Monday, December 4, 2017

CESDR DRR-CCA members attend 7ICBR - Bangkok


Dr. Mutuc, Dr. Juanzon and Dr. Oreta

CESDR subcenter on DRR-CCA members, Dr. Andres Oreta and Dr, Jose Edgar Mutuc attended the 7th International Conference on Building Resilience (7ICBR) held on November 26-29, 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand. Two papers with Dr. Oreta as co-author were presented -   First author, Dr. Joseph Juanzon presented the paper on  “An assessment on the effective preparedness and disaster response: The case of Santa Rosa City, Laguna.” while Dr. Oreta presented the paper co-authored with  Engr. Rizalyn Illumin  on “A Post-Disaster Functional Asset Value Index for School Buildings.”

Dr, Mutuc and his MSIE PhD advisee, M. Gutierrez presented their paper on "A model for humanitarian supply chain: an OR approach." 
 
Dr. Mutuc and Dr. Oreta wuth HUD partners - Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga ad Prof.Ricahrd Haigh

The conference is part of the activities under the URCO RPW on Building Resilient Cities & Communities. Hence, on November 28, 2017, a meeting with UK partners in the Newton Fund Research Links was held. Dr. Jose Edgar Mutuc and Dr. OretaI met Prof. Dilanthi Amaratungga, Prof. Richard Haigh and Dr. Ezri Hayat University of Huddersfield University (HUD) to discuss the incoming workshop on January 22-26, 2018 which will be held in Manila with CESDR members as the organisers. Dr. Mutuc and IDr. Oreta also attended the workshop on ESPRESSO – Enhancing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategies for disaster prevention.

Interesting Poster at the 7ICBR by Prof. Dilanthi et al:






Monday, October 30, 2017

Round Table Discussion with Albay DRRM Stakeholders


CESDR DRR-CCA members, Dr. Beng Manalang, Dr. Andy Oreta and SOE Dean Dr. Tess Tiongco  attended a round table discussion with Albay DRRM Stakeholders. It was conducted last August 31, 2017, at 4 in the afternoon. The objective of this round table discussion was to identify the area of strength of the Albay Province and possible areas for collaboration in the future, further it focused on the integration of DRR in research to understand requirements and products of research and its scientific study. Read related blog on Albay Networking.

During the discussion, areas where focused on:
  •      Policies among LGU, included are legal bases for making written mandates and laws, which are CCA and DRR centered.
  •       Community based impact evaluation  that needs to incorporate DRR mgt. and CCA adaptation ; it was also discussed that programs implemented needs to be evaluated and formulate new programs if one is not successful. This would also allow the use of the developed tools of DLSU.
  •    Encouraging LGU to coordinate with NEDA on growth modeling  that are sustainable, environment focused, public safety is considered, was also looked into as the LGU needs to look for funding.
  •        As per suggestion of Dr. Daep possible areas for collaborations needs to be focused on the concept of  BUILD BETTER PRINCIPLE, as it is long term solution. Further Dr. Daep, made an emphasis on training LGU officials and empowering them with deeper understanding of their roles in legislation and implementation.
  • .       A workshop was conducted where in each Department present during the discussion were asked to present areas that are researchable and is the focused of the LGU.

6.        
a.       For the  Agriculture Department, areas identified as researchable were the following:
                                                           i.       Development of rice variety that is Albay Climate Resilient, this is aimed at making rice production sustainable.
                                                            ii.      Since Albay is an agricultural province it is deemed important that climate proofing of post harvest area is needed. Irrigation needs also to be looked into.
                                                            iii.      Impact Evaluation: Better tools based –policies on retrieval of crops

b.      Social Welfare
                                                          i.      Effects of DRR on vulnerable sectors with consideration to the socio-cultural
                                                          ii.      Incidence of gender based violence to displaced families.
                                                           iii.      Impact of service delivery to displaced families
                                                           iv.      Training on Psychological management

c.       Albay Provincial Health Office
                                                               i.      Facility based improvement, since majority of the hospital in the Province have been improved for better services. Structures that were old and dilapidated were retrofitted. However, there are still few structures that need to be climate change resilient and disaster proof.
                                                             ii.      Health Service providers must be empowered through training and kept abreast with the DOH programs yet locally focused.

d.      Academe (represented by Bicol University external affairs officer Prof. Weng Zoilo)
                                                               i.      As CCA and DRR has been discussed often to students; it is important that a policy needs to be  put into place that would ensure that the LGU and schools, colleges and universities will be able to come up with a module which are focused on climate change and disaster risk reduction management.
                                                             ii.      Modules that are formulated must be piloted and downloaded to various schools for pilot testing
                                                            iii.      The Professors must guide their student and give them the title for their thesis, topics that deals with climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction needs to be looked into by the advisers.

e.      LGU:
                                                               i.      A conduct of seminar on associated hazards and impact to the government, including its RDNA and PDANA must be looked into. Also the consideration on having a Critical resource assessment per LGU and profiling of resources, and having it available in an electronic file would facilitate easy use of the critical data.

                                                             ii.      Sustainability of CCA and DRR programs requires the  institutionalization of CCADRRMTI. Module development and formulation of trainings for the local executives will be one of the activities of the CCADRRMTI.

 iii.      Another area that needs to be looked into is the training of Key personnel and LGU officials including the executives after election on policy making and writing of executive orders.

Other matters discussed during the round table discussion were, aimed at identifying areas for possible collaboration with DLSU.
1.       Development of evaluation tools that are specific to their respective agencies and are CCA-DRR centered.
2.       Another matter discussed was the conduct of training among LGU and their personnel on the formulation of proposal to ensure that proper funding be given.
3.       The health sector must come up with a critical resource identification and strengthening of LGU , which is  more specific for their locality.
Contextualizing a tool and CCADRR program that is centred on the health sector has become challenging since the National government, through the Department of Health download their programs to the LGUs, it is in this context that some LGU programs for the Health sector are not given much focused. It is therefore important that the DOH and LGU must come up with the possible collaboration of making CCA-DRR in the health sector CCA-DRR specific.

4.       Also, it was identified during the discussion the training needs:
a.       LGU executives on their roles on CCA and DRR
b.      Forecasting
c.       Policy writing
d.      Media relation
e.      Zero Casualty

f.        Resource Identification

Documented by
Joan Evasco - Lagco

 Photos during the workshop and the outputs





Friday, September 1, 2017

Networking with Albay DRRM Stakeholders

The participants in the round table discussion
CESDR Subcenter for DRR-CCA members attended a round table discussion with the Albay DRRM
Dr. Cedric Daep
stakeholders last August 31, 2017 at the Provincial DRR Operation Center of Albay. CESDR & IE faculty member, Dr. Anna Bella Manalang facilitated the meeting and she was joined by Dr. Andres Oreta (CESDR & CE Faculty member) and Dr. Marites Tiongco (Dean, DLSU School of Economics). The Albay DRR group was lead by Dr. Cedric Daep, Director of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO). Representatives from Albay's APSEMO, OCD, DRRMO, Agricultural Services, Social Welfare office, Health Office and Bicol University attended the meeting. The areas on collaboration and linkages that were identified are development of manuals on DRRM (e.g. evacuation manual for LGUs), development of DRR technologies (e.g. low-cost and collapsible evacuation shelter), development of survey tools for risk assessment (people, structures, livelihood, etc), documentation and compilation of DRR materials and references in a center, capacity building and training of LGU personnel. The key to effective DRR research according to Dr. Daep is that the outputs become part of policy and the research involves the participation of the community.

The round table discussion followed the program below:
  • 300-315 pm - Introduction of Participants
  • 315-330 pm - Introducing CESDR & DRR-CCA Subcenter by Dr. Andy Oreta (CESDR DRR-CCA member, DLSU CE Dept)
  • 330 -345 pm - Incorporating DRRM & CCA to the Community-based Impact   Evaluation of LGU Interventions by Dr.  Tes Tiongco (Dean, DLSU School of Economics)
  • 345-400 pm - Areas for Collaboration & Workshop by Dr.  Beng Manalang (CESDR DRR-CCA member, DLSU IE   Dept)
  • 400-430 pm - Areas for Linkages by Dr Cedric Daep, Chief of the Albay Public Safety and   Emergency Management Office (APSEMO)
  • 430-530 pm -Discussions
Hilda Lopez (Agri.), Eva Grageda (PSWD), Dindo Padilla (Agri), Rommel (DRRMC), Jessar Adornado (OCD), Dr. Cedric Daep (APSEMO), Dr. Anna Bella Siriban-Manalang(IE-CESDR), Dr. Andres Oreta (CE_CESDR), Dr. Marites Tiongco(SOE), Dr. Wheng Zoilo (Bicol University), Dr. Tony Tan (Prov Health Office). Not in the Photo: Joan Evasco (APSEMO and Dr Ofelia Samar-Sy, Medical Drector, Ibalong Medical Center)

Dr. Tiongco presents her research during the round table discussion
A workshop was also conducted during the round table discussion
The DLSU CESDR team also visited the Climate Change Academy of Albay, evacuation sites and relocation centers on Sept. 1, 2017.

At the Climate Change Academy of Albay

The DLSU Team - Dr. Oreta, Dr. Manalang and Dr. Tiongco

Friday, July 21, 2017

CESDR Subcenter for DRR-CCA to hold International Workshop on Making Cites Resilient in Jan 2018


An international workshop on "Localising Strategies for Making Cities Resilient to Disasters"will be held on Jan. 22-26, 2018 at Century Park Hotel, Manila. The workshop is organised by DLSU CESDR Subcenter for DRR-CCA led by Dr. Andres Oreta (PH coordinator) and mentors Dr. Renan Tanhueco (Subcenter head) and Dr. Jojo Mutuc (IE Dept). The United Kingdom partners are Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga  (UK coordinator),  Prof. Ricahrd Haigh and Dr. Ezri Hayat of University of Huddersfield (HUD). UNISDR Abilash Panda serves as a mentor in the workshop. The workshop is supported by the British Council, DOST and PCIEERD. The CESDR committee for the workshop includes Dr. Marla Redillas (Head of Finance), Dr. Mario De Leon (Head of Logistics), Dr. Lawrence Materum (Head of Site Visit). DLSU faculty moderators in the workshop include Dr. Lessandro Garciano (CE Dept chair), Dr. Marites Tiongco (SOE Dean), Dr. Marlon Era (Behavioral Science Dept) and Dr. Anna Bella Manalang (IE Dept). The advisers of this workshop are Dr. Raymond Tan (VCRI) and Dr. Manny Biona (CESDR Director). The support staff includes Engr. Joenel Galupino.and PhD and BSMS graduate students.

The following keynote lectures will be delivered:

  • Keynote Lecture 1: Dynamics of Disasters – Assoc. Prof., Dr.  Jose Edgar Mutuc, DLSU
  • Keynote Lecture 2: Why are cities at risk of disaster? – Prof. Richard Haigh, HUD
  • Keynote Lecture 3: The Ten Essential for Making Cities Resilient: A Framework for Research – Prof. Andres Winston C. Oreta, DLSU
  • Keynote Lecture 4: The Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030 and Global and Local Challenges in the Making Cities Resilient Campaign -  Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga, HUD

Briefing sessions (BF) will also be conducted

> BF1: Local Issues on DRR in the Philippines - Resource Persons from Makati (Mayor Abigail Binay) and Albay (Dr. Cedric Daep) will present lessons on the 10 E’s application in their cities.
> BF2: An introduction to the development of a roadmap for research futures and capacity development on making cities resilient to disasters -  Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga (HUD)
> BF3: Integrating public engagement into research - Prof. Richard Haigh, (HUD)
> BF4: Getting funding for our research -  Resource persons from BC, DLSU and DOST 
Skills development (SK) sessions will be conducted by HUD prfoessors.
> SK1: Academic writing - Prof. Richard Haigh (HUD)
> SK2: Publishing your research - Prof. Richard Haigh (HUD)
> SK3: Interactive session on building your research profile - Prof. Dilanthi Amaratunga (HUD)

Two Panel  discussions will also be held with invited resource persons from LGUs. Resource persons include Atty. Violeta Seva (Makati), Mr. Uriel Correos (Surigao), Dr. Cedric Daep (Albay) and Dr. Tony Fernandez (UP CIS). 
> PD1: An expert panel to lead a discussion about the current landscape and future opportunities for advancing the dialogue between DRR and urban cities.
> PD2: Pathways to impact. A discussion about how to convert research knowledge into evidence based policy development. 

Group interactive sessions (GIS) where the participants will be grouped into five clusters to address issues, strategies and challenges related to the 10 Essentials for Making Cities Resilient will also be conducted. The GIS will be moderated by DLSU faculty - Dr. Mutuc, Dr. Era and Dr. Tanhueco.

A site visit organized by Makati City DRRM Office will be conducted. Baranggay San Lorenzo and Magallanes will host the site visits.
Attending this international workshop are 18 participants from the United Kingdom and 21 participants from the Philippines. The participants are of varied expertise - engineering, social science, medicine, disaster management, architecture, urban planning, public policy and  governance, agriculture, forestry and mass media. The participants will present a five-minute powerpoint presentation about their research in sessions to be moderated by Dr. Garciano.

Details about the workshop can be viewed at the  website at http://www.buildresilience.org/nrl-philippines/index.php. 

CESDR subcenter for DRR-CCA members train SHS teachers on DR&RR

The DR&RR Team

Participants in the TOT Workshop on DR&RR
Dr. Renan Tnahueco (DRR-CCA subcenter head) and subcenter members, Dr. Andres Oreta, Dr. Jose Edgar Mutuc, Dr. Lessandro Garciano and Joenel Galupino were key members in a committee that developed learning modules for the Senior High School Course on Disaster Readiness & Risk Reduction (DR&RR). SHS Director, Efren Dela Cruz, Physics faculty, Dr. Edgar Vallar and STC faculty Geraldine Yumang are also members of the committee. The committee members conducted the Training of Teachers Workshop on DR&RR last April 17-18, 2017 at the HSSH Roofdeck. Read related blog article at animocivnews.