Manila Bulletin: Gov’t urged: Reforest Marikina watershed

Gov’t urged: Reforest Marikina watershed
By MARVYN N. BENANING
August 23, 2011
Page 2

MANILA, Philippines — A environment advocacy group Monday called on three departments comprising the National Convergence Initiative (NCI) to work on the reforestation of critical watersheds nationwide.

The La Liga Policy Institute (La Liga) said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Department of Agrarian Reform should boost the campaign to green the Marikina watershed and prevent another typhoon Ondoy from wreaking havoc on Metro Manila.

“Ondoy” hit the National Capital Region on September 26, 2009 and killed hundreds of people, destroyed property worth billions and ruined habitation sites, factories, schools and public infrastructure, with the total damage amounting about 10 percent of the gross domestic product for that year.

The NCI spearheads the National Greening Program (NGP) embodied in Executive Order No. 26 issued earlier this year.

La Liga managing director Roland Cabigas said priority should be given to rehabilitate the Marikina Watershed to enhance the natural protection it provides to low-lying areas considered to be high risk from flooding and landslide.

Cabigas issued the appeal as the DENR steps up the implementation of the NGP, which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of open, denuded and degraded forests within the next six years.

For 2012, the DENR was given a budget of P4.9 billion to implement the program.

The amount is 29 percent of the DENR’s total budget of P16.9 billion. With the budget for the program, 77 million trees are to be planted in 150,000 hectares.

According to Cabigas, the Marikina watershed is in critical condition because of the rapid rate of deforestation and the failure to initiate an effective reforestation program.

Of the 33,000-hectare Marikina watershed, only 22 percent remains covered with trees and forest vegetation.

“The Marikina River is heavily silted because of the rapid deforestation of what is to be a protected area. The siltation of the Marikina River is being blamed as the reason why the river easily overflows and causes severe flooding. This situation endangers the lives of tens of thousands of people living in low-lying areas in Rizal and Metro Manila,” Cabigas stressed.

The rehabilitation of the Marikina w atershed is long overdue and it is high time that the DENR gives it the much needed attention, he added. “The DENR which has the financial capacity to fund its rehabilitation should recognize the urgency of the situation,” he said.

The Alliance of Seven LGUs or A7, composed of Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo and Quezon City, the Municipalities of Cainta, Rodriguez watershedand San Mateo, has partnered with RESILIENCE and La Liga to boost the resilience of the LGUs through disaster prevention in times of natural calamities such as typhoons that trigger flas hfloods.

The areas were among the worst affected by Ondoy and Pepeng in the last quarter of 2009.

As part of its preparation for the worst impacts of climate change, the A7-Resilience 2011-2013 Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program was recently launched, as part of climate change adaptation and mitigation measure identified by stakeholders. The program covers two years and has a budget of P35-billion.

Developed jointly by the A7 technical working group representing LGU members of the alliance and Resilience in partnership with La Liga, the plan aims to enhance the individual and collective capacities of A7 member-LGUs in dealing with natural calamities.

Retrieved from:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/331633/govt-urged-reforest-marikina-watershed

Business Mirror – ‘LGUs must include disaster risk reduction in annual Budget’

‘LGUs must include disaster risk reduction in annual Budget’
FRIDAY, 19 AUGUST 2011
PAGE B2-2

Local government units were asked on Wednesday to integrate disaster risk reduction in their annual investment plan (AIP) to boost their coping capacities against disasters.

The appeal was made by Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje as he lauded the efforts of the Provincial Government of Albay in reducing the risk of disasters by dedicating a big chunk of its budget for disaster adaptation and mitigation during simple rites highlighting the signing of a memorandum of agreement formalizing the partnership to strengthen the province’s DRR and management plan.

“All LGUs should in fact allocate funds for DRR in their annual investment plan to enhance their coping capacities,” Paje told the Business Mirror.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda said 80% of its budget is in fact directly or indirectly allocated for disaster risk reduction as the province is frequented by strong typhoons.

He said people in the province is still in the stage of providing relief to victims of typhoon Juaning that devastated the province on July 25 and 26. Juaning left 15 people dead, destroyed millions of properties, including houses and other public infrastructure, as well as crops. Total damage caused by the typhoon is estimated at P1.4 billion, but Salceda estimated that replacement cost will reach up to P1.8 billion.

The DENR has donated a six-wheeler truck and 5,000 board feet of hot logs the agency confiscated from illegal loggers to boost the province’s rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

Aside from the truck and lumber, the DENR chief vowed to prioritize the production of a bigger geohazard map for Albay to help local government units from the provincial down to barangays plan ahead to minimize or cushion the impacts of flashfloods and landslides.

According to Paje, LGUs should also make use of the geohazard maps produced by the DENR. The geohazard map, he said, identifies areas that are prone to geological hazards such as landslides and flashfloods.

Earlier, Paje urged LGUs to prevent real estate development in areas that are not “habitable” and declare them as “no habitation zones.”

This, he said, will allow LGUs to minimize, if not ensure “zero casualty” in the event of natural calamities.

Paje said LGU should also coordinate with concerned national government agencies for the immediate relocation of those “at risk” of being swept away by flood or buried underneath muds in the event of landslides.

Meanwhile, an alliance of local government units in Metro Manila and Rizal province called the Alliance of Seven LGUs are now in the process of identifying programs and projects that need to be integrated in the annual investment plan to enhance their individual and collective capacities against disasters.

People’s Journal – ‘A7-Resilience’ DRR, mgm’t program ok’d

‘A7-Resilience’ DRR, mgm’t program ok’d

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Page 5

The Alliance of Seven LGUs and Resilience: Nurturing Disaster-Ready Cities and Communities launched over the weekend the A7-Resilience 2011-2013 Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program as part of its climate-change adaptation and mitigation measure.

The program is a two-year, P35-Billion budget, DRR plan developed jointly by the A7 technical working group representing LGU members of the alliance and Resilience, in partnership with the La Liga Policy Institute to enhance the individual and collective capacities of A7 member-LGUs in dealing with natural disasters.

It was approved by A7 member LGUs led by the local chief executives for adoption and mainstreaming into the DRR and management plans of individual A7 member-cities and municipalities and was set to be presented to President Aquino, hoping to get funding support for its effective implementation.

So far, approximately P4 Billion of the program’s total budget requirement has been committed by members of the alliance.

Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman said through the program, members of A7 hope to become more resilient to natural calamities such as flood triggered by intensifying typhoons, landslides, or even earthquake.

“We have learned our lesson from Ondoy, and we are not waiting for another tragedy to strike us hard when we are starting to recover and stand back on our feet,” De Guzman said.

Manila Bulletin: Release of disaster funds urged

Release of disaster funds urged

By ELLALYN B. DE VERA

June 30, 2011

Page 2

MANILA, Philippines — Policy advocates Wednesday urged the government to order the release of an estimated P32.1-billion fund for disaster risk reduction in highly vulnerable cities and communities.

The call was made by La Liga Policy Institute and Resilience after continuous heavy rains inundated Luzon, including Metro Manila, and some parts of Visayas and Mindanao last week.

The group said President Benigno S. Aquino III can make disaster risk reduction and management on top of his priority list starting with the release of funds, adding that the funds from departments and agencies should be made available early within this year since these are part of the approved 2011 national budget.

Seven local government units (LGUs) or Alliance of Seven (A7) composed of Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo and Quezon City, and the municipalities of Cainta, Rodriguez and San Mateo in Rizal province have partnered with Resilience and La Liga to boost LGU resilience through disaster prevention in times of natural calamities, such as typhoons that trigger flashfloods.

For disaster vulnerabilities, capacities and needs assessment, the groups have listed down programs with total funds of P5.7 billion from, which the A7 can seek funding support; P16.2 billion for early warning systems and disaster contingency planning, P5.8 billion for reforestation and sustainable agriculture; and P4.4 billion for resettlement.

La Liga said the funds can be sourced from the 2011 budgets of key national line agencies, namely, Climate Change Commission under the Office of the President, Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Department of National Defense, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Resilience president Horacio “Boy” Morales said that since A7 member-LGUs are aware of the critical role of disaster risk reduction, they were quick to respond to the situation during the heavy downpour over the past three days that caused severe flooding in low-lying areas of Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon, thereby preventing tragic loss of lives.

“We should be more prepared for the next deluge. We must be ready to deal with more intensifying typhoons and more disastrous floods such as the ones triggered by ‘Ondoy.’ The key to effective disaster risk reduction is updated and reliable risk and hazard information, integration of national and LGU plans and predictable financing in order to enhance the adaptive capacity and increase the resilience of LGUs and communities,” Morales said.

Roland Cabigas, managing director of La Liga said the recent flooding demonstrated the vulnerability of resource-poor LGUs in coping with the situation.

During typhoons, Cabigas said emergency evacuation of people living in low-lying areas is crucial in preventing tragic loss of lives. “As we anticipate more typhoons, these disaster risk reduction interventions will further strain the already dwindling resources of LGUs that may eventually lead to LGUs not having the resources to conduct such critical operations,” he said.

Retrieved from:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/324713/release-disaster-funds-urged

GMA News Online: 7 LGUs set Marikina River inspection as ‘Chedeng’ nears

7 LGUs set Marikina River inspection as ‘Chedeng’ nears

05/25/2011 | 08:14 AM

As tropical storm “Chedeng” (Songda) threatens to dump rains on Metro Manila, local government officials of at least seven areas in Metro Manila and Rizal province will inspect the Marikina River for obstructions that may cause flooding.

The officials vowed to prevent a repeat of the overflowing of the river after cyclone “Ondoy” (Ketsana) dumped rains on Metro Manila in 2009, radio dzBB’s Glen Juego reported Wednesday.

Marikina City Vice Mayor Jose Cadiz said they will file charges against those who place obstructions in the river that may cause flooding.

Members of the “Alliance of Seven” include Quezon, Pasig and Marikina Cities in Metro Manila; and Antipolo City, Cainta, San Mateo and Rodriguez in Rizal province.

Also, Science Department Secretary Mario Montejo said in a radio interview there may be a “chance” of Chedeng hitting Metro Manila.

“We are keeping track of this possibility. Even if it does not pass through Manila, it will enhance the monsoon, which will dump rains on Metro Manila,” he said in an interview on dzXL radio.

Billboard owners

Wary of possible strong winds from tropical storm Chedeng, outdoor advertisers started taking down their billboard ads.

Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines (OAAP) president Ed Acosta asked the group’s members to take down their ads when they learned of the potential threat from “Chedeng,” radio dzRH reported.

A separate report by radio dzBB’s Denver Trinidad said that as of Tuesday noon, several of the billboard ads along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) had been taken down.

State weather forecasters had warned of possible strong winds and heavy rains brought by Chedeng, which they said may enhance the southwest monsoon.

Acosta told the group’s members to fold their tarpaulins and billboard ads soonest so they will not pose a threat to life and property, the dzBB report said.

Earlier this month, the OAAP agreed to work with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in regulating commercial billboards along major roads of Metro Manila.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the billboard drive is not meant to put advertisers out of business but to safeguard public safety by implementing the provisions of the National Building Code (NBC).

The OOAP is an umbrella organization of outdoor advertisers that serves as the self-regulatory body for outdoor advertising practitioners nationwide. — LBG, GMA News

Retrieved from

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/221569/nation/7-lgus-set-marikina-river-inspection-as-chedeng-nears

GMA News Online: Marikina braces for ‘Chedeng,’ steps up declogging operations

Marikina braces for ‘Chedeng,’ steps up declogging operations

05/25/2011 | 05:38 PM

The Marikina City government has stepped up its declogging operations in preparation for the possible floods to be brought by Typhoon Chedeng, GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” reported Wednesday.

In his report, GMA News’ John Consulta said that aside from holding declogging operations round-the-clock, Marikina has also prepared emergency equipment that include 20-seater rubber boats.

Search and rescue teams have also prepared emergency lights and generators, in case of power failure, the same television report said.

In an earlier report on GMA News TV’s “News to Go,” Consulta also demonstrated the functions of emergency equipment such as chainsaws, motors, and rubber boats. [View video http://www.gmanews.tv/story/221634/nation/marikina-braces-for-chedeng-steps-up-declogging-operations]

The Alliance of Seven Cities and Municipalities – which includes Marikina City, Pasig City, Quezon City, and other localities in the province of Rizal – also inspected the Marikina River for obstructions that could cause flooding in the area. [See: 7 LGUs set Marikina River inspection as 'Chedeng' nears]

Marikina City, which was among the hardest hit by Tropical Storm Ondoy on Sept. 26, 2009, has since implemented measures to prevent a similar disaster. [See: Marikina recalls Ondoy, acts to prevent another big one]

At the time, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services said the rainfall brought by Ondoy to Metro Manila and nearby areas in a span of six hours was the most in recorded history, surpassing the previous record for the metropolis in 1967.

PAGASA said the total rainfall from Ondoy in the first six hours of the storm, which measured 341 millimeters, broke the record for the highest 24-hour rainfall of 334 millimeters in metropolitan Manila recorded in June 1967. — Aya Yuson/Paterno Esmaquel/RSJ, GMA News

Retrieved from:

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/221634/nation/marikina-braces-for-chedeng-steps-up-declogging-operations

Yahoo News: PAGASA keeps watch over dams; flood alarm systems inspected

PAGASA keeps watch over dams; flood alarm systems inspected

Wed, May 25, 2011

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration is keeping watch over major dams in Luzon amid threats of heavy rains from tropical storm “Chedeng” (Songda).

But PAGASA senior forecaster Robert Sawi said the dams are still below spilling level as of Wednesday morning, radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported.

He said they will issue advisories if they need to release water from the dams due to rains from Chedeng.

PAGASA’s 6 a.m. update on the major dams: Angat: 191.47 meters, below spilling level of 210 meters

Ipo: 99.63 meters, below spilling level of 100.87 meters

La Mesa: 79.74 meters, below spilling level of 80 meters

Ambuklao: 751.95 meters, below spilling level of 752 meters

Binga: 571.90 meters, below spilling level of 575 meters

San Roque: 232.04 meters, below spilling level of 280 meters

Pantabangan: 180.91 meters, below spilling level of 221 meters

Magat: 187.04 meters, below spilling level of 193 meters

Caliraya: 286.5 meters, below spilling level of 288 meters

Meanwhile, Marikina City officials started inspecting Wednesday their flood warning systems.

The officials are particularly wary of floods in Nangka, Malanday and Santo Niño villages, radio dzBB’s Glen Juego reported.

They said the alarm system will issue warnings when the water level at the Marikina River reaches 15 meters.

When the water level reaches 18 meters, the critical level, the city will conduct a forced evacuation of residents in the affected area.

Meanwhile, local government officials of at least seven areas in Metro Manila and Rizal province will inspect the Marikina River for obstructions that may cause flooding.

The officials vowed to prevent a repeat of the overflowing of the river after cyclone “Ondoy” (Ketsana) dumped rains on Metro Manila in 2009, dzBB’s report said.

Marikina City Vice Mayor Jose Cadiz said they will file charges against those who place obstructions in the river that may cause flooding.

Members of the “Alliance of Seven” include Quezon, Pasig and Marikina Cities in Metro Manila; and Antipolo City, Cainta, San Mateo and Rodriguez in Rizal province.

Also, Science Department Secretary Mario Montejo said in a radio interview there may be a “chance” of Chedeng hitting Metro Manila.— LBG, GMA News

Retrieved from:

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/pagasa-keeps-watch-over-dams-flood-alarm-systems-030527489.html

Philippine Daily Inquirer: Land project by the river causes ripples of concern

Land project by the river causes ripples of concern

By Niña Calleja

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

A REAL ESTATE development project in Quezon City has apparently gotten local officials of three cities in Metro Manila and four Rizal towns worried.

Armed with photographs, Marikina City officials have claimed that the project, Circulo Verde, had encroached on a portion of Marikina River and which could have an adverse effect on flooding in the areas concerned particularly during the rainy season.

The photos taken in September 2010 showed a construction work of the Ortigas & Co. occupying at least five meters of the river. Another picture which was taken months later featured the completed river wall which the developer claimed to have improved the river’s flow.

In a statement last week, Ortigas & Co. said Circulo Verde, a 12-hectare development project along Calle Industria in Quezon City, had never reclaimed land, nor had it extended its property and in fact, it had built a riverbank protection wall.

Project consultant speaks

Sought for comment, Engr. Bienvenido Galang of DCCD, the engineering consultant of Circulo Verde, said the picture the city government gave to the Inquirer was an “optical illusion.”

PHOTO above shows the river wall built by the project’s developer; below, an aerial view of the project lying along the meandering course of the Marikina River. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“The photo was taken from the point of the bridge and this bridge is not perpendicular to the river, thus creating an illusion that the project was protruding,” Galang said over the phone.

He said that in an aerial view, one can see that the property followed the meandering course of the river. He added that there was also a 16-meter allowance from the river to the Circulo Verde in accordance to the easement provision of the Water Code of the Philippines.

“Ortigas & Co. is a responsible developer. It prefers the smooth flow of the Marikina River,” Galang said, adding that reviving the river is one of its advocacies.

He insisted that the developer had not encroached on the river nor extended its property.

But Paul Sison, Marikina’s public information chief, claimed the river wall only ensured that floodwater coming from the river would not easily spill into Circulo Verde.

“Clearly, this river wall does not merely control the riverflow, it constricts the river,” Sison said in an interview.

The official said Circulo Verde was not just going against any government agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways or the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) but against nature itself which could possibly unleash 20 to 25 meters of water as seen last September 2009.

The local government of Marikina has expressed concern over the alleged reclamation of a portion of the river since the city lies next to the upper side of the river.

Alliance of Seven

Earlier, an MMDA official was quoted by Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman accusing the Circulo Verde Project as the cause of the river’s constriction from its width of 150 meters to just 50 meters.

“If there was no encroachment, what is this?” Sison said while pointing at a picture taken in September 2010.

“If the river was narrowed, the river water would go directly to Marikina’s residential areas during a heavy downpour,” Sison said.

Vic Sabiniano, Marikina City administrator, said an alliance of seven cities in the eastern metropolis is now studying legal actions against Circulo Verde.

“We are alarmed that another storm with half the strength of Tropical Storm ‘Ondoy’ can bring massive flooding in the seven cities,” Sabiniano said.

The seven cities are Marikina, Pasig, and Quezon City in Metro Manila and Antipolo, Cainta, San Mateo, and Rodriguez in Rizal province.

“That was the reason the Alliance of Seven was created … to look into these matters,” Sabiniano said.

Retrieved from:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/7910/land-project-by-the-river-causes-ripples-of-concern

People’s Journal: Tracking calamity cash

Tracking calamity cash

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Page 4

EDITORIAL

The national government has no valid excuse in not fast-tracking resource mobilization when major calamities strike like the monster Magnitude 9 quake inJapan, the ensuing tsunami or an Ondoy-like deluge.

The money has been set aside – farmed out to key agencies — and mechanisms are firmly in place for emergency search, rescue, and retrieval operations.

In cases like these, the frontline agencies are local government units which have jurisdiction over affected areas.

Therefore, LGU officials are in the best position to assess the damage and determine the needs of victims simply because they are there on the ground, and they have the familiarity of the terrain.

Is it any wonder then that several LGUs in Metro Manila and nearby Rizal towns are considering tapping P32.1 billion in calamity funds to strengthen their individual as well as collective capacities to cope with disasters?

The Alliance of Seven composed of the cities ofMarikina,Pasig, Antipolo and Quezon, the Municipalities of Cainta, Rodriguez, andSan Mateo, is stepping up plans and programs to reduce vulnerabilities to climate change.

Roland Cabigas, managing director of the private think tank La Liga Policy Institute, said a review of the 2011 budget reveals that A7 may tap funding support from at least eight national line agencies with climate change and disaster-risk reduction mandates to boost their DRR initiatives.

For disaster vulnerabilities, capacities, and needs assessment, Cabigas said there is a list of programs with total funds of P5.7 billion from which the A7 can seek funding support; P16.2 billion for early warning systems and disaster-contingency planning; P5.8 billion for reforestation and sustainable agriculture; and P4.4 billion for resettlement.

Funding for such initiatives, he said, can be sourced from the Climate Change Commission under the Office of the President, Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Department of National Defense, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Metro Manila Development Authority.

Cabigas added that LGUs may also tap the presidential social fund, and pork-barrel funds of senators and congressmen.

Aside from access to these funds, members of A7, he said, should look into the potential of forging ties with the private sector to boost in-city development plans through public-private partnership, anchored on disaster risk reduction and preparedness of A7 areas.

“PPP will play a vital role in A7’s various initiatives to make cities and communities disaster-ready.  We need to harness the potential of public-private partnership on disaster risk reduction to enhance our capacities to cope and prepare for disasters,” Cabigas said.

La Liga, a development policy research and advocacy non-government organization is promoting a climate change-sensitive budget as part of its budget advocacy.  Together with RESILIENCE: Nurturing Disaster-Ready Cities and Communities, La Liga works in partnership with A7 to promote disaster preparedness and in-city development among members of the LGU alliance.

Since the back-to-back devastation of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, funding for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation were made available by the government for DRR as well as to make disaster-prone areas more resilient to climate change and prepared for disasters.

Retrieved from:

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/editorial/1712-tracking-calamity-cash

Business Mirror: 7 local governments set disaster risk-reduction conference

7 local governments set disaster risk-reduction conference

THURSDAY, 17 MARCH 2011    JONATHAN MAYUGA / CORRESPONDENT

PAGE A5

THE magnitude-8.9 earthquake that hitJapanis sending chills down the spines of stakeholders in disaster-prone cities of Metro Manila. If Metro Manila is not ready for the next deluge, will it be ready for a tremor like what hitJapan?

Taking a proactive approach to disaster-risk reduction, an alliance of local governments composed of Marikina City, Quezon City, Antipolo City, Pasig City and the towns of Cainta, San Mateo and Rodriguez in the province of Rizal will hold a planning workshop to promote an integrated disaster-risk reduction and management plan on Thursday.

Known as the Marikina Watershed Integrated Resource Development Alliance, or theAllianceof 7, the planning workshop aims to boost the resiliency of the local governments to natural disasters.

The  “United, We Stand Prepared” planning workshop for disaster-risk reduction is aimed the challenge posed by severe flooding triggered by disastrous typhoons such as Ondoy and Pepeng that ravaged Luzon, including Metro Manila, in the last quarter of 2009 and strong earthquakes that may hit the country.

The workshop will be facilitated by the nongovernment organization Resilience: Nurturing Disaster-Ready Cities and Communities and the private think tank La Liga Policy Institute.

Representatives from the member-local governments led by officials and various stakeholders from the private sector are expected to work and provide valuable inputs in the areas of disaster vulnerabilities, capacities and needs assessment, early-warning system installation, command integration, and contingency planning, rehabilitation and reforestation of the Marikina Watershed including review of existing policies, resettlement plan for highly at-risk communities, including the possibilities for in-city relocation and livelihood assistance, project development, and resource mobilization initiatives.

Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman said the planning workshop will boost the individual and collective capacities of the alliance by identifying areas of cooperation and possible sharing of limited resources to effectively reduce the risks from the occurrence of natural disasters.

Horacio “Boy” Morales, president of Resilience, said every disaster poses new challenges requiring local governments to continuously fashion and adopt new strategies and methods to reduce vulnerabilities and enhancing coping capacities.

In the last quarter of 2009, the Philippines was battered by Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng, leaving nearly a thousand dead and thousands homeless, with total damage and losses estimated at $4.38 billion, or P206 billion, which is 2.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to the World Bank report “Post-Disaster Needs Assessment.”

Morales said typhoons stronger than Ondoy and Pepeng will hit thePhilippinesin the coming years, but the country is one of the least prepared nations inSoutheast Asiato cope, quoting Jerry Velasquez, senior regional coordinator of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

In October and November last year, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council released two consecutive advisories stating that the La Niña phenomenon, which started mid-2010, will continue until May this year. At least 16 to 20 storms normally enter the Philippine area of responsibility every year.

“Individually, local governments and their given resources can only endure so much,” said Roland Cabigas, managing director of La Liga, and that “the rising costs of disasters further increase the vulnerabilities of Filipinos, decreasing their capacity to cope.”

“It is through cooperation of the public and private sectors that this cycle can be broken through taking a proactive approach to protect lives and livelihoods; and to enhance the capacity to manage and thereby increasing the capacity to ‘bounce’ back after an event,” he said.

The workshop’s output will be presented to President Aquino and his Cabinet.

On other hand, to prepare the Navoteños, particularly the students, Mayor John Rey Tiangco has ordered the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) for the holding of the regular earthquake and other emergency drills in all schools, public and private, from elementary to college and to mobilize all school disaster coordinators to facilitate the proper and orderly execution of the drill.

Paul Ross Felix of the LDRRMO was also ordered to closely coordinate with the Navotas Joint Rescue Team to activate all the volunteers for the conduct of the drills and to inform other establishments on the holding of the same and other measures to strengthen their readiness in case a major earthquake hits the city.

Tiangco also ordered all 14 barangays of the city to activate Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils to prepare officials and volunteers for disaster mitigation and to train them on what to do as first responders.

Tiangco also said that since 2007, the city government has been pursuing various initiatives to strengthen its capability in emergency mitigation and preparedness, including earthquake and fire drills in the city hall, schools, barangay, and other establishments.

City engineers and fire officials were, likewise, ordered to intensify the conduct of the regular inspections to monitor all the public and private facilities in the city in compliance with the National Building Code.

Retrieved from:

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/nation/8690-7-local-governments-set-disaster-risk-reduction-conference