By: Carlo Carlos

Date Posted: May 25, 2015

The OML Center and the Energy Development Corporation participated in the Earthquake Resiliency Conference. The event was held at the Manila Polo Club, Makati City on 20 May 2015. The event was attended by various representatives from the private sector, government, multilateral organizations and non-government research organizations. The said event was organized by the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation, Zuellig Family Foundation, Manila Observatory; and in partnership with Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

In preparation for the anticipated 7.2 earthquake in Metro Manila, the Earthquake Resilience Conference aimed to promote a concerted, collaborative and coordinated approach to earthquake preparedness and response among the various sectors/stakeholders concerned, i.e., government at national and local levels, the Armed Forces, the business sector, civil society and community-based organizations, the Church, scientific and research institutions, humanitarian organizations and the media. Building on the individual preparedness and response plans of the various sectors/stakeholders, the Conference identified the areas where collaboration and coordination are needed for those plans to work effectively.

The Conference had series of sessions starting from the risk scenarios, infrastructure and communications, and the response and preparedness of local government units. Breakout sessions were also convened with topics on basic social services; search, rescue and recovery; peace and order, and emergency information management; and family and community-based social protection. OML Center and EDC Board Member Mr. Arturo Valdez also shared his team’s experiences on their rescue and recovery mission in Nepal.

The conference concluded by identifying gaps such as the need to formulate a common plan/protocol across the sectors with regards to preparations, information dissemination, and conduct of emergency drills across the metropolis.

Chairman Emeritus Oscar M. Lopez gave the opening remarks on the second day of the Earthquake Resilience Conference where the outputs of the first day were presented to the business sector. “In view of the vulnerability of our country to various disasters, I hereby propose a national preparedness day where we can all focus on enhancing awareness of and readiness to disasters,” Lopez said in his introduction, stressing out the need for the communities to be familiarized on emergency procedures in the event of a disaster.

For copies of the presentation, please refer to this link: http://carlospromulo.org/aboutus/projects/