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Building Safe and Sustainable Communities in the Philippines: |
PDC meeting with Marikina City officials to kick off Multi-hazard Urban Risk
Assessment Project in the Philippines
PDC is currently collaborating closely with decision makers in Marikina City, Philippines, which is part of the Metro Manila region, to assess the multiple risks that result from flooding and earthquakes in an urban environment. The ultimate goal of this project is to facilitate the development of plans and policies that will reduce the threat of natural hazards to the well-being of Marikina City.
On May 17-23 2004, PDC and Marikina City officials conducted three Marikina City Stakeholder Advisory Committee Workshops.These workshops allowed policy makers to view and provide feedback to flood and earthquake hazard maps, preview the Marikina City Internet Map Viewer (currently under development by PDC), and to understand the city’s economic development priorities.
Markina City’s Long-term Economic Development Plan, formed in 2003, aims to attract business development to a “safe and sustainable” urban environment. An important piece of this philosophy involves implementing community-based risk mitigation strategies that address several natural hazards. Markina City’s proactive commitment to reducing the impacts of natural disasters has helped to create a healthy advocacy environment that is essential for the successful implementation disaster reduction strategies at the grassroots level.
PDC is assisting with this effort by preparing hazard and risk maps for three geographic areas that have been prioritized by Marikina City officials for economic development. Planners and business developers alike will be able to use these products to analyze mitigation options when considering construction projects.
In July and September 2004, PDC and Marikina City officials will provide education and outreach visits to the public, schools, and businesses regarding flood and earthquake hazard awareness, as well as mitigation strategies. Using the Marikina City Internet Map Viewer, teachers, students, government officials, and the community will be able to visualize earthquake and flood risk to any part of the city.
Marikina City agencies involved in the project include the Mayor’s Office; Marikina City Center of Excellence Training Division; as well as the Public Works, Planning, Engineering, Management and Information Systems, Geographic Information Systems, and Marketing and Investment Departments. In addition, other regional authorities and scientific organizations are playing key roles by acting as consultants and important stakeholders in this project.
The collective vision of Marikina City officials and PDC is to build a safe and sustainable community that considers planning for natural hazard risks as an essential part of long-term economic development. This project follows a year-long collaboration between Marikina City and Japanese researchers from Kobe and Kyoto Universities. Throughout 2003, city officials and the Japanese research team facilitated the development of a Comprehensive Earthquake Disaster Reduction Plan as part of the Marikina City Safety Initiative. Officials from both Japanese universities attended a workshop at PDC in March 2004 to ensure continuity of the project. For more information on the March workshop click here.