Early Warning Broadcast System

(EWBS)
Standard Operatingz Procedures (SOP)
23 October 2019 | Palacio Del Sur, Zamboanga City

ENGR. DOMINADOR C. GARABILES

OIC, Plans and Policy Development Division, DICT

#DigitalTVph1
Emergency Warning Broadcast System

A system in Digital Terrestrial

Television Broadcasting (DTTB)
Service that shall be activated to alert
WHAT IS and guide the public of an

EWBS?
impending or ongoing emergency
situation by delivering warning
information through an audible sound
and the superimposition of data to
various types of ISDB-T receivers that
are automatically activated

The broadcasters choose

Broadcast Markup Language (BML) to be
used for smooth implementation of the
EWBS function
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EWBS Operation

EWBS signal transmitted by broadcasters activate EWBS-ready receivers and show

emergency information. Broadcasters convey the emergency information by transmitting a
text messages using Superimposed function.

TRANSMITTER SIDE RECEIVER SIDE

• Emergency information descriptor • Monitor the activation flag in stand-by mode

(start/end flag, service ID and area
code) in the program map table
• Set the activation flag for EWBS
signal to “1”
• Transmit emergency information
using Superimposed function
• Activation flag should be set to “0”
when stopping the EWBS.
• When activation flag changes from “0” to “1”,
the receiver should start checking the
emergency information descriptor
• If activation code is “1” and area code is
matched, receiver should display the
emergency information (Superimposed to the
current display)
• If activation flag is “0”, no operation is
required.

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EWBS Implementation

EWBS
Signal
Alert AUTOMATIC
Messages ACTIVATION

Alert
Information

TRANSMITTER

WARNING REGULATING BROADCASTING

AGENCY AGENCY BROADCASTING
STATION
SERVICE AREA
Mandatory for ISDB-T Receivers
Migration Framework

EWBS

Section 2 General Provisions

Section 2.1 All ISDB-T receivers to be used for the reception of DTTB
broadcasts in the country shall conform to the standards set by the Commission as
provided for in the attached Annex A, the EWBS Harmonization Document
pertaining to EWBS functions of this Memorandum Circular.

Section 2.2 EWBS shall be mandatory for all ISDB-T devices. All ISDB-T
receivers including One Seg ISDB-T receivers shall at the minimum, have the
capability to support EWBS information. An audible tone shall be generated by
ISDB-T receivers, while on stand-by mode, once an EWBS signal is received for its
corresponding location.

Automatic switch-on from stand-by mode is encouraged for ISDB-T receivers when
an EWBS broadcast signal is received.
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Integrated Services Digital Broadcast - Terrestrial
(ISDB-T)

This standard shall be the sole standard in the delivery of DTT

services in the Philippines

ISDB-T is a flexible digital television (DTV) transmission system

that is capable of providing three (3) levels of hierarchical
modulation that can carry audio, video and data services to
fixed, mobile and handheld terminals using a single transmission
facility with an integrated
Emergency Warning Broadcast System (EWBS)

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 ISDB-T supports three (3)
reception types

13 Segments HD TV
FIXED RECEPTION TV Sets, STB,
Recorder

Internet

13 SEGMENTS (FULL-SEG)
1 SEGMENT (1SEG)

MOBILE RECEPTION
HOME RECEIVER
HANDHELD RECEPTION

Cellphone, Navigation
Laptop, etc. System, In-Car
TV

HANDHELD TERMINAL
RECEIVER IN VEHICLE 7
Migration
DTTB Framework
Migration Plan of the Philippines
TELEVISION remains to
be an important source of
EMERGENCY WARNING
information for Filipinos
BROADCAST for public
dissemination to the public.

WIDER CHOICE IN TV
CHANNELS stemming from
enhanced spectrum utilization.

ENHANCED QUALITY OF
SIGNAL RECEPTION even
at weak signal level.

Developmental innovations can be built around the ISDB-T

standard like data broadcast and emergency warning
Joint Memorandum Circular

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) FOR THE

EMERGENCY WARNING BROADCAST SYSTEM (EWBS)
THROUGH INTEGRATED SERVICES DIGITAL BROADCAST
TERRESTRIAL (ISDB-T)

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Objectives

Centralize and unify varied information Provide advance and real-time

and distribute necessary information information on impending natural
nationwide calamities

Provide emergency warning Provide advance information to local

information to citizens agencies who are responsible in disaster
management 10
Coverage

All terrestrial TV broadcasters with Digital TV facilities operating within the

Philippines shall adhere to the requirements provided in this circular

Alerts and advisories of emergency and distress relating to natural disasters

Tropical Tsunamis Floods Earthquakes Volcanic Eruptions

Cyclones
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General Guidelines on EWBS Alerts

In the event of an impending emergency, DTT Broadcasters are directed to send out early
warning and/or alert messages at regular intervals as required by the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and other relevant agencies
 Warning Agencies, Regulating Agencies, and Broadcasting Companies shall use all available
means of communication simultaneously in transmitting Emergency Warning and
Broadcast Message (EWBM)

ELECTRONIC SHORT MESSAGE FACSIMILE

EWBM MAIL (E-MAIL) SERVICE (SMS)

• up-to-date information on • tsunami alerts;

impending threats
• evacuation areas;
• relief sites and pick-up points;
• weather advisories;
• evacuation directives; and
• contact detals of local
government units
• others related information
to disaster management 12
Role of Warning Agencies

Responsible for the provisions of emergency alerts and/or warning

message(s)

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

(PHIVOLCS)

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and

Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)

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Role of Regulating Agencies

Responsible for the control, regulation and management of the

emergency alert and/or warning message(s)

National Disaster Risk Department of

Reduction and Information and
Management Council Communications
(NDRRMC) Technology (DICT)

Philippine National
Information Telecommunications
Commission (NTC)
Agency (PIA)

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Role of Broadcasting Agencies/Companies

Responsible for the transmission of the emergency alert and/or

warning message(s)

Digital TV
Broadcasting
Networks
Peoples Television Private Broadcasting Companies
Network (PTV4)

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Transmission Procedure of EA/WM thru EWBS

Warning Agencies Regulating Agency Broadcasters

Transmit alert
Send emergency Notify approving message to
alert and/or warning authorities for Send alert subscribers
message(s) action message to
broadcasters

PHIVOLCS/PAGASA NDRRMC/OCD DTT BROADCASTERS

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Some EWBS Activities/Demo/Testing in Philippines

EWBS Testing on July 30, 2015

by ABS CBN

Block Diagram of EWBS Pilot Project in Philippines (2015)

By MIC-Japan & NEC corporation
EWBS Demonstration in Davao City (2018)
By PTV4, MIC-Japan and NEC Corporation
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Thank you

#DigitalTVph
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