MMDA may tap Twitter's new SMS-alert system

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) may be among the first Philippine agencies to avail of Twitter's recently launched Twitter Alerts system, a mechanism that sends out critical information via text notifications.

 

Former MMDA traffic discipline unit head Yves Gonzalez tweeted early Thursday that he enrolled the MMDA account @MMDA for the new system.

 

 

Gonzalez posted on his Instagram account a screenshot of what appeared to be Twitter's response, where it said it would contact the MMDA "if your organization qualifies for enrollment."

 

But the reply also said it may not be able to contact MMDA immediately since the Twitter Alerts system is "just getting started."

 

Earlier this week, Twitter said Twitter Alerts is a new feature that helps users get "important and accurate information from credible organizations during emergencies, natural disasters or moments when other communications services aren’t accessible."

 

"If you sign up to receive an account’s Twitter Alerts, you will receive a notification directly to your phone whenever that account marks a Tweet as an alert. Notifications are delivered via SMS, and if you use Twitter for iPhone or Twitter for Android, you’ll also receive a push notification," product manager Gaby Peña said in a blog post.

 

Peña said alerts also appear differently on a user's home timeline from regular Tweets: "they will be indicated with an orange bell."

 

For now, Peña said some organizations in the U.S., Japan and Korea can send Alerts, "and we will expand the service to include more public institutions and NGOs around the world." — TJD, GMA News