Megacities at Risk: Pushpin Graphic Recording
The shock of earthquakes
By Amb. Roberto R. Romulo
It is pure coincidence that our conference on “Megacities at Risk” takes place two days after the Zambales earthquake which affected Metro Manila. Personally, I was just as shocked as the rest of Manila. Many hotels, apartments and office buildings had evacuation procedures in place and they should be commended. On the other hand, many were unprepared and in a state of panic.
According to official sources, Manila experienced a 4.0 earthquake magnitude. Imagine if we are hit with a 7.2 magnitude as estimated (in 2013) by Phivolcs director and now DOST Undersecretary Rene Solidum.
The most important concern is the number of deaths as a resulted of an earthquake. In 2010, Chile was hit by an 8.8 earthquake that result in 700 deaths. In the same year, Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude that resulted in 200,000 deaths. The difference in those death tolls comes from compliance and building construction and technology.
It is fortunate that we can learn from past earthquakes and start preparing for the “Big One.” Our conference last Thursday is the beginning of such an endeavor. It is not a one-off event. We plan to have more implementing what will be the result of the conference. On behalf of the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation and the National Resilience Council, I would like to express our gratitude for the support of the Japanese and American ambassadors as well as the all-out support of Prof. Haruo Hayashi of the NIED from Japan and Dr. Wei Sen Li of Chinese Taipei. Without them, we would not have had the presence of the distinguished scientific experts who will share their experiences with us.
Further, I would like to express our thanks to the following private corporations who are generously supporting our endeavors in resilience: Araneta Group, Ayala Land and Ayala Corp., Meralco, Vista Land, AIG Philippines, Asian Development Bank and the Government of Canada, Green Event Technology, Metro Drug and Zuellig Pharma, Starr International Philippines and Robinsons Land Corp. A special thanks to Philippine Airlines, our official airline partner who ensured the participation of the nine scientists from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore. We will continue to focus on the challenge of earthquakes. Once again, I appeal for the generous and conscientious private sector to support our ongoing programs. All of us now understand the imperatives of being prepared for the “Big One.” A “bahala na” attitude is unacceptable.
SOURCE:
Romulo, R. (2019, April 26). The shock of earthquakes, Filipino Worldview. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/04/26/1912541/shock-earthquakes
Earthquake conference highlights importance of collaboration
Ambassador Roberto Romulo, Carlos P Romulo Foundation (CPRF) Chair and National Resilience Council (NRC) Convenor, delivered the welcoming remarks at the Megacities at Risk Conference. He stressed that the occurrence of a 6.1 earthquake which rocked Metro Manila and Pampanga provided the urgent food for thought on how the Filipinos should plan and prepare for the Big One.
NRC Co-Chair and SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman, Mr. Hans Sy, also saw the importance of the conference in starting a critical conversation among decision makers and stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and resilience building. “It was driven by the main concern for the survival of the estimated 25 million people in the socio-economic and political centers in Greater or Mega Manila, and the importance of sharing knowledge and learning from the expertise and experience of our neighbors.”
CPRF, in cooperation with NRC, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience of Japan, the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) and the APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center (APEC-EPCC) of Chinese Taipei organized Megacities at Risk last 25 April 2019 at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.
With the theme “Engineering Resilience to Seismic Hazards”, the conference focused on the seismic risk in megacities and how resilience is a goal that needs a whole-of-society effort. It highlighted the private sector’s role in achieving resilience through risk-sensitive investments and allowed participants to assess the country’s progress in addressing the priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as other agreements to coincide with Philippines’ commitments for the Sustainable Development Goals. It aimed to contribute to the work done by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) through the Global Science and Technology Advisory Group, the Private Sector Alliance for Resilient Societies (ARISE) and other multilateral and bilateral partnerships.
NRC Vice Chair for Private Sector Edgar Chua at the Opening Session of the Conference 
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman BGen Danilo Lim (Ret) at the Opening Session of the Conference 
Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad at the Opening Session of the Conference 
NRC President Antonia Yulo Loyzaga presented the conference overview
The conference featured three plenary sessions—Identifying, Understanding and Reducing Risk—with corresponding workshops. Each plenary session consisted of leading local and international disaster experts and policy makers—specifically hailing from the Philippines, Japan, United States, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and Singapore—who shared their experiences and DRR technologies. These sessions explored the context, complexity and dynamics of hazards and risk while also tackling the capacities needed to identify exposure and vulnerability. The sessions also provided an avenue to consider organizational behaviors, cultures and local knowledge and attitudes of stakeholders and leaders towards risk. After every session, the participants were welcome to ask experts for further insights during the question and answer (Q&A) portion.
Plenary Session 1: Identifying Risk
For Identifying Risk, experts explained how to create seismic risk profiles at city level and introduced Early Warning Systems (EWS) as effective and efficient measures to communicate risk through various channels, as applied in countries like Japan, Chinese Taipei and select areas in the United States. Speakers for this session tackled the following topics:
- Tokyo University Earthquake Research Institute Professor Naoshi Hirata on Japanese hazard seismic and risk;
- National Taiwan University Department of Geosciences Chairman Yih-Min Wu on the development of the earthquake early warning and real-time shake map systems using low-cost sensors;
- US Geological Survey Research Structural Engineer Dr. Nicolas Luco on seismic hazard identification and risk reduction in the United States; and
- Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Officer-in-Charge Dr. Renato Solidum on earthquake scenarios for the Greater Metro Manila Area
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral moderated the discussion for Session 1.
Plenary Session 2: Understanding Risk
Session 2 emphasized the importance of conducting earthquake scenario analysis to understand risk levels of lifeline systems (such as communications, water, power), therefore helping in the detection of highly vulnerable infrastructure and communities and determining coping capacities in the event of aftermaths. Speakers for Understanding Risk tackled the following topics:
- Chiba University School of Engineering Professor Fumio Yamazaki on the Building Damage Analysis of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and its implication to seismic vulnerability of Tokyo Metropolis;
- NCDR Director Dr. Hongey Chen on the intelligence-based information system used for building the common operational picture for emergency preparedness;
- Urban/Regional Planner Dr. Arturo Corpuz on location and density trends as inputs to understanding seismic risk Metro Manila;
- Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) International Center for Interdisciplinary and Advanced Research (ICIAR) Executive Secretary Irina Rafliana on real event lessons from the downstream of the Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning Systems;
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) Principal Disaster Risk Management Specialist Dr. Charlotte Benson on lessons in enhanced understanding of disaster risk; and
- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Peace and Order Mr. Bernardo Florece, Jr. on understanding risk in the context of the Greater Metro Manila Area
NRC President Antonia Yulo Loyzaga moderated the discussion between speakers and participants for Understanding Risk.
Plenary Session 3: Reducing Risk
Experts in the third session explored the different policies and practices on national drills, insurance, pre-disaster recovery planning and business continuity planning that would guide future multi-sectoral collaborations. Speakers addressed risk reduction by presenting the following:
- National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience President Dr. Haruo Hayashi on the geographic approach to promoting science and technology for an integrated earthquake disaster risk reduction;
- NCDR Secretary General Dr. Wei-Sen Li on performance-based continuity plans used for leading strategic measures on developing disaster risk management;
- Nanyang Technological University Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management Executive Director Professor Pan Tso-Chien on natural catastrophe risk of Asia;
- Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chief-of-Staff Mr. Michael Salalima (who spoke in behalf of MMDA Chairman BGen Danilo Lim AFP (Ret)) on the Metro Manila Earthquake Contingency Plan;
- Maynilad Water Services, Inc. President and CEO Mr. Ramoncito Fernandez on seismic hazard management in the water sector; and
- US Agency for International Development/Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) Regional Adviser Mr. Joe Curry on harnessing the power of the youth in disaster risk mapping in Metro Manila.
National Economic & Development Authority Undersecretary and Session 3 Moderator, Ms. Adoracion Navarro, summarized the speakers’ presentations during the Q&A for Reducing Risk.
Putting It All Together
Workshop on Identifying Risk with facilitators Usec. Renato Solidum and Dr. Naoshi Hirata. 
Workshop on Understanding Risk with facilitators Dr. Wei-Sen Li, Dr. Charlotte Benson and Mr. Ramon Santiago. 
Workshop on Reducing Risk with facilitators Mr. Michael Salalima, VAdm Alexander Pama and Dr. Haruo Hayashi. 
Workshop on Multi-Stakeholder Framework on Joint Collaboration with facilitators Ms. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, MGen Restituto Padilla AFP (Ret) and Mr. Joe Curry.
In the last session, participants broke out into four different workshops: Identifying Risk, Understanding Risk, Reducing Risk and Multi-Stakeholder Framework on Joint Collaboration. They reflected on the respective results of the plenary discussions and worked together to identify gaps, priorities for action, desired outcomes, possible partnerships and timeline. The simultaneous workshops also allowed participants to explore mutual assistance mechanisms for joint collaboration on research and public-private partnerships. Each workshop had experts who served as facilitators, a resource person from Phivolcs and documenters from NRC and the Ateneo de Manila University Master in Disaster Risk and Resilience (ADMU-MDRR) program.
Facilitators presented their respective outputs which were later synthesized by Zuellig Family Foundation Executive Vice President Austere Panadero. NRC President Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, meanwhile, summarized the sessions and discussed ways of moving forward.
In his closing remarks, Amb. Roberto Romulo reminded the participants that addressing DRR and resilience is not a one-off affair. He said that the true challenge lies in developing an understanding that everyone must work together to make a change.
Photos courtesy of the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation.
Resiliency Leadership Program Workshop 1 – Cagayan de Oro City
NRC president chairs panels at disaster management congress
National Resilience Council (NRC) President Ms. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga joined the January 29-February 1, 2019 World Congress on Disaster Management (WCDM) in Mumbai, India, where she presented during a plenary on “Response, Relief, Reconstruction, Recovery & Development” and chaired the sessions on “Agriculture, Livelihoods and Resilience” and “Disaster Resilient Cities”.
The 3-day event is an initiative of the Disaster Management Initiatives and Convergence Society (DMICS)—a civil society organization pursuing the integration of disaster management to government and public policy—which gathers experts from around the world to highlight the interaction among science, policy and practices. Through such interactions, the Congress aimed to develop a common understanding of risk, and to gain ground on risk reduction and resilience building.
NRC executive director presents scorecard at UNDRR events
National Resilience Council (NRC) Executive Director Ms. Malu Erni represented the organization at the ISDR-Asia Partnership (IAP) Forum and the Regional Consultative Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies, both held in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 2018 IAP Forum, held from 11-12 December 2018, served as a platform to assess the implementation of the Sendai Framework and Asia Regional Plan. With the help of members from the UN, international, national, regional and intergovernmental organizations that work on disaster risk reduction, the event also paved the way to discuss better opportunities for pushing the DRR agenda. At the event, Ms. Erni paneled for a discussion on localizing the Sendai Framework.
The December 13-14 consultative workshop, meanwhile, gathered DRR practitioners to focus on attaining the Sendai Framework Target ‘E’ through development of national and local DRR Strategies. Given NRC’s work in the Philippines, Ms. Erni introduced the NRC Resilient Local Government Systems Scorecard and showcased its localized and contextualized approach to addressing disaster and climate resilience.
2018 Top Leaders Forum: Strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) in the Philippines, in partnership with SM Prime and the National Resilience Council (NRC), held the 7th Top Leaders Forum on 29 November 2018 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
“Disasters derail progress,” said SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman and NRC Co-Chair, Mr. Hans Sy, as he welcomed guests at the forum. “Active disaster risk reduction (DRR) collaboration will help bring about stronger communities and cities.”
In her message, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms. Mami Mizutori, described the Philippines as a global frontrunner in pushing for the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, a non-binding agreement encouraging multi-stakeholder collaboration in reducing and managing disaster risks. “You have UNISDR’s full commitment in building a resilient, sustainable place for all.”
“The private sector has factored the cost of disruption, damage, relief and rehabilitation as part of the cost of doing business in the country.” Makati Business Club Chairman and NRC Vice-Chair Mr. Edgar Chua described the disaster resilience in the context of the private sector. “But with the increasing intensity of disasters and growing awareness that things can only get worse, a number of groups and stakeholders decided that it cannot be business as usual.” He added that the end view should then be becoming better and building better.
APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center (EPCC) Executive Director Dr. Wei-Sen Li also commended the Philippines for its DRR efforts, mentioning the Taiwanese government’s ongoing collaboration—through its technical adviser, the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR)—with Iloilo city as the local government unit (LGU) prepares to adopt Taiwan’s disaster risk assessment platforms and establish automatic weather stations, also with the help of the Taiwanese government. The forum aimed to highlight the role of PPPs in disaster risk reduction and resilience efforts in the Philippines, as illustrated in its central theme entitled “Changing the Game: Building a Culture of Resilience through Public-Private Partnership”.
For Defense Secretary and NRC Co-Chair for Government Delfin Lorenzana, this is especially relevant to the country “as it calls for a change in our mindset and our behavior, particularly in addressing the problem piece-meal and leaving the responsibility on the shoulders of a few or of a particular sector of our society.”
Senator Loren Legarda also underscored its message of finding importance in creating a culture of resilience. “We do not only act when natural hazards are about to strike, but all our actions are already geared towards resilience.”
UN SRSG Mami Mizutori 
APEC-EPCC Executive Director Dr. Wei-Sen Li 
Philippine Senator Loren Legarda
The forum was split into four plenary sessions that tackled resilience in the contexts of local government, small and medium enterprises, human security and disaster risk reduction investments.
Local Government
DOST Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr. 
Bataan Provincial Governor Albert Garcia 
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr. began the first session with a presentation of the Philippine Risk Profile. Six NRC local government partners represented by their respective local chief executives (LCEs) to showcase their initial gains which focused on certain aspects of their resilience strategy such as: resilient human development systems; science-based governance; environmental sustainability; resilience building partnerships and development through climate-related hazards management; sustainable livelihood and human security.
Naga City Mayor John Bongat 
Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Alfelor 
Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez 
Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco
UNISDR Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific Bangkok Chief Ms. Loretta Hieber Girardet, the session reactor, acknowledged the country’s level of understanding risk, although there is still an incomplete picture of losses at the local level. She also pointed out the importance of utilizing both the government and private sector in pushing further the resilience agenda, and sharing the country’s experiences beyond its waters for others need to know its efforts. Zuellig Family Foundation Executive Vice President Mr. Austere Panadero moderated the discussion between the speakers and the guests.
UN’s Loretta Girardet reacts to the LCE’s presentations. A photo opportunity after the local government session.
SM’s BCP
Following the local government session, SM Prime—represented by SM Supermalls Vice President and ARISE Philippines Secretariat Ms. Liza B. Silerio—also launched its Business Continuity Program (BCP) for Small and Medium Enterprises, an initiative that will provide SM tenants access to private data storage and protect critical business data.
Small and Medium Enterprises
The second plenary session invited international and local resilience experts to discuss the critical role small and medium enterprises play on disaster risk reduction and management and on the development of a sustainable local economy. ARISE Private Sector Co-Chair Mr. Dale Sands shared his experience in leading the small business study conducted in New Orleans 11 years after Hurricane Katrina. World Bank Risk Resiliency Program Consultant Ms. Elisea Gozun then moderated a discussion between the speaker and the panel, which comprised of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya; Zamboanga City Administrator, Concurrent Local Economic Investment Promotions Officer & NRC Focal Person for Local Economy Ms. Marie Angelique “Apple” Go; and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon.
Human Security
Disasters play a part in how conflict plays out in communities. The panel on human security, moderated by NRC President Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, consisted of: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Country Director Martin Thalmann; SM Supermalls Consultant for Disaster Risk Reduction VADM Alexander Pama; Joint Task Force Zamboanga City Chief Col. Leonel Nicolas; and CCAR in the Philippines Project Leader, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Master in Disaster Risk Reduction (MDRR) Professor and Co-Director and Manila Observatory Science Research Fellow Dr. Emma Porio. The third discussion had panelists explore the link between disaster risk and risk governance in specific sub-national, national and international contexts.
Disaster Risk Reduction Investments
The last session had local experts share their organizations initiatives that support the Sendai Framework priority to invest in DRR for resilience. The discussion, moderated by PDRF Chief Resilience Officer Mr. Guillermo M. Luz, was joined by Office of Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Administration Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, SM Supermalls Vice President and ARISE Philippines Secretariat Ms. Liza Silerio, Iloilo City Councilor Dr. Candace Magdalane Tupas and PDRF President Mr. Rene Meily.
ARISE Philippines and NRC hold Forum on Understanding Risk and Resilience
Fifty-eight representatives from the government, private sector, academe, professional organizations, non-government and civil society organizations gathered at the Forum on Understanding Risk and Resilience last 12 October 2018 at the SMX Convention Center Aura in Taguig City.
The Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) in the Philippines, SM Prime and the National Resilience Council (NRC) organized the event in celebration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, annually celebrated on 13 October. With the participants coming from different backgrounds, the Forum brought about diverse insights on disaster risk and resilience.
The Forum also served as a platform to promote the seven Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction Global Targets, which the international community has been doing since 2016. This year, the focus was on Target C: Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.
Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) President and NRC Vice Chairman Prof. Ernie Garilao welcomed the participants with an important reminder that understanding risk is first and foremost, before responding effectively to this year’s promotion of the Sendai Global Target C. He also urged leaders to take on a whole-of-government approach to ensure a resilient LGU where all pillars work together through collaboration, and community members to become partners for development.
“We are bringing forth our whole of nation or whole of society approach to DRRM by building strong partnerships with all sectors of Philippine society.” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Deputy Administrator for Administration Assistant Secretary Kristoffer James Purisima highlighted in his remarks the importance of partnerships in the disaster resilience advocacy. “Today’s forum is proof of that enduring and lifesaving partnership,particularly as we celebrate the International Day for Disaster Reduction.”
On building a resilient Philippines, Manila Observatory Senior Research Fellow and Climate Change Commission (CCC) National Panel of Technical Experts Member Dr. Rosa Perez set the tone through a discussion on the consideration of hazards, exposures and vulnerabilities(HEVs) in assessing risks, the importance of prioritizing DRR in both the national and local context and the complexities of climate change.
National Economic and Development Authority(NEDA) Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro, meanwhile, discussed the Sendai Global Target C and how the country assesses disaster-related physical damages and economic losses through international and local methodologies, especially since the Philippines is a member of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group (OIEWG). She also elaborated on the incorporation of the Philippine Development Plan(2017-2022) to the Sendai Framework, highlighting the government’s initiatives in measuring DRR efforts.
Christian Aid Climate Change Advisor for Asia and the Middle East Ms. Jessica Bercilla engaged the participants in a discussion on resilience. The participants also underwent a workshop and formed groups in the afternoon to tackle risk, where they were asked to identify hazards, exposures, and vulnerabilities of different case studies of disasters.
Participants also shared their realizations from the latest disasters like the landslide in Itogon, Benguet, the tsunami in Palo City, Indonesia and the aftermath from Typhoon Ompong. They pinpointed improved policies, capacity-building activities,government systems, integrated risk assessments, resettlement strategies, livelihood alternatives, partnership between government and private sector and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns on disaster risk as possible ways to prevent or lessen disaster risk.
Co-facilitating were Ateneo de Manila University Lecturer and Coastal Cities at Risk (CCAR) in the Philippines: Trans-Disciplinal Action Research Project Manager Dr. Noralene Uy, who discussed the spheres of vulnerability, and SM Supermalls Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant VADM Alexander Pama, who talked about the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (2011-2028) and the framework for safer, adaptive Filipino communities for sustainable development. Ending the event were presentations of workshop outputs from the participants, and a closing message from VADM Pama.
Photos courtesy of SM.