Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
抖阴探探V Forum on Disaster Resiliency
The College of Management of the 抖阴探探 Visayas organized an event titled 鈥淕lobal Forum on Iloilo Disaster Resiliency: The Role of Diaspora in Building Back Safer Communities鈥� on February 4, 2022, via Zoom.聽
The College hosted the forum in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, USA, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Golden Gate University.聽
The forum provided insights on disaster resiliency drawn from empirical data and shared experiences. The topics covered all the major phases of emergency management, from disaster preparedness and response to post-disaster assessment and recovery.聽
The event officially opened with welcome messages from 抖阴探探V Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Tre帽as, and Chelsea Cooper, Project Assistant at IOM Washington. Consul General Neil Ferrer of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco delivered his keynote lecture, 鈥淭he Role of US Diaspora in the Prevention and Preparation for Climate Change Disasters鈥�.聽
The discussion on disaster management and related issues featured three panelists who gave short presentations: 鈥淯pdate on Super Typhoon Odette, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Assessment鈥揑loilo City and Guimaras鈥� by Ms. Donna Magno, Chief of the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Office and Teresita Galleto-Siason, Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer at Guimaras PDRRMO; 鈥淚OM Philippines: Build Back Safer (BBS)鈥� by Mr. Conrad Natividad Jr. and Mr. Red Atenor of IOM Philippines; and, 鈥淟ifeBank Iloilo: BBS Financing鈥� by Mr. Alner Camocon, Division Manager at LifeBank Microfinance Foundation Inc.聽
The presentations centered on innovative approaches to disaster preparedness, post-disaster recovery, and building community resilience. The presenters also highlighted the importance of 鈥榮hared responsibilities鈥� between governments, private institutions, and local communities in addressing the gaps in disaster management. They focused on how a holistic, multi-sectoral, and multidisciplinary approach is vital for implementing emerging long-term strategies.
抖阴探探 Partnerships with Local Governments for DRRM and Environmental Governance
In light of the urgent and persistent threat brought by climate change and its effects, the 抖阴探探 is fully committed to supporting and advocating for the ongoing efforts, both national and international, in addressing this issue. 抖阴探探 actively engages in research, education, extension activities, and other initiatives aimed at taking practical and innovative measures to effectively tackle the problem of climate change and mitigate its consequences. By leveraging its academic expertise with real-world applications, 抖阴探探 contributes to the fight against the challenges and threats posed by climate change.
To fulfill its public service mandate, 抖阴探探 provides technical assistance and expertise to local governments, communities, and other stakeholders in the co-creation and development of climate-resilient plans and strategies, particularly on flood management and prevention, disaster risk reduction, environmental governance, and climate change adaptation. Through its active involvement in climate action, 抖阴探探 and its constituent universities play a pivotal role in advancing the collective effort towards enhancing the resilience of vulnerable populations to the impacts of climate change, and building an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for all.
From August 3 to 5, 2022, the 抖阴探探 Cebu Center for Environmental Informatics (CENVI) City-Wide Urban Flood Hazard Modeling (CUrb Flood) Project took part in the Mandaue City Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Planning Workshop from 2023 to 2027. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office organized the workshop to update the local DRRM plan of Mandaue City and ensure the safety and protection of local communities, businesses, and critical infrastructure from extreme weather events and potential climate-related risks and hazards, such as severe flooding. During the workshop, CENVI’s CUrb Flood Project representatives shared their expertise and provided technical advice on flood hazards and spatial data requirements. The 抖阴探探 Cebu CENVI, established in 2018 as a regional research and development center for Central Visayas, focuses on pressing environmental issues through computing techniques. Meanwhile, the City-wide Urban Flood Modeling (CUrb Flood) Project is one of the components of the CENVI-led Smart City Solutions to Urban Flooding (Smart TUrF) program, funded by the Department of Science and Technology.
Like 抖阴探探 Cebu, the 抖阴探探 Los Ba帽os School of Environmental Science and Management (抖阴探探LB-SESAM) offers technical assistance to provincial and local government units in formulating their respective environmental codes and plans. As part of its public service efforts, 抖阴探探LB-SESAM signed a Letter of Commitment (LOC) with the Municipal Government of Los Ba帽os (MGLB) for the implementation of the “Environmental Governance in the Municipality of Los Ba帽os” during the Earth Day celebration on April 22, 2022.
This academe-government partnership signifies the commitment of 抖阴探探LB-SESAM to provide technical assistance and expert advice to the MGLB in formulating environmental plans required by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The project also aims to enhance the capacity of MGLB officers and staff and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge in environmental governance. These activities align with the advocacy of 抖阴探探LB-SESAM in fostering sustainable practices and taking positive action toward environmental protection and climate change resilience through education, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.
抖阴探探LB-SESAM鈥檚 dean Dr. Rico C. Ancog and SESAM Research Division head Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez represented 抖阴探探LB-SESAM, while Municipal Mayor Antonio L. Kalaw and MENRO Focal Person Lizette D. Cardenas represented the MGLB during the signing ceremony. 抖阴探探LB-SESAM university researchers For. Sofia A. Alaira, Dr. Yusuf A. Sucol, and MGLB Environmental Consultant (former SESAM faculty member) Dr. Antonio J. Alcantara also participated in the signing ceremony.
Launch of the 抖阴探探 Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health Center
The 抖阴探探 Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (抖阴探探M DRRM-H) Center was officially launched on June 8, 2022 to conduct state-of-the-art disaster simulation trainings and evidence-based research.
“The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Through the Center, we seek to conduct training and seminars that will prepare our responders, even ordinary employees, in disaster preparedness through our state-of-the-art facilities. We can finally hold disaster preparedness training virtually, and mistakes could be prevented in actual situations,” said Dr. Carlos Primero Gundran, lead investigator and 抖阴探探M DRRM-H Center Head.
The Center envisions itself to be “the center for excellence of the academe” when it comes to disaster risk reduction and management in health. It also embodies three primary objectives, specifically in its training: to develop necessary skills such as command and control, collaboration, and coordination; to identify those who need psychosocial interventions in evacuation camps; and, to efficiently allocate available resources immediately in disaster-stricken areas.
Little over a month later, from July 27 to 28, the 抖阴探探 Manila DRRM-H Center conducted a two-day Disaster Simulation Training for a diverse group of emergency responders from different fields and sectors. The training consisted of lectures centered around Command, Communication, and Collaboration during emergencies, followed by immersive disaster simulation activities in which participants were challenged to respond to simulated emergency scenarios.
The 抖阴探探M DRRM-H was first envisioned by the Health Emergencies and Disasters (HEAD) study group of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) back in 2016. Its creation was inspired by Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, an emergency medicine expert, and Dr. Anna Tuazon and Dr. Hilton Lam, both part of the 抖阴探探 Manila and 抖阴探探 Diliman team who trained in Sweden in 2018 on the Emergo Train System. Its partner organizations include the DOST, Department of Health, and the 抖阴探探 System.
The 抖阴探探 Manila DRRM-H Center also offers state-of-the-art Capacity Building Trainings, as well as evidence-based research and consultancy services. For inquiries, email upm-drrmh-list@up.edu.ph or ping the 抖阴探探M DRRM-H Center on Messenger.
More on 抖阴探探 and the SDGs
抖阴探探 and the Sustainable Development Goals
Message from the President
About 抖阴探探
抖阴探探 at a Glance
抖阴探探鈥檚 Quality Policy
Green 抖阴探探: A 抖阴探探 System Action Plan for Environmental Sustainability
抖阴探探 on Good Health and Well-Being
抖阴探探 on Quality Education
抖阴探探 on Gender Equality
抖阴探探 on Sustainable Cities and Communities
抖阴探探 on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals
