he Hazard Mapping and Assessment for Effective Community-Based Disaster Risk Management or “READY” Project was formally launched on April 16, 2009 in the province of Iloilo. The READY Project is a collaborative effort of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Government of Australia Australian Aid (AusAID).
The Office of the Civil Defense-National Disaster Coordinating Council (OCD-NDCC) is the implementing agency while the responsible agencies are the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology – Department of Science and Technology (PHIVOLCS-DOST), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical and Services Administration (PAGASA-DOST), Mines and Geosciences Bureau – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (MGB-DENR) and National Mapping Resource and Information Authority (NAMRIA-DENR). Cooperating partners are the Local Government Units and SMART Telecommunications.
The launching ceremony was held in the Provincial Capitol of the Province of Iloilo and attended by the following key persons: Governor Niel D. Tupas of the Province of Iloilo, Mr. Glenn J. Rabonza, Administrator of the OCD and Executive Officer of the NDCC and READY Project Manager, Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., PHIVOLCS-DOST, Engr. Edwin Domingo, Assistant Director of the MGB-DENR and Dr. Jose Cabanayan, Jr. Director of the NAMRIA-DENR.
Senator and Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Richard Gordon was also present as one of the signatories of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between PNRC 143 and READY Projects. In his message, he said that he is happy to see the “victims” of Frank typhoon recovering and moving on with their lives but that Filipinos need not be “victims” all the time in the face of natural disasters.
The UNDP Country Director Renaud Meyer and H.E. Australian Ambassador Roderick Smith were present and expressed their greetings and congratulations to the Ilonggos for all their efforts to recover and welcome efforts to improve the province’s disaster risk management capabilities.
Dr. Susan Epinueva of the PAG-ASA-DOST presented the Community Based Early Warning System for Floods and Dr. Ma. Leonila P. Bautista of the PHIVOLCS-DOST on Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS). Jerry Bionat, Chairperson of the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) Updates on Disaster Risk Management Initiatives of the PDCC-Iloilo.
The READY project aims to address the problem of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) at the local level by empowering the most vulnerable municipalities and cities in the country and enable them to prepare disaster risk management plans. The project hopes to develop a systematic approach to community based disaster risk management.
Iloilo is one of the 27 high risk provinces covered by the project which is realized through the assistance of the United Nation’s Development Programme (UNDP) and the Australian Government.
There are three components of the project that carries a time frame from 2006-2011, namely, Multihazard Identification and Disaster Risk Assessment, Community-Based Disaster Preparedness, Initiate the Mainstreaming of risk Reduction into the Local Development Process.
The first component includes preparation of hazards mapping and assessment of possible disasters that may affect an area, while the second involves development of community-based Early Warning system and development of IEC strategies and materials.
For the mainstreaming of risk reduction into local development planning, conduct of preparatory meetings, resource mobilization and donor coordination are undertaken.
Initiatives toward a more effective disaster risk management have been a national priority after the occurrence of so many tragedies caused by natural hazards such as landslides and flash floods.