Photo credit: The Department of Public Works and Highways
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held the kick-off meeting for the project set to improve Philippine coastal condition for disaster risk resiliency and infrastructure.
Led by DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain, the meeting held June 13, 2022 at the DPWH Central Office in Port Area, Manila was also attended by representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), PAG-ASA, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), and the University of the Philippines (UP).
The Record of Discussions for the Capacity Development in Coastal Engineering for Disaster Resiliency Project was earlier signed on February 16, 2022 by DPWH Acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado and former JICA Philippines Office Chief Representative Eigo Azukizawa.
The capacity development program, with focus on resilience of coastal communities against disasters, will enable the Philippines to increase its capacity in coping with climate change through engineering interventions.
“As we have seen in recent years, the widespread decline of our coastline is without a doubt a vital and increasingly urgent issue that needs to be addressed. DPWH takes this both as a challenge and an opportunity to pursue the integrated approach to coastal management with the primary aim of protecting coastal communities and equally protecting the ecosystem,” said Undersecretary Sadain.
The meeting discussed the timeline and roadmap of the five (5) year technical cooperation project that aims to develop DPWH’s capacity on coastal engineering through human resource development and formulation of technical guidelines under the coastal expertise of JICA.
JICA Philippines Office Senior Representative Masanari Yanaguichi and his team stated that government engineers and specialists will be trained to better understand coastal hazards, formulate much-needed coastal-related guidelines as well as plan, design and implement pilot projects towards a more sustainable approach to coastal management.
For his part, DPWH UPMO Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC) Project Director Ramon A. Arriola III also emphasized the need for collaboration among agencies and stakeholders in order to ensure timely attainment and successful implementation of the technical cooperation project.
“We would also like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Japan through JICA for all the support and assistance given not only from the technical cooperation perspective but as well as in helping rebuilding the Philippine economy and our nation,” added Undersecretary Sadain.
Article courtesy of The Department of Public Works and Highways
