Partial outputs of a GFDRR project in the Philippines,which involves EMI as one of the partner institutions, were presented to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) last November 27, 2008. Facilitated by World Bank – Manila Office, the other project partners, namely, Ateneo School of Government/Manila Observatory (ASOG/MO) and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) reported their findings before members of NDCC’s Technical Working Group, headed by Gen. Glen Rabonza as NDCC Chairman.
ASOG/MO reported outputs of their risk mapping exercise aimed at identifying provinces that are most at-risk to geo-physical and climate- and weather-related hazards, while IIRR shared their data on incurred damages to agriculture and infrastructure over different periods.
Gen. Rabonza designated the Department of Interior and Local Government to take lead in the project from the government side. At the meeting, the importance of involving local government organizations, especially the League of Provinces, in the selection of pilot local government units (LGUs) for implementation in Phase 2, was noted.
The next project meeting is set in January 2009, where EMI is expected to report findings from its evaluation of DRM instruments that are relevant in and applicable tothe context of Philippine LGUs. A DRM Framework to assess the DRM capacity of LGUs will also be presented in next year’s meeting.
