml.org.pa/cnpml/leyes_normas/ decreto_59.pdf hh Forest Law. http://www.anam.gob.pa/joomla/images/stories/normasambientales/Ley_1_de_3_de_ Febrero_de_1994.pdf hh More detailed/specific regulations on the environment can be found in the following web pages:
hh http://www.latinlaws.com/panama.html
hh http://www.ccad.ws/legislacion/Panama.html hh Regional Plan for the Development of the Inter-oceanic Region and the Master Plan of Use, Conservation and Development of the Canal area. http://www.ccad.ws/documentos/legislacion/PM/L- 21-97.pdf
Water and Sanitation: Legislation and Regulations hh National Water Commission. http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/cd38/Panama/DL35-66.pdf hh Action Plan for the integrated water management in the Central American Isthmus. http://www.ccad. ws/documentos/pacadirh/PACADIRH.pdf
65 For more information visit: http://www.educapanama.edu.pa/pagina/nuestro-trabajo-tiene-como 66 See text of Decree at: http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvsacd/cd38/Panama/DL35-66.pdf 67 See text of Law at: http://www.pancanal.com/esp/legal/law/index.html Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 75
BIBLIOGRAPHY hh Legislation and the Right to Communication hh PAHO/WHO. Area of preparedness for Program: Latin America and the Caribbean situations of emergency and relief in case of (AMARC): Panama. http://legislaciones.item. disasters, country profiles: Panama. http:// org.uy/index?q=paises/37 www.disaster-info.net/PED-Centroamerica/ index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcat hh National Secretariat for Science, Technology egory&id=71&Itemid=243 and Innovation (SENACYT). http://www. senacyt.gob.pa/ hh Compilation of regulations on health and disasters: Latin America: PAHO/WHO. hh SUMA: Humanitarian Supply Management http://www.disaster-info.net/PED-Sudamerica/ System. http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/ leyes/vgpccd.html spanish/index.htm hh International Strategy Disaster Reduction hh National educational systems / OEI. http:// (UNISDR) the Americas. Country profiles: www.oei.es/quipu/panama/index.html#legi Panama. http://www.eird.org/perfiles-paises/ perfiles/index.php/Panamá#Plataforma_ hh Legislation and policies. http://www.ccad.ws/ Nacional legislacion/Panama.html hh The Global Information Technology Report hh Latin Laws. Biblioteca Legal Latinoamericana. 2008–2009: Mobility in a Networked World http://www.latinlaws.com/panama.html http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gitr/2009/ hh Action plan for the integrated water management gitr09fullreport.pdf in the Central American Isthmushttp://www. hh Competitiveness Global Index 2008-2009: ccad.ws/documentos/pacadirh/PACADIRH. World Economic Forum. http://72.52.156.225/ pdf Estudio.aspx?Estudio=indice-competitividad hh Epidemiological Situation of Acute Pesticide Poisoning in the Central American Isthmus, 1992-2000. http://www.paho.org/spanish/sha/ be_v23n3-plaguicidas.htm Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 76
68 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Capital: Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Population: 9.8 million
Area: 48.730 km2
Population density: 181.8 h/km2
Urban population: 51%
Demographic growth rate: 1.5
Currency: Peso
Language: Spanish
GENERAL INFORMATION RISK SITUATION AND FREQUENT HAZARDS The Dominican Republic occupies more than two thirds of the eastern area of the Island of The Caribbean is one of the most vulnerable Hispaniola or Santo Domingo, in the Archipelago regions, subject to disasters both natural and of the West Indies. It borders the Atlantic Ocean man-made. The Dominican Republic is located in to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the south; it the center of the Antilles archipelago, below the borders the Mona Passage to the east, a strait Tropic of Cancer. Due to its geographical location, which separates the Island from Puerto Rico and it is right on the path of hurricanes, tropical storms the Republic of Haiti to the west, with which it and tropical depressions that start in the Atlantic shares the island. It is the second largest country Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The country is in the Antilles, with a land extension of 48,730 km2 located over the Caribbean plate, over some micro and a population of 9.8 million, with 51% living plates and the Septentrional fault, the San Juan in urban areas69. The country is organized in 31 fault – Los Pozos, Enriquillo fault and the Fosa provinces and the National District, where Santo de los Muertos [Deep of the Dead], where strong Domingo de Guzmán, the capital, is located (see earthquakes can happen and high seismicity can Table 39). be a frequent occurrence. The largest earthquake on record for the Dominican Republic was in the
The annual average temperature is 25 °C. The year 1946 with the epicenter in Bahia Escocesa, climate is tropical in the coastal areas and cooler recorded a magnitude of 8.1 in the Richter scale. and drier in the inner areas of the country. The The earthquake caused a tsunami which caused northern and eastern areas are the most humid structural damage to the whole country. The ones and have the highest precipitation index. The aftershocks of August 8 and August 21 were as western and southern areas are drier and barren strong as the earthquake, spreading panic among in some places. In general, the rainy season in the the population. Over 1,200 aftershocks were northern coast lasts from October through April or registered in a year. The Dominican Republic does May, while in the southern coast it lasts from May not have any active volcano. through October-November.
68 The UNISDR Americas has developed country profiles with specific information on all aspects of risk reduction, including national counterparts, regulatory frameworks, projects and initiatives on risk management in the country at hand. For a more detailed information please visit the Dominican Republic Country Profile at the following web site: http://www.eird.org/wikiesp/index.php/Republica_Dominicana 69 The Global Information Technology Report 2008-2009 Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 77
Table 39: Administrative distribution70 Province Capital Area (km²) Population Density Map Azua Azua de Compostela 2.531,77 208.857 82 1 Bahoruco Neiba 1.282,23 91.48 71 2
Barahona Santa Cruz de Barahona 1.739,38 179.239 103 3
Dajabón Dajabón 1.020,73 62.046 61 4
Distrito Nacional Santo Domingo de Guzmán 104.44 913.54 8.747 D.N.
Duarte San Francisco de Macorís 1.605,35 283.805 177 5
Elías Piña Comendador 1.426,20 63.879 45 6
El Seibo Santa Cruz del Seibo 1.786,80 89.261 50 7 Espaillat Moca 838,62 225.091 268 8
Hato Mayor Hato Mayor del Rey 1.329,29 87.631 66 9
Hermanas Mirabal Salcedo 440,43 96.356 219 21
Independencia Jimaní 2.006,44 50.833 25 10
La Altagracia Salvaleón de Higüey 3.010,34 182.02 60 11
La Romana La Romana 653,95 219.812 336 12
La Vega Concepción de la Vega 2.287,24 385.101 168 13
María Trinidad Sánchez Nagua 1.271,71 135.727 107 14
Monseñor Nouel Bonao 992,39 167.618 169 15
Montecristi San Fernando de Montecristi 1.924,35 111.014 58 16
Monte Plata Monte Plata 2.632,14 180.376 69 17
Pedernales Pedernales 2.074,53 21.207 10 18
Peravia Baní 792,33 169.865 214 19 Puerto Plata San Felipe de Puerto Plata 1.852,90 312.706 168 20
Samaná Santa Bárbara de Samaná 853,74 91.875 108 22
Sánchez Ramírez Cotuí 1.196,13 151.179 126 23 San Cristóbal San Cristóbal 1.265,77 532.88 421 24 San José de Ocoa San José de Ocoa 855,40 62.368 73 25
San Juan San Juan de la Maguana 3.569,39 241.105 68 26
San Pedro de Macorís San Pedro de Macorís 1.255,46 301.744 240 27
Santiago Santiago de los Caballeros 2.836,51 908.25 320 28 Santiago Rodríguez San Ignacio de Sabaneta 1.111,14 59.629 54 29
Santo Domingo Santo Domingo Este 1.301,84 1,817,754 1.396 30
Valverde Mao 823,38 158.293 192 31
70 National Office of Statistics. «VIII Censo 2002 Población y Vivienda» (extracted from Wikipedia: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provincias_de_la_Rep%C3%BAblica_Dominicana#cite_note-0)
Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 78
Finally, the interconnection of climate and thermal Man-made hazards oscillations in the Equatorial Pacific, both for warm and cold events also may cause extensive and Several different man-made hazards have been intense droughts, recurring every two to three identified in the Dominican Republic. Some of the years. Panama presents a rugged topography, more common and of greater impact in the region being exposed to landslides, lowland areas are: water pollution, air pollution, lead pollution, vulnerable to floods and coastal areas prone to noise pollution, propane gas distribution, fires, tidal waves. Even though geophysical phenomena engineering malpractice, land use and industrial are present and have caused damage in the past, spills. One of them needs immediate attention: the hydro-meteorological phenomena have recurrently collapse of dams. caused the greatest damage in terms of human Because of deforestation, the rivers’ volume has lives and material goods. decreased or has disappeared; however, as well The Dominican Republic is characterized by as the other ones, in just a few hours they can certain development processes as well as by socio- create floods causing considerable damage to the cultural, institutional, economic and environmental population. characteristics that alter in a particular way the As to the management of dams in the Dominican risk scenarios in the country, where vulnerability Republic, their functioning needs to be reviewed. fits together with the common regional risks and This is a country directly exposed to cyclones its own, in order to cause situations of potential and storms, where a considerable part of the disaster. Following there is a brief description of the population lives downstream, below the water main natural and man-made hazards associated reservoirs. When it rains the population fears the with the occurrence of emergencies and disasters sudden draining of water from the dams, and not in the Dominican Republic. being able to withstand the volume of rainfall. Natural hazards The biggest problem affecting dams in the Because of its geographical location and country is the effect of sedimentation produced geology, the country is vulnerable to disasters by deforestation of their watersheds, whose caused by natural processes, which can be magnitude is still unknown. Other less far-reaching grouped in five main areas: a) meteorological, b) man-made hazards have also been identified, hydrological, c) oceanographic, d) geological and such as air disasters, oil spills, chemical spills, gas c) environmental. pipelines and radiological hazards. Table 41 shows the main emergencies and disasters associated Meteorological phenomena includes: hurricanes, with man-made hazards in this country. tropical storms, meteorological droughts, heat waves, thunderstorms, tornados, hailstorms and TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT AND storms. INFRASTRUCTURE
Hydrological phenomena may include the The National Information and Communication collapse of dams, hydrological droughts, flash Technologies for Development in the Dominican floods and floods. Oceanographic phenomena Republic seek to foster the country’s human present floods by oceanic waves, storm development bringing the benefit of new surges, groundswells and tsunamis. Geological technologies to all Dominicans. The understanding phenomena present earthquakes and landslides is that ICTs can contribute very significantly with and finally, environmental phenomena: forest fires, actions that enable human development goals, desertification, agro-meteorological droughts, such as education, health, governance and fight epidemics, famines and bad crops. Table 40 poverty. includes some of the most important emergencies and disasters registered in the recent history of the In the Dominican Republic, slightly over 9% of Dominican Republic. the population has access to fixed telephone lines, while approximately 50% of the population has access to cellular technology telephones, Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 79
Table 40: Emergencies and disasters associated with natural hazards
hh Hurricane David (1979) and George (1998):
hh David. (Category 5). The biggest hurricane in the country, more than 4,000 people died, and thousands were affected.
hh George (Categoría 3). 70 people died and 100.000 lost their homes. http://www.acqweather.com/ DesastresSigloXX.htm
hh Floods (August 1988):
Heavy rain caused the Haina, Duey, Isa and Mana rivers to overflow. Landslides caused aqueduct pipes to break in Santo Domingo and affected the city’s water supply city for several months. http://www.acqweather.com/ DesastresSigloXX.htm
hh Earthquake in Dominican Republic (1946):
The devastating 8.1 earthquake centered in Bahía Escocesa, Dominican Republic caused a tsunami and was felt across the country. It caused structural damage in Puerto Plata, San Francisco de Macoris, Salcedo, Moca, La Vega, Santiago, San Pedro de Macoris, Monte Plata and Santo Domingo. The aftershocks on August 8 and August 21 were as strong as the earthquake and caused panic. Over the course of one year following this earthquake, there were approximately 1200 recorded aftershocks. http://www.acqweather.com/ DesastresSigloXX.htm
with investments in the construction of repeater CODETEL is in charge of the Rural Connectivity antennas near the rural areas with the objective Project, which is envisioning the possibility of of increasing the coverage area and bring cellular bringing services to 503 communities in partnership telephones to remote areas (see Table 42). Mobile with small telecommunications enterprises and operators in the Dominican Republic are: Claro, with the objective of bringing communication to the Orange, Trilogy (Viva) and they offer services using rural areas of the country. The Telecommunications network 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 compatible with Institute of the Dominican Republic (INDOTEL) is most telephones.
Table 41: Emergencies and important man-made disasters in the Dominican Republic
Some emergencies occurred in the country, such as:
hh Lead Pollution (2007) Paraíso de Dios is just a neighborhood in Barrios de Haina, a municipality located approximately 20 km west of Santo Domingo, where an automobile battery recycling factory operated for 20 years, was moved somewhere else seven years ago, but its waste continues to contaminate children and adults. hh Pollution of the Higuamo and Magua Rivers: due to the pesticides and fertilizers coming from the sugarcane and other seasonal crops. These crops are treated with fertilizers and pesticides which are powerful pollutants and the toxic waste is thrown into the rivers. hh Noise Pollution: It has been possible to certify that the average level of noise pollution in the capital city oscillates between 75 and 85 decibels, between three and four scores of ten over the acceptable level for human hearing. hh Explosion of propane filling company (2009) A propane filling station exploded in the San Isidro highway, wounding dozens of people and spreading panic and the evacuation of multitude of families in the area. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 80 the competent agency in charge of the companies On October 27, 2004, Decree No. 1374-04 was which compete to provide services. There is a approved. It declared that the adoption and direct dialing service by dialing area codes 809 implementation of a National Competitiveness and 829. Plan for the development of national productivity and sustainable economic growth in the Dominican About 17% of the population of the Dominican Republic is a matter of State policy of high Republican uses the Internet. Internet use of priority. The National Council for Competitiveness broadband through cellular, which operators have (CNC) created under Decree No. 1091-01 of been implementing thanks to new third generation November 3, 2001, will be the official entity in technologies, is associated with the gradual charge of developing and implementing, together increase in the number of internet users. The with the public and private sectors, the National country is interconnected through three (3) fibre Competitiveness Plan73. optic submarine cables systems which enable more network capillarity and bring broadband to the The creation of the National Public Administration most remote places in the country. There are eight Institute constitutes a significant step towards 8 Internet service providers in the country, such as: the process of reform and modernization of the Compañía Dominicana de Teléfonos (CODETEL Dominican State. It will be in charge of contributing to by its Spanish acronym), Orange Dominicana, the training, actualization and preparation process Viva and Tricom. Only 3.5% of Dominicans have necessary for the administration personnel. The access to a personal computer. legal framework for this Institute comes from Law 41-08 of Public Function that created the State In terms of radio broadcasting, the country has 369 Secretariat of Public Administration of January 16, authorized radio stations. There is a solar energy 2008, which entirely replaces Law 14-91 of May project that feeds the first digital transmitter of 20, 1991, and its enabling Regulations No.81-94 amplitude modulation in the Dominican Republic on Civil Service and Administrative Career. (http:// and was designed to improve the quality and www.inap.gov.do/homex.php) coverage of the signal. With the goal of bringing basic education, work was done through radio in In 2004, the need for a high level government rural areas that lacked formal schools, alternating entity was identified in order to meet the Dominican the learning with work on the fields. About 78% of Government’s priority to implement the use of Dominican households have television sets. ICTs in the country. To modernize the State there was a need to increase the competitiveness MARCOS NORMATIVOS E of the productive sector and socialize access INSTITUCIONALES to information. The need to further, develop and design projects, policies and strategies National Information Policy: legislation and to democratize access, use and application of 71 norms. information and communication technologies was especially considered. Therefore, in accordance The Dominican Republic has been developing with the Executive Power’s plans, an organization legislative and regulatory frameworks for the use in charge of coordinating the initiatives and and application of ICTs. One of the main precedents development projects, supported by ICTs, was comes with the approval of the Constitution of designed and created. Such action was also in the Dominican Republic, which was revised a accordance with the country’s interest to comply few times, the last revision being in 2002. Article with the agreements signed with the United No.8, Section 6 states: “Every person may, without Nations to attain the Objectives of the Millennium. subjection to prior censorship, freely express his On September 3, 2004, Decree No. 1090-04 opinion in writing or by any other means, graphic created the Oficina Presidencial de Tecnologías or verbal”72. de la Información y Comunicación (OPTIC by
71 A national information policy is the coordination of public measures for the design of a strategy geared towards the development and use or resources, services and information systems. 72 See text of the constitution at: http://www.suprema.gov.do/codigos/Constitucion.pdf 73 http://www.stp.gov.do/UploadPDF/D1374_04.pdf Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 81
Table 42:
Indicator 1995 2000 2007
Subscribers to cellular telephones 0.74% 8.10% 56.70% Internet users 0.02% 3.70% 17.20% Personal computers - 1,90% 3.50% Telephone lines 7.71% 10.02% 9.30% its Spanish acronym) [Presidential Office of the Strategic Plan for Science, Technology Information and Communication Technologies] and Innovation 2008-2018 (PECyT+I, by its directly under the Executive Power, with financial, Spanish acronym). Its goals are to strengthen structural and functional autonomy, responsible the public institutional and financial framework of for planning, leading and executing the necessary the national science and technology system, in actions to implement the Electronic Government of addition to developing research and innovation. the Dominican Republic. The State’s initiative is innovative for the country, which believes in achieving development through This decree gives OPTIC the functions of the education, science and technology. Instituto Audiovisual de Informática (IADI), now named Center for the Studies of Communication Other decrees, No. 228-07 and No. 229- and Information Technologies (CETIC by its 07,were created aiming at institutionalizing the Spanish acronym) and the National Informatics development and implementation of the National Commission (CNI by its Spanish acronym) with Agenda of Electronic Government. These decrees the goal of integrating under one umbrella the establish the Governmental Contact Center and initiatives on Information and Communication the Electronic Government application guidelines. Technologies (ICTs) and Electronic Government. The outlook on E-Government places the On April 11, 2005 Decree No. 212-05 created the Dominican Republic at an advanced development National Committee for the Information Society and information standard. The E-Government (CNSIC by its Spanish acronym), aimed at Master Plan for the Dominican Republic, 2008- planning, developing and evaluating the National 2012 project has been initiated and conducted Strategy for the Information and Knowledge by OPTIC75. OPTIC is also working on the Society, the formulation of policies resulting from development of CIUDADES DIGITALES76. this strategy and definition of initiatives, programs and projects. The same decree approved the The Agreement signed on June 12, 2008, creates creation of the Observatory of the Information a cooperation framework to develop Digital Cities and Knowledge Society of the Dominican in the Dominican Republic. The parties agree Republic (OSIC-RD by its Spanish acronym) to contribute with knowledge and experience to operate as a collegiate consultative agency towards the good development of the project. under the CNSIC. This Observatory has the task OPTIC is responsible for the general coordination. to become the centre of reference for measuring, The Presidency of the Republic, the Dominican follow-up, evaluation, analysis, monitoring and Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL, by its dissemination of information on development Spanish acronym), the Ibero-American Association and assimilation in the Information and of Research Centers and Telecommunication Knowledge Society in the Dominican Republic74. Companies (AHCIET by its Spanish acronym), On October 21, 2008 the Government presented and the Dominican Federation of Municipalities
74 For more information please visit: http://www.stp.gov.do/UploadPDF/D212_05.pdf 75 The projects to be carried out by the electronic government can be found at the following web page: http://www.optic.gob.do/ GobiernoElectr%c3%b3nico/Proyectos/tabid/80/Default.aspx 76 For more information please visit: http://www.optic.gob.do/CiudadesDigitales/tabid/188/Default.aspx Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 82
(FEDOMU by its Spanish acronym), are all regulate the installation, maintenance and institutions that will coordinate this project and will operation of networks, services, and supply of provide assistance to the municipal governments in telecommunication equipments. The regulatory the country, which in turn, will eventually carry out agency is the Dominican Telecommunications the conversion of the traditional local governments Institute (INDOTEL), which is under the General into Electronic Municipal Governments within the Comptroller of the Republic78. framework of a Digital City. In May 2009, CODETEL and INDOTEL inaugurated “Vision of a National ICT Strategy for Development: the Project “Broadband rural connectivity” in the e-Dominicana” is a cooperative effort of the first few places, Las Matas de Santa Cruz in Dominican society headed by the United Nations Montecristi, San Víctor in Moca and Monte Plata. Development Programme (UNDP) and the This project was a step forward in the application Dominican Institute of Telecommunications with of new technologies in the country. the participation of the civil society and open to all players of the national scene. On August 14, 2008, the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) started There is more legislation on the Dominican the process of public survey to define which will be Republic in the following web page: (http://www. the digital land television standard, as indicated in lexadin.nl/wlg/legis/nofr/oeur/lxwedom.htm). Regulation 159/08 of the Board of Directors of the Institute, within the General Telecommunications Broadcasting and Telecommunications Law framework. At the time of the preparation of this document no decisions had been made. Table Broadcasting activity in the Dominican Republic 44 has a list of web sites and digital links where is regulated by various norms, ranging from the more detailed/specific current regulatory material constitutional level to the regulatory level. Article related to ICTs in the Dominican Republic can be 8, Section 10 of the Constitution of the Republic found79. states that the media has free access to official and private news sources, as long as they do not Disaster Risk Management: Legislation and attempt against public order or endanger national Regulations security. Disaster management in the Dominican Republic On July 28, 2004 the General Law of Free Access has become the responsibility of the national to Public Information: Law No. 200-04 states that civil protection agency. With the adoption of Law each and every person has the right to request and no.147-02 on Risk Management80 and of Decree receive complete, truthful, appropriate and timely No. 932-03, approving the regulations for the information, from any Dominican State agency implementation of Law 147-02, a national policy and from all corporations, companies or public was adopted and the National Technical Committee 77 companies with State participation . for Risk Prevention and Mitigation is created under the National Emergency Commission, which, in On November 1st, 1930, the Dominican Telephone turn, was created through Decree No.1329-04 of Company (CODETEL by its Spanish acronym) was October 18, 2004. This Commission works as inaugurated and been operating the telephone an advisory and coordinating agency for these communications in the country for over 60 years. activities81. In June 2009 the National Platform On May 27, 1998, the General Law of for Disaster Risk Reduction of the Dominican Telecommunications: Law No.153-98 was Republic was adopted on the basis of the existing approved. This law is the basic regulatory National Technical Committee on Risk Prevention framework to be applied nationwide to and Mitigation.
77 For more information visit: http://www.dgii.gov.do/legislacion/LeyesTributarias/Documents/Ley200-04.pdf 78 For more information visit: http://www.dga.gov.do/dgagov.net/uploads/file/leyes/Ley-153-98-Telecomunicaciones.pdf 79 For more information on legislation on Telecommunications in the Dominican Republic, please visit: http://www.ahciet.net/historia/pais. aspx?id=10154&ids=10686 y en http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=paises/40 80 See more information at: http://www.coe.gov.do/newcoe/index.php/about-coe.html 81 See more information at: http://www.stp.gov.do/UploadPDF/D1329_04.pdf. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 83
Table 44: Links related to regulations on digital information and telecommunications hh National Commission for the Society and Information and Knowledge (CNSIC). http://www.cnsic. org.do/ hh Electronic Signature Law. http://www.dga.gov.do/dgagov.net/uploads/file/leyes/Ley_126-02.pdf hh General Electricity Law: Law No.125-01, of July 26, 2001, amended by Law No.186-07, of August 6th, 2007: http://www.sie.gov.do/archivos/leyes/LeyGeneraldeElectricidadNo125-01.pdf hh Revision. http://www.suprema.gov.do/pdf/leyes/2007/Ley_No_186-07.pdf hh Superintendency of Electricity: Dominican Republic. http://www.sie.gov.do/ hh Legislation and the Right to Communication Program: Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC): Dominican Republic. http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=paises/40 hh Office of the President of the Dominican Republic. http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/frontpage. aspx
The Center of Emergency Operations (COE), the Government, the United Nations Development according to Law 147-02 works as a coordinating Program (UNDP), civil society entities, as well as agency for preparedness and response in case the participation of the affected population itself. of disasters. Its mission is to plan and lead all coordinating actions in order to facilitate a joint A second lesson refers to the Solidarity Program, operation between the institutions of the National which is part of the Government´s Social Protection Technical Committee for Disaster Risk Prevention, Network, as one of the strategic means to reduce Mitigation and Response (SN-PMR), after the poverty, by supporting the improvement of families´ warning is issued, due to the likelihood of an incomes in exchange for a series of conditions adverse event or sudden occurrence in any area in the area of education and health in order to of the country which might exceed the regional increase human capital. and provincial capabilities, in order to support the The National Meteorological Office (ONASMET) response and to efficiently and effectively minimize created in 1984 controls and issues warnings its effects. about climatic events in the Caribbean. (http:// As a priority on mitigation and adaptation to climatic www.onamet.gov.do/). change, Decree No. 601-08 was issued, creating In addition to the more specific ICT regulatory the National Authority of Climate Change and the framework, some progress has been done by Mechanism of Clean Development. The latter´s the country regarding regulatory and institutional purpose is to design and implement public policies, frameworks related to disaster risk management. necessary for the prevention and mitigation of The Dominican Republic has also been working greenhouse gas emissions. with SUMA: Humanitarian Supply Management After the passage of Noel and Olga storms in System, in emergency situations, an information 2007, the Dominican Government implemented management tool which employs an easy-to-use an intervention strategy which encouraged the computerized system in order to track items from survival mechanisms of the affected population, the moment they are effectively distributed to the 82 as well as the spontaneous activity of recovery affected population . of their assets, facilitating the use of their own The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) capabilities and generation of synergies. This and four other United Nations agencies have just strategy implied a participatory structure among completed the first development phase of a new
82 For more information about SUMA, please visit: http://www.disaster-info.net/SUMA/spanish/index.htm). Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 84 system: Logistics Support System (LSS), based Network (GDLN), sponsored by the World Bank. on the SUMA system of the PAHO for managing Therefore, the Dominican Republic is one of the humanitarian resources following disasters. Both pioneers in the GDLN (see http://www.inapced. LSS and SUMA are systems based on computer com/ced/). software that help response systems consolidate and exchange information, improve operational On August 13, 2001, Law 139-01 was passed, transparency, register and monitor the distribution creating the National System of Higher Education, of undocumented elements, especially donations Science and Technology. The law establishes not expressly requested. the regulations for its operation, the mechanisms ensuring quality and relevance of services Relevant regulations by sectors provided by the participating institutions and lays the legal foundations for national scientific and Norms and guidelines have been developed in the technological development83. country and in the region with regard to various areas of public and private business which can Similarly, other legal/regulatory frameworks for also be considered as strategies for ICTs applied to sectors such as the Environment and Water and disaster mitigation, either by the actors involved or Sanitation, which, being critical sectors both for by the space created for the possible use of these development in general and for the management technologies in risk management by sectors. of risk reduction, can find an appropriate space to promote the implementation of ICTs in that The Distance Education Center of the Dominican context. Republic began operating on June 21st, 2000, together with a dozen similar centers, located in Table 45 includes links to the most relevant laws Asia, Africa and America, which participated in the for these sectors in the Dominican Republic. official launch of the Global Development Learning
Table 45: Legislation on disaster mitigation in critical sectors
Environment: Legislation and Regulations hh General Law on the Environment and Natural Resources. http://www.dga.gov.do/dgagov.net/uploads/file/ leyes/LEYNO.64-00MEDIOAMBIENTE.pdf hh Sector Law on Protected Areas. http://www.suprema.gov.do/pdf/leyes/2004/Ley_202-04.pdf
Health: Legislation and Regulations hh General Health Law. http://www.sisalril.gov.do/archivospdf/leyGeneralSalud.pdf
Water and Sanitation: Legislation and Regulations
As of the date of this document, there is a Water and Sanitation Project under consideration by the Dominican Government
83 For more information regarding legislation on education in Panama: http://www.oei.es/quipu/panama/index.html#legi Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 85
BIBLIOGRAPHY hh General Electricity Law: Law No.125-01 of July 26, 2001, amended by Law No.186-07 , of August 6th , 2007. http://www.sie.gov.do/archivos/ leyes/LeyGeneraldeElectricidadNo125-01.pdf hh International Strategy Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) the Americas. Country profiles: Revision:http://www.suprema.gov.do/pdf/ Dominican Republic. http://www.eird.org/ leyes/2007/Ley_No_186-07.pdf perfiles-paises/perfiles/index.php/República_ Dominicana hh Superintendency of Electricity: Dominican Republic. http://www.sie.gov.do/ hh The Global Information Technology Report 2008–2009: Mobility in a Networked World. hh Legislation and the Right to Communication http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gitr/2009/ Program: Latin America and the Caribbean gitr09fullreport.pdf (AMARC): República Dominicana. http:// legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=paises/40 hh Competitiveness Global Index 2008-2009: World Economic Forum. http://72.52.156.225/ hh Office of the President of the Dominican Estudio.aspx?Estudio=indice-competitividad Republic. http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/ frontpage.aspx hh National Commission for the Society of Information and Knowledge (CNSIC). http:// hh SUMA: PAHO/WHO Humanitarian Supply www.cnsic.org.do/ Management System: http://www.disaster-info. net/SUMA/spanish/index.htm hh Electronic Firm Law: http://www.dga.gov.do/ dgagov.net/uploads/file/leyes/Ley_126-02.pdf Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 86
LITERATURE REFERENCES hh The integration of ICTs in the Cooperation May 2006. Agencies for Development: Possibilities, hh Inventory of the CMSI: Activities update speech and practice. Manuel Acevedo Ruiz, and registration in 2007. July 20, 2004. hh Conference on ICTs and e-Government hh Regional Integration and ICTs in Central for Regional Development and the Central America. Existing Initiatives and Future American Integration. César Yammal. Nov. Perspectives. Integración. General 2002. [email protected] Secretariat of the Central American Integration System SICA, Office of hh Research Seminary: Interdisciplinary Information Systems. November, 2002. Analysis of the Information Society. Professor Manuel Castells Oliván. hh Sectorial Policy, telecommunications regulation and harmonization and ICTs hh Tele Communication Services Integration in Central America. International of Tele Initiative, The Meso-American Information Communications (UIT), Central American Expressway. Antigua Guatemala, Tele Communications Commission November, 2006 (COMTELCA). Melo consultan, UIT, Central American Tele Communications, Panama, hh ICT Applications and Tools for Disaster October, 2007. Management in the Caribbean. Elizabeth Riley. Institution: Caribbean Disaster hh SOS Emergencies: New Challenges for ICTs. Emergency Response Agency - CDERA Tele Communications and Sustainable Region: Latin America and the Caribbean. Development. September 2007. Produced 2007 by: Mercedes Feliz (Division of Telephone Environmental Management I+D) and hh Natural Hazards Project of the Unit for David de San Benito (Corporate Telephone Sustainable Development and Environment. Responsibility Management). Organization of American States http:// www.oas.org/nhp o natural-hazards- hh Central American Project for Vulnerability [email protected]. Reduction in the countries affected by Hurricane Mitch. Web-site Health and hh International Telecommunications Unit- Disasters in Central America. www.disaster. General Secretariat. 2007 Contact: Dr. Tim info.desastres.net/saludca/desastresCR Kelly Tel.: +41 22 730 5111 Fax: +41 22 730 San José C.R. 6453 email: [email protected] hh INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS hh New Information and Communication UNIT- General Secretariat. 2007 Contact: Technologies. Adrián de la Rosa Nolasco, Dr. Tim Kelly Tel.: +41 22 730 5111 Fax: +41 First part Correo del Maestro Num. 120, 22 730 6453 e-mail: WSIS-Stocktaking@itu. May 2006 int hh Inventory of the CMSI: Updating and hh The new ICTs Adrián de la Rosa Nolasco, recording activities in 2007 First Part. Correo del Maestro Núm. 120, hh Information and Communication Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 87
Technologies in monitoring and evaluating Division, Department Sustainable natural disasters. Case study. UTEEDA Development 1300 New York Avenue, NW information network platform for managing Washington, D.C. 20 577 Email: infoenv@ disaster information. iadb.org Fax: 202-623-1786 Website: www. iadb.org / sds hh Third World, Development, Disasters and Technology from the point of view hh Technology responding to disasters. of geography. Ignacio Alonso Climent. Cynthia Gomez, Graciela Prado, Carrasco Centre for the development of cooperation Haydee .- Lima: ITDG Soluciones Prácticas, initiatives (CICODE) 2007 184 p. hh Information and Communication hh Sustainable Development / Human Technologies at home: November 2005. Development / Climate Change 103/G68 ICT-H Survey, INE. Antonio Argüeso ADG Rating SATIS. OECD ISBN Assistant director, Statistics and Analysis. INE. hh nterdisciplinary program on research and water management (PRIGA) III Interim hh Prevention and disaster response, Activities Report (September – December) complement to the policy document on 2007, Ana Isabel Barquero Elizondo, disaster risk management. Publication Coordinador of PRIGA (Reference: ENV-150), Environment ANNEX I Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 88 ANNEX I
Fixed broadband subscribers refers to users of Gross primary, secondary, and tertiary the Internet subscribing to paid high-speed access enrollment is the combined number of students to the public Internet. High-speed access is at least enrolled in primary, secondary, and tertiary levels 256 kbit/s in one or both directions. (International of education, regardless of age, as a percentage Telecommunication Union). of the population of official school age for the three levels. (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and E-government Web measure index measures Cultural Organization Institute for Statistics). the level of sophistication of a government’s online presence based on five stages of e-government Households with a television are the percentage evolution: emerging presence, enhanced presence, of households with a television (a stand- interactive presence, transactional presence, and alone device capable of receiving broadcast networked presence (1=best). (UNDESA and television signals using access means such as UNPAN).GDP growth is the annual percentage over-the-air, cable, and satellite. (International rate of growth of gross domestic product (GDP) Telecommunication Union). at market prices based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2000 U.S. International Internet bandwidth refers to the dollars. GDP is the sum of gross value added capacity which backbone operators provide to carry by all resident producers in the economy plus Internet traffic. (International Telecommunication any product taxes and minus any subsidies not Union and TeleGeography). included in the value of the products. It is calculated International voice traffic is the sum of international without deductions for depreciation of fabricated incoming and outgoing telephone traffic (in assets or for depletion and deg¬radation of natural minutes).(International Telecommunication Union). resources. (World Bank and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Internet subscribers includes people who pay for access to the Internet (dial up, leased line, and fixed GNI per capita, World Bank Atlas method, is broadband). The number of subscribers measures gross national income (GNI) converted to U.S. all those who are paying for Internet use, including dollars using the World Bank Atlas method divided the so-called “free Internet” used by those who pay by the midyear population. GNI is the sum of via the cost of their telephone call, those who pay value added by all resident produc¬ers plus any in advance for a given amount of time (prepaid), product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the and those who pay for a subscription (either flat- valuation of output plus net receipts of primary rate or volume-per-usage based). (International income (compensation of employees and property Telecommunication Union). income) from abroad. GNI, calculated in national currency, is usually converted to U.S. dollars at Internet users includes subscribers who pay official exchange rates for comparisons across for Internet access (dial-up, leased line, and economies. The World Bank Atlas method is used fixed broadband) and people with access to the to smooth fluctuations in prices and exchange worldwide computer network without paying rates. It averages the exchange rate for a given directly, either as the member of a household, or year and the two preceding years, adjusted for from work or school. Therefore, the number of differences in rates of inflation between the country Internet users will always be much larger than the and the Euro area, Japan, the United Kingdom, number of subscribers, typically by a factor of 2–3 and the United States. (World Bank). in developed countries and more in developing countries. (International Telecommunication Union). Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 89
Level of competition, international long Price basket for Internet service is calculated distance, refers to the level of compe¬tition based on the cheapest avail¬able tariff for for international long distance telephone calls accessing the Internet 20 hours a month (10 hours (M = monopoly, P = partial competition, C = full peak and 10 hours off-peak). The basket excludes competition). (International Telecommunication telephone line rental but includes telephone Union and World Bank). usage charges if applicable. Data are compiled in the national currency and converted to U.S. Level of competition, Internet service, refers to dollars using the annual average exchange rate. the level of competition for retail Internet access (International Telecommunication Union) service (M = monopoly, P = partial competition, C = full competition). (International Telecommunication Price basket for mobile telephone service is Union and World Bank). calculated based on the prepaid price for 25 calls per month spread over the same mobile network, Level of competition, mobile telephone service, other mobile networks, and mobile to fixed calls refers to the level of com¬petition for digital and during peak, off-peak, and weekend times. cellular mobile services (M = monopoly, P = partial The basket also includes 30 text messages per com¬petition, C = full competition). (International month. (International Telecommunication Union) Telecommunication Union and World Bank). Price basket for residential fixed line is Mobile and fixed-line subscribers per employee calculated as one-fifth of the installation charge, are telephone subscribers (fixed line plus mobile) the monthly subscription charge, and the cost of divided by the total number of telecommunications local calls (15 peak and 15 off-peak calls of three employees. (International Telecommunication minutes each). (International Telecommunication Union). Union and World Bank)
Mobile cellular subscriptions refer to the number Price of call to the United States is the cost of subscriptions to a public mobile telephone of a three-minute, peak-rate, fixed-line call from service using cellular technology, which provides the country to the United States. (International access to the Public Switched Telephone Network. Telecommunication Union) Post-paid and prepaid subscriptions are included. (International Telecommunication Union). ICT expenditure comprises computer hardware (computers, storage devices, printers, and other Mobile telephone usage measures the minutes peripherals); computer software (operating of use per mobile user per month. (Wireless sys¬tems, programming tools, utilities, applications, Intelligence)Personal computers are self- and internal software devel¬opment); computer contained computers designed to be used by a services (information technology consulting, single individual. (International Telecommunication computer and network systems integration, Web Union). hosting, data processing services, and other services); and communications services (voice Population is based on the de facto definition of and data com¬munications services) and wired population, which counts all residents regardless of and wireless communications equipment. (Global legal status or citizenship, except for refugees not Insight and World Information Technology and permanently settled in the country of asylum, who Services Alliance) are generally con¬sidered part of the population of their country of origin. Data are midyear estimates. ICT goods exports and ICT goods imports are (World Bank).. goods that are either intended to fulfill the function of information processing and communication Population covered by mobile cellular by electronic means, including transmission and network is the percentage of people that live display; or use electronic processing to detect, within areas served by a mobile cellular signal measure, and/or record physical phenomena or to regardless of whether they use it. (International control a physical process. ICT goods exports and Telecommunication Union). imports include the following broad categories: telecommunications equipment, computer and Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 90
related equipment, electronic components, audio The organizations noted above have made the ICT and video equipment, and other ICT goods. Re- at a Glance tables possible by sharing their data exports (exports of foreign goods in the same state and their expertise with us. More important, their as previously imported) are also included. (UN collaboration contributes to the World Bank’s efforts, Comtrade) and to those of many others, to improve the quality of life of the world’s people. We acknowledge our ICT service exports includes communications debt and gratitude to all who have helped to build services (telecommunications, business network a base of comprehensive, quantitative information services, teleconferencing, support services, and about ICT. postal services) and computer and information services (database, data processing, software International Monetary Fund: The International design and development, maintenance and repair, Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization and news agency services). (IMF) of 185 member countries established to promote international monetary cooperation, a stable system Secure Internet servers are the number of of exchange rates, and the balanced expansion of servers using encryption tech¬nology for Internet international trade and to foster economic growth transactions. Data listed for 2007 are for December and high levels of employment. The IMF reviews 2008. (Netcraft) national, regional, and global economic and financial developments, provides policy advice to Separate telecommunications regulator member countries and serves as a forum where indicates whether the country has a separate they can discuss the national, regional, and global telecommunications regulator. (International consequences of their policies. Telecommunication Union) The IMF also makes financing temporarily Status of main fixed-line telephone operator available to member countries to help them indicates whether the incum¬bent fixed-line address balance of payments problems. Among operator is a public or private entity. Public refers the IMF’s core missions are the collection and to a fully state-owned operator, private refers to a dissemination of high-quality macroeconomic and fully private operator, and mixed refers to a partially financial statistics as an essential prerequisite for private operator. (International Telecommunication formulating appropriate policies. The IMF provides Union and World Bank) technical assistance and training to member countries in areas of its core expertise, including Telecommunications revenue is revenue from the development of economic and financial data in the provision of telecom¬munications services accordance with international standards. For more such as fixed line, mobile, and data. (International information, see www.imf.org. Telecommunication Union) International Telecommunication Union: The Telecommunications investment is total International Telecommunication Union (ITU) telecommunications investment (capital is the leading UN agency for information and expenditure) as a percentage of telecommunications communication technologies. ITU’s mission is to revenue. (International Telecommunication Union) enable the growth and sustained development Telephone lines are telephone lines connecting of telecommunications and information networks a subscriber’s terminal equipment to the public and to facilitate universal access so that people switched telephone network and which have a everywhere can participate in, and benefit from, the port on a telephone exchange. The number of emerging information society and global economy. ISDN channels and fixed wireless subscribers A key priority lies in bridging the so-called Digital are included. (International Telecommunication Divide by building information and communication Union) infrastructure, promoting adequate capacity building, and developing confidence in the use of Urban population is the midyear population cyberspace through enhanced online security. ITU of areas defined as urban in each country and also concentrates on strengthening emergency reported to the United Nations. (United Nations) communications for disaster prevention and Information on the original data providers mitigation. For more information, see www.itu.int/. Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 91
Netcraft: Netcraft provides Internet security bodies on joint courses of action to address services such as antifraud and antiphishing services, ongoing or emerging global challenges; and it application testing, code reviews, and automated advises interested Governments on the ways penetration testing. Netcraft also provides research and means of translating policy frameworks data and analysis on many aspects of the Internet developed in United Nations conferences and and is a respected authority on the market share of summits into programmes at the country level and, Web servers, operating systems, hosting providers, through technical assistance, helps build national Internet service providers, encrypted transactions, capacities. For more information, visit http://www. electronic commerce, scripting languages, and un.org/esa/desa/. content technologies on the Internet. For more The mission of the United Nations Online information, see http://news.netcraft.com/. UNPAN: Network in Public Administration and Finance United Nations: The United Nations currently has (UNPAN) is to promote the sharing of knowledge, 192 member states. The purposes of the United experiences and best practices throughout the Nations, as set forth in the Charter, are to maintain world in sound public policies, effective public international peace and security; to develop administration and efficient civil services, through friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in capacity-building and cooperation among the solving international economic, social, cultural, and United Nations Member States, with emphasis on humanitarian problems and in promoting respect south-south cooperation and UNPAN’s commitment for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to to integrity and excellence. For more information, be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations visit http://www.unpan.org/. in attaining these ends. For more information, see Wireless Intelligence is part www.un.org/. Wireless Intelligence: of GSM Media LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Nations Educational, Scientific, and GSMC Limited, the organisation behind the GSMA Cultural Organization, Institute for Statistics: Mobile World Congress and GSMA Mobile Asia The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Congress. Founded in 1987, The GSM Association Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized (GSMA) is a global trade association representing agency of the United Nations that promotes more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators international cooperation among member states across 217 territories and countries of the world. and associate membersin education, science, In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and culture and communications. The UNESCO suppliers support the Association’s initiatives as Institute for Statistics is the organization’s associate members. For more information, visit statistical branch, established in July 1999 to meet https://www.wirelessintelligence.com/ the growing needs of UNESCO member states and the international community for a wider range World Information Technology and Services The World Information Technology of policy-relevant, timely, and reliable statistics on Alliance: and Services Alliance (WITSA) is a consortium these topics. For more information, see www.uis. of leading information technology industry unesco.org/. associations in over 60 economies. As the global UNDESA: The Department of Economic and voice of the information technology industry, WITSA Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is dedicated to advocating policies that advance (UNDESA) is a vital interface between global the industry’s growth and development; facilitating policies in the economic, social and environmental international trade and investment in information spheres and national action. The Department technology products and services; strengthening works in three main interlinked areas: it compiles, WITSA’s national industry associations; and generates and analyses a wide range of economic, providing members with a broad network of social and environmental data and information on contacts. WITSA also hosts the World Congress which States Members of the United Nations draw on Information Technology and other worldwide to review common problems and to take stock events. For more information, visit www.witsa. of policy options; it facilitates the negotiations org/. of Member States in many intergovernmental Country Profiles: Information and CommunicationTechnologies Applying Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Mitigation in the Central American Isthmus and the Dominican Republic 92
World Bank: The World Bank is a vital source of interest loans, interest-free credits, and grants to financial and technical assistance for developing developing countries for a wide array of purposes, countries. The World Bank is made up of two including investments in education, health, public unique development institutions owned by 185 administration, infrastructure, financial and private member countries—the International Bank for sector development, agriculture, and environmental Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the and natural resource management. The World International Development Association (IDA). These Bank’s work focuses on achieving the Millennium institutions play different but collaborative roles to Development Goals by working with partners to advance the vision of an inclusive and sustainable alleviate poverty. For more information, see www. globalization. The IBRD focuses on middle-income worldbank.org/data/. and creditworthy poor countries, while IDA focuses on the poorest countries. Together they provide low-