Here’s a good alternative

for audio communications:

You can get a 2 meter handheld which will be cheaper with a phone patch. Before my older brother had a business that did communications for local government

I am surprised the local ham radio club did not help establish basic communication. Before cell phones my father used his portable single side band radio to communicate with his friends world wide

Also Iridium Flares for the sky watchers out there:

https://heavens-above.com/IridiumFlares.aspx?lat=14.5995&lng=120.9842&loc=Manila&alt=8&tz=MALST

:D

During this recent catastrophe, some of us friends gathered to brainstorm on possible ways that simple citizens could help when the next calamity happens. We deliberately tried to think “out of the box,” on the premise that sometimes the craziest ideas merit the most sense especially in bizarre situations like the post-Yolanda scenario (where even top cabinet men enter a disaster site without sat-phones).

One of the suggestions was to develop and institutionalize the custom/hobby/sport of pigeoning. The idea is to organize a nationwide network of clubs of pigeon enthusiasts in as many municipalities as possible in every region. These could then be mobilized as first responders in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic event wherein high-tech communication systems are sure to be dysfunctional for a few days. Since pigeons can be trained or conditioned to fly to specific destinations, the birds could be dispatched with vital items — like fully-charged cell phone batteries, vials of life-saving medicine, or simple pieces of paper with urgent data — on custom-made backpacks which could be strapped onto their bodies. The pigeon squadrons could then fly into a relay, from one municipality then on to the next, depending on the distance between the disaster site and the source of relief.

This idea of developing a “Pigeon Air Force of the People (PAF-P)” sounded so ludicrous at the start, but it became more sensible as discussion progressed. This is one area where the youth can participate enthusiastically, thereby giving them an opportunity to perform a vital service in times of calamity. As the saying goes, “it sounds so crazy it just might work.”

=)

I know Ex- Pres. Joseph Estrada has satellite phones.
My husband had a total knee replacement in 2006 and 2007, Erap and my husband had the same Surgeon. One time we were in this Surgeon’s office in CA. for post-op, his asst. handed him a phone and Erap was on the other line ( lakas ng boses!) After that call, the Surgeon told us that Erap gave him that Satellite phone, said that they are friends. He showed us pictures of Erap with him and several Phil. artistas and politicians. He said Erap calls him for consultation and referral.
On our way out, ex-Senator John Osmena was there too for consultation. I learned later that Osmena backed out, natakot raw. :-)
That Surgeon is a very nice guy and quite popular in Orthopedic Surgery.