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Top1. Introduction
Emergencies and disasters remain a challenging situation in several countries worldwide due to recurring meteorological, physical infrastructure, and human-related factors, among others. However, there is a need to reduce the impacts of disasters and emergencies in a sustainable manner in which information technology solutions is used as one of the approaches to mitigate these situations (Mal et al., 2018; Alexander, 2017). To date, there are emergency management technology solutions to respond to victims, connect public and private agencies in real-time, and reduce potential impacts of disasters to human life and physical infrastructure, and the environment (Lei et al., 2018; Foresti et al., 2015). For instance, mobile application with capabilities on supporting the needs of first responders in the field and citizens with smartphones for public safety as well as implement mission-critical mobile applications that coordinates with law enforcement, fire department, and emergency response authority during these situations (Nyaung and Yamaguchi, 2018; Han et al., 2016).
The use of mobile-based solutions for emergency and disaster response offers benefits to various stakeholders. First, mobile-based emergency offers a way to reducing response time through geographical position systems (GPS), real-time disaster information and early warning features (Maryam et al., 2016). Second, detect potential risks such as on explosive materials, fire, earthquake, and tsunami as well as other location-based or surrounding events (Alcaidinho et al., 2017; Kong et al., 2016; Minson et al., 2015). Third, assists emergency responders to locate missing persons through the stored user information in mobile phones and servers (Annadata et al., 2016). Lastly, use of crowdsourcing features to estimate affected citizens, allocate resources needed to effectively respond to the victims, through recorded images and videos (Ludwig et al., 2017; Horita et al., 2013). Thus, mobile-based solutions offer substantial benefits to reduce the impact of emergency and disasters on human life and infrastructure.
However, the use of mobile-based solutions for emergency and disaster response systems is still underrepresented in developing countries, such as from the Philippines. To date, no study has been done to explore the use of mobile-based solutions for emergency and disaster response in the Philippines. Also determining the user acceptance of the technology was not determined to gain insights as to the acceptability of the application in the country. Hence, this study determines the user's acceptance level on a newly developed mobile application solution, with greater emphasis on the user demographics, user knowledge, experience, application awareness and willingness to utilize the technology for emergency and disaster situations using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, through a survey conducted in the Philippines.
Thus, this study has impacts for the Philippines and other developing countries.
This paper is outlined in the following sections. First, a review of literature is presented on the emergency and disaster, state and challenges in the Philippines. Second, the materials and methods used in the study. Third, the data analysis and discussion, and implications are presented. Lastly, the conclusions and future works.