Photo credit: Department of Public Works and Highways
A top official from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) discussed Philippines’ experiences and learnings and build back better approach from the impact of natural disasters and calamities at an international forum intended to promote collaboration and cooperation among global and regional partners in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Addressing attendees at the International Recovery Forum (IRF) 2023 held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan as keynote speaker and panelist, DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said that holistic preparedness is needed in building back better and increase the resilience as we emerge from the pandemic crises by integrating disaster risk reduction measures in the restoration of physical infrastructure, and into the revitalization of livelihoods, economies and the environment.
According to Senior Undersecretary Sadain, the Philippine national government together with the local government units instituted a ‘whole-of-government-approach’ of its plans and programs in the implementation of the Build Better More infrastructure development agenda including projects to enhanced capability for disaster preparedness.
The Philippines is a steady partner of the Government of Japan in adopting the Sendai Framework of ‘Building Back Better’ for reducing human and economic loss as a direct result of disasters.
It can be recalled that during the pandemic years of 2020-2021, at least three (3) major flood disaster occurred in the Philippines brought by extremely powerful tropical cyclone that made landfall as a category 5 equivalent Super Typhoon Typhoon Rolly in November 2020 affecting Bicol Region; a powerful and deadly category 4 Typhoon Ulysses also in November 2020 that hardly hit the heart of Central Luzon and triggers massive flooding in the areas of National Capital Region; and Super Typhoon Odette in December 2021 ravaging islands and coastal communities in the Visayas and Mindanao and flooding towns and cities across the country.
The disastrous impact caused by these typhoons to an estimated total of 16 million people in seven regions in the country highlighted the need to continue building resilient infrastructures in the country, added Senior Undersecretary Sadain.
As session panelist on topic “Learning from Experience: Long-Run Recovery from Large Scale Disasters”, the DPWH Senior Undersecretary who formerly served as Chief Implementer of the Build Build Build Program of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administration reported that infrastructure development has been a priority of the past two (2) administrations to increase the productive capacity of the economy, create jobs, increase incomes and strengthen the investment climate leading to sustained exclusive growth.
He enumerated some of the pre-disaster investment projects for risk reduction such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted Pasig Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, now on its fourth phase of implementation and with the Mangahan Floodway and the river channel improvement for a length of 31 kilometers that significantly reduced the inundation and economic damage of Typhoon Ulysses in the Metro Manila Area.
At present, a total of 13 DPWH-implemented Infrastructure Flagship Projects are under Official Development Assistance (ODA) financed by the Government of Japan thru JICA namely Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River and Imus River (FRIMP-CTI); Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro River (FRIMP-CDOR), Pasig Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, Phase 4; Cavite Industrial Area Flood Management Project (FRIMP-CIA); Arterial Road Bypass Project, Phase III (Plaridel Bypass); Road Upgrading and Preservation Project (RUPP); Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Project, Phase I; Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao; Davao City Bypass Construction Project; Program for the Support to Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Marawi City and its Surrounding Areas; Cebu-Mactan 4th Bridge and Coastal Construction Project; Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project, Phase 6 (MMICP-VI); and Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project (Guadalupe Bridge and Lambingan Bridge).
The annual International Recovery Forum event with this year theme: ‘Building Back Better and Long-Term Recovery Outcomes: Aspirations for a Resilient and Sustainable Future’ was also participated by Project Director Ramon A. Arriola III and Project Manager Jerry A. Fano of the DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Flood Control Management Cluster.
Meanwhile, the DPWH officials efficiently maximize time in Japan with knowledge exchange, and exposure on the utilization of technology by visiting the following projects in Osaka: Osaka Prefecture where retarding basin similar to the Imus Retarding Basin in Cavite and river channel improvement projects are implemented as countermeasures against flooding; and the underground river flow channels and comprehensive flood control measures for the Neya River Basin known as Neyagawa Underground River Project which is similar to the proposed underground structure of Parañaque Spillway to connect Laguna Lake to Manila Bay and avoid spilling of lake water into low-lying communities;
The official Philippine delegation to Japan also gained know-how on water resources management, dam operation, facilities and safety management system with an assessment visit at Amagase Dam in Kyoto which was the very first dam built in 1964 on biggest rivers of Yamatogawa and Yodogawa in west Japan primarily for flood control, water supply and hydroelectric generating power.
This is particularly important as the DPWH will be planning complimentary flood control retarding basin in the upper Marikina gorges that will regulate the storing inflow water of the ongoing Upper Wawa Dam reservoir, said Senior Undersecretary Sadain.
Article courtesy of the Philippine News Agency
