'Alerto PH' app to boost LGU's emergency, disaster response

The Philippines remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters such as typhoons, floods, fires, and earthquakes. Yet most emergency infrastructure is outdated and unaffordable for smaller and resource-limited areas.

For instance, in Metro Manila, news about fires in residential areas is everywhere. Whenever it rains, the water level rises rapidly in various parts of the country, especially the flood-prone areas.

This led to the invention of a mobile application that aims to make emergency responses prompt and automatic.

Developed by a Filipina inventor with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Alerto PH is a mobile application designed to enhance community safety by delivering urgent alerts and important notifications, particularly during emergencies and disasters.

It serves as a platform that connects third-party devices like fire and theft alarms, smoke detectors, gas alarms, flood sensors, CCTV cameras, and burglar alarms to government emergency responders through a decentralized command center network.

“When these devices detect danger, whether it is a fire, break-in, or flood, they can automatically trigger alerts through our app to both the property owner and the nearest responders, even if no one is able to call for help," Cristina Macaraig, inventor of Alerto PH, explained.

"On the back end, our command center uses remote sensing, data aggregation, and AI to give local governments and emergency teams real-time information so they can respond faster and manage their communities more effectively,” Macaraig added.

Macaraig is the founder and chief executive officer of Wiredfield Philippines Inc.—a woman-led Filipino startup registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company is dedicated to empowering local government units (LGUs) in building safer and more resilient communities before, during, and after emergencies and disasters using smart city technologies like the Internet of things and artificial intelligence.

During a media conference organized by the DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute, Macaraig shared her inspiration on why she came up with an innovation that addresses gaps in disaster risk management.

Macaraig worked for 10 years in the United States, where she gained hands-on experience in software development and product marketing.

She also took on side projects in the Philippines as a monitoring and evaluation specialist and geographic information systems specialist for LGUs and non-profit organizations.

According to Macaraig, this line of work is where she gained a deeper understanding of how data, mapping, and local insights can be powerful tools to strengthen communities and improve public services, and these experiences inspired her to return home and start a company focused on building sustainable, impact-driven technology tailored to the unique needs of Filipino communities.

“Here in the Philippines, those systems were either too expensive, too complex, or simply not available for regular households. Most communities relied on outdated infrastructure or had no emergency response mechanisms at all," she continued.

"I saw a clear gap—and a practical opportunity—to create something better,” Macaraig said," she added.

Currently, Macaraig and her team are working on running pilot tests in Tagaytay and Quezon City. Her team’s goal is to onboard 100 LGUs and to fully operationalize them by the end of the year.

Macaraig said there are ongoing discussions with several LGUs, and while many showed interest, their biggest goal is to make sure that what they are building becomes truly sustainable.

For its pilot testing, Macaraig said her team installed smoke alarm devices in fire-prone areas and flood alarms in most flood-prone areas, both in Quezon City.

“Imagine if every home in the Philippines had smoke alarms. And this is just the beginning. With the support of DOST, we’re adding flood alarms, SOS buttons, security systems, CCTV cameras, and even health watches and more,” Macaraig said.

Citing an example of its benefits, Macaraig shared that several studies have shown that just one working smoke alarm in a neighborhood can reduce the risk of death by over 60 percent. This was based on the recent study published by the National Fire Protection Association in 2024.

She bared that once the pilot tests are successful, and when more LGUs have embraced the invention, their vision is to create a nationwide, decentralized emergency network—where every household, school, and local government unit can access real-time data and act immediately, even before formal responders arrive.


“When you’re creating something truly new, people won’t always understand it right away—and that’s okay. You have to believe in the problem you’re solving and keep showing up until others start to see the value too,” Macaraig said.