The Global Amateur Radio Emergency Conference (GAREC), now coined as 'MyGAREC 2012',  will be held at the Thistle Port Dickson Resort, Negeri Sembilan, from November 12 to 14. It attracts participants from around the world.

The first GAREC was in 2005 and is the premier annual event attended by those with an interest in amateur radio providing emergency communications during training exercises or in response to disasters.

MyGAREC 2012 has been timed to immediately follow the IARU Region 3 Conference in Vietnam (November 5 to 9) which has as its theme disaster relief communications. General information including information on the venue, registration fees and the tentative agenda and the registration forms will be posted on the website www.mygarec2012.com by the end of this month. This website will be updated frequently to keep all updated with the latest news and program changes.

Among the draft topics to be discussed are the HF Emergency Operating Procedure, the Future of GAREC, presentations from the three regions of the IARU and also some presentations from societies with recent disaster relief communications operations. For more information you may also email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(MyGarec 2012 Team)

Effects continue across the central Philippines after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck triggering landslides with dozens of people killed and many trapped in toppled homes.

Chief Operating Officer for IARU society PARA, Eddie Valdez DU1EV said ham radio operators are now active in communications assistance. Eddie DU1EV said those near the epicentre of the earthquake in the DU7 and DU6 call areas are active. They have chosen to use the VHF band for communications. Their services included message handling with phone communications cut, widespread power outages, bridges and other infrastructure damaged.

The earthquake in a narrow strait between the heavily populated island provinces of Negros and Cebu hit around lunchtime on Monday. There had been more than 200 aftershocks, some nearly as strong, causing further panic. This came after typhoon storms swept the Southern Philippines on December 16 to 18 with a heavy loss of lives and radio amateurs helping out.

Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman, IARU Region 3, Disaster Communication Committee.

The flooding that swept through the Philippines has claimed 800 lives after the enormous devastation left by Tropical Storm Washi. Local hams in the disaster area are now doing their best to help out with relief efforts. The search for survivors continues along with the many burials that are needed.

The Red Cross reports the storm swept away entire coastal villages as it dumped heavy rain triggering mud slides. Some 47,000 people are in evacuation centres. President Benigno Aquino is set to visit the disaster zone tomorrow.

The storm flooded a river that sent muddy floodwaters from nearby mountains that coated streets. It has been a bad season for the country with back-to-back typhoons in September leaving many people dead in the northern Philippines.

The use of HF frequencies by RNRE in Italy for the flooding in the North West of their country and TRAC for the Earthquake in Van province of Turkey has finished. There is no further need to take care when operating around 3.643, 3.760MHz, 7.045-7.060 and 7.092-7.095 MHz.

Thanks to all amateurs who kept the frequencies clear for emergency traffic.