Barely two months after the Asia Megacities Forum and the commencement of the project, EMI returned to Mumbai on May 26 to June 1, 2009 to conduct the 2nd Field Investigation for the project, “Disaster Risk Reduction in Greater Mumbai,” a two-year joint undertaking between EMI and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). The EMI group, composed of two teams namely, Legal and Institutional Arrangements (LIA) Team and Emergency Management (EM) Team, met with local, state, and federal officials.
The field investigation aimed 1) to gain insights on the disaster risk management practices in Mumbai including determining relevant statutes and inter-agency collaboration; and 2) to introduce the project to key stakeholders. It was received positively by members of the Focus Groups representing strategic agencies and MCGM departments. The commitments of support among members were solicited and accepted during the FG meetings on May 28, 2009. This enthusiasm was also echoed during the EM/LIA Workshop on May 30.
Office visits to selected agencies with DRM functions were also conducted. EMI received briefings from high-ranking officials of MCGM, different state agencies, and private sector offices on their respective agency’s stake on DRR. For MCGM, Mr. Vilas Vaidya, Head of the Emergency Management Unit, presented the state of the DRM practice and system in Mumbai.
The EMI group was composed of Atty. Violeta Seva, Dr. Gaudioso Sosmeña Jr., Mr. Julie Paran (LIA Team members), Ms. Nadia Pulmano, and Ms. Deborah Steffen (EM Team members)
The next Field Investigation is tentatively set in September 2009.
