International group lauds gov’t disaster management initiatives, calls for continued strenghthening of programs

With the disaster management programs of the government, the quick response of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in the face of calamities, and the hazard mapping and the various greening projects led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Philippines is on the right track in its disaster response and mitigation initiatives.

This was according to Andrew Maskrey during the launch of the Global Assessment Report (GAR) 2011 on Disaster Risk Reduction held on July 26 at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City. However, the Philippines still has to further strengthen its disaster risk reduction programs as more damages are foreseen to happen in the coming years effect and as more infrastructures are built and the population continues to rise at a fast rate, Maskrey added.

Maskrey, coordinating lead author of GAR 2011, cited not only the Philippines in disaster risk but also other countries who have experienced calamities and those who are prone to such. "Even affluent and technologically-advanced Japan suffered greatly in the March tsunami," Maskrey pointed out.

In the report, 21 countries have experienced ten times the volume of destructed facilities over the past years. Public development projects like school buildings, health facilities, roads, water and sanitation systems have experienced major ruination especially  in low-income countries.

The report also showed that while the number of natural disasters has not changed over the years, the losses caused by these disasters have increased in such high levels that have affected economies worldwide.

Maskrey explained that in disasters, the "economic aspect" is the more pressing concern as it is "affected by urban systems loss (like electricity, transportation, communication, banking, technology, connectivity) that could lead to the loss of economic assets as well as public infrastructures."

Given the initiatives of the present government, the coordination and synergy of national and local government units in times of incoming and actual disasters, and the creation of a Climate Change Commission, continued efforts are recommended by the GAR and the  United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)  to reduce vulnerability.

Thus, the government is urged to strengthen its commitment in coming up with strategic planning for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and reform risk governance to achieve the 2015 target of reduced disaster-related losses.

The GAR entitled “Revealing Risk, Redefining Development” is a biennial global assessment of disaster risk reduction and a comprehensive review and analysis of the natural hazards affecting humanity.

The GAR 2011 reviews how governments, including the Philippines and 129 others, are scaling up disaster risk management by adapting development instruments, such as national planning, public investment systems, and social protection mechanisms. The target is to have reduced disaster-caused losses by 2015. 

Mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, lusot na sa pre-audit

Inaasaahang mapapabilis ang pagpapatakbo sa mga proyekto ng mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan matapos na mapagdesisyunan ng Commission on Audit (COA) na tanggalin na ang "pre-auditing" sa kanilang sistema.

Ito ang napagdesisyunan ng COA matapos lumitaw sa kanilang pag-aaral na "fiscally responsible" naman ang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno.

Sa pahayag ni COA Chairperson Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan sa Communication and News Exhange (CNEX) Program ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA), sa mahigit kalahating milyong transaksiyon na dumaan sa kanilang ahensiya para sa pre-auditing simula 2009, 87 porsyento sa mga ito ang agarang naaprubahan ng COA. Ang 12 porsyento ay nangailangan lamang ng ilan pang dokumento upang maaprubahan ng nasabing ahensya. Isang porsyento lamang sa mga transaksiyon ang hindi naaprubahan.

Ayon kay Pulito-Tan, sa mahigit 500 bilyong pisong kabuuan ng transaksyong kanilang sinuri noong 2009, wala pang isang porsyento ang halaga ng tinanggihan nito.

Nangangahulugan ito, aniya, na may kakayahan naman ang mga ahensiya sa pamamahala ng kanilang gastusin at ibang bayarin, at hindi dapat maging hadlang ang pre-auditing sa agarang pagproseso ng mga proyekto ng iba't ibang sangay ng pamahalaan.

Inamin naman ni Pulido-Tan na magiging positibo ang kahihinatnan ng pagtanggal sa nasabing proseso dahil na rin mababawasan ang mga nabibinbing proyekto ng gobyerno dulot ng antalang dulot ng paghihintay sa resulta ng pre-auditing ng COA.

Samantala, pinaalalahanan ni Pulido-Tan na dapat magkaroon ng internal auditor ang bawat sangay ng pamahalaan at panatilihing sumunod sa nakatakdang protokol sa pag-a-awdit. 

Adaptasyon, pinakamabisang tugon sa climate change

Kung mayroong mabisang panlaban sa sakuna dulot ng pagbabago ng klima, ito ay adaptasyon.

Ito ang binigyang-diin ni Usec. Graciano Yumul ng Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) sa panayam sa kanya ukol sa mga paghahandang dapat gawin ng taumbayan sa panahon ng tag-ulan.

Sa ginanap na Broadcasters' Forum kaninang umaga sa Lungsod ng Quezon, ipinaliwanag ni Yumul kung bakit hindi niya nakikitang praktikal na pang-iwas sakuna ang pagpapalit ng iskedyul ng pasukan sa mga paaralan.

Makailang ulit na rin na may nagpanukala na ilipat ang simula ng klase sa buwan ng Setyembre upang makaiwas sa malupit na hampas ng panahon sa mga buwan ng Hunyo hanggang Agosto kung saan madalas ang pag-ulan.

"Saanman sa daigdig ay nag-iiba na ang klima. Ang Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, etc. ay mga bansang hindi naman inuulan; ngunit ngayon, pati sila'y nakakaranas na ng pagbabago ng klima," saad ni Yumul.

Ibinatid ni Yumul na bagaman magandang suhestiyon ang paglipat ng Pasukan sa Setyembre-- na siyang sinusunod sa ibang bansa-- ang Kamaynilaan lang ang makikinabang dito sapagkat mayroong kanya-kanyang klase ng klima sa bansa at ang nararanasan sa Luzon ay maaaring hindi naman katulad ng nararanasan sa Visayas at Mindanao.

Samantala, ipinaliwanag ni Yumul ang "climate change" bilang isang nagaganap na penomena sa mundo. Sa kabila ng mga nakasanayang gawi at pamamaraan sa pagharap sa kalamidad, pinaka-epektibong panligtas ng buhay ay ang tamang pagbabagay o "adaptation" sa mga pagbabago sa klima.

"Mahalaga ang pagtanggap ng tao sa mga anunsyo ng mga bagyo at ibang kalamidad na parating." Kailangan lang maging alerto, mapagmasid, at alisto ng mga Filipino upang makalagpas sa banta ng sakuna," dagdag pa niya.

Sa kabila ng pahayag nito, ipinaliwanag din ni Yumul ang proseso ng pag-anunsiyo at pagpapalawig ng bantang bagyo na isinasagawa ng PAGASA at ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Mula sa forecast ng PAGASA ay pinaparating ang banta ng bagyo sa Office of Civil Defense (OCD) na siya namang ahensiyang nagbabalita sa mga lokal na opisyal kasama ang baraggay ng parating na bagyo.

Nagbigay naman ng suhestiyon ang ilang mamamahayag sa ginanap na Forum na dapat i-"Filipinize" ang pag-uulat ng bagyo as publiko, at magtatag ng mga salitang angkop sa kanyang tinutukoy dahil na rin sa kakulangan ng pantay na termino sa mga terminong Ingles tulad ng "tropical depression", "storm", "typhoon", na pawang ang "bagyo" ang katumbas sa wikang Filipino.

Idinagdag din sa mga panukala ang pagsama sa "rainfall intensity" o ang dami ng ulan sa ulat ng PAGASA dahil nakasalalay dito ang paghahandang gagawin ng mga bayang mababa at madaling bahain. 

International group calls for the government's renewed commitment for improved disaster risk reduction program

With the number of disasters that have hit the country over the past years--devastating huge infrastructures and claiming countless human lives-- there is a need for the government to reassess its disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures and improve its disaster response system/mechanism.

This call was made by the  United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) through Senator Loren Legarda, UNISDR  Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific during the launch of the Global Assessment Report (GAR) on Disaster Risk Reduction held on July 26 at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City .

With the key findings of GAR showing the trend of disaster risk increasing rapidly over the years, the Philippines, together with other disaster-prone and vulnerable countries, has to "strengthen its disaster management as well as climate change adaptation programs in order for the country to achieve its development goals", Legarda said.

Presenting the findings of the report, coordinating lead author of GAR 2011 Andrew Maskrey said that in 21 countries, facilities destroyed have increased ten times with more public development projects like school buildings, health facilities, roads, water and sanitation systems seeing destruction brought about by disasters and the lack of effective disaster risk reduction programs by countries especially the low-income ones.

Maskrey also said that while the number of natural disasters has not changed over the years, the losses caused by these disasters have increased in such high levels that have affected economies worldwide.

"The Philippines ranked fifth in terms of number of people exposed to risk, eighth in disaster incidence and human impact, and tenth in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) or economy at risk come disasters/calamities," Maskrey added, citing a 2009 UN report.

By GDP, Maskrey explained that in disasters, the "economic aspect" is the more pressing concern as it is "affected by urban systems loss (like electricity, transportation, communication, banking, technology, connectivity) that could lead to the loss of economic assets as well as public infrastructures."

Thus, the call by Legarda, together with the UNISDR, to reduce vulnerability, come up with better planning for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and reform risk governance was made in front of members of Congress, local government and civil society leaders, and members of media during the launch.

The GAR entitled Revealing Risk, Redefining Development is a biennial global assessment of disaster risk reduction and a comprehensive review and analysis of the natural hazards affecting humanity.

The GAR 2011 reviews how governments, including the Philippines and 129 others, are scaling up disaster risk management by adapting development instruments, such as national planning, public investment systems, and social protection mechanisms. The target is to have reduced disaster-caused losses by 2015. 

Disability Week puts Accessibility Law on the spotlight for PWDs

The Regional Committee on Disability Affairs-National Capital Region (NCR), in line with the celebration of the 33rd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week (NDPR), conducted an orientation to people with disabilities (PWD) on LRT features and accessibility.

Held last July 20, the activity was part of the July 17-23 NDPR Week with the theme "Making the Rights Real for Filipinos with Disabilities".

With more than sixty PWDs from the different local government units in NCR in attendance, the orientation served as a venue where PWDs were reoriented about their rights to gain access to public areas like restrooms as well as public transports like buses, trains, the MRT as well as the LRT (Light Railway Transport).  

Hosted by the LRT 2 in their Santolan Station Depot, the activity entitled "Orientation of PWDs on LRT Accessibility and Safety Features in Compliance to BP 344" is also a rehash of BP 344 or the Accessibility Law. The event's objectives were to create public awareness of the rights of PWDs to safe and convenient transport; to make PWDs familiar with MRT/LRT features; to enhance knowledge on the provisions of BP 344; and to strengthen involvement of government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, the media, and PWDs addressing the needs and concerns of PWDs in Metro Manila.

"Partial compliance is non-compliance at all," according to Architect Jaime Silva, Committee Head on Accessibility of the United Architects of the Philippines, who discussed in whole Accessibility Law as a departure to non-handicapped environment for PWDs.

He said that it is a good thing that "the Philippines is one of the countries that have successfully promoted accessibility for PWDs."

Evelyn Paragas, Head of the Public Relations Office of LRT and John Buenaventura, Chief of Transport Operations, discussed the accessibility, safety, and security features of the LRT2 making it very PWD-friendly. 

The latter part of the program gave way to disaster response as Office of Civil Defense Director Susan Cruz gave lessons on how to escape and respond to possible life-threatening situations come disasters like earthquakes. 

The activity was also used as an opportunity to make the PWDs experience riding the LRT2 and showing the BP 344-compliant features that revolutionized the transport system in the country and the importance given to one of the marginalized sectors in our society.

The orientation is one of the many activities that took place during the NDPR Week celebration. The NDPR Week is spearheaded by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) with the cooperation of the various committees on disability affairs in the country as well as national and local government  units, as well as non-government organizations in the country. 

Feature: A production that shows reform; an agency that transfroms

Indeed, all is fair in love and war. And also in jail.

At least for inmates in Camp Sampaguita, New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City who have spoken their hearts and minds out through a creative medium known as musical play. 

Held on July 22 at the Amoranto Sports Complex Theater during the 35th founding anniversary of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), an attached agency of the Department of Justice, the musical play is also the product of the PPA's reformative-transformative approach in the country's criminal justice system. 

The musical-play entitled "Bilanggong Walang Rehas" centers on the life of Angelito Reyes, a Cebuano native, who is recently sentenced imprisonment. There, he meets different characters with different life stories to tell-- sad, frustrating, full of misfortune-- stories filled with desperation and lives haunted by regret and denial. 

Angelito is opened to the harsh and depressing realities of prison life as constant fights are seen, dark secrets revealed one way or another, sad stories pour in from family members outside. However, it is also in that same cell where he learns to hope, respect, and love himself as well as his brother-inmates. 

Values and messages of hope are recurrent in the play as one of the characters, the friend and sort-of mentor of Angelo, teaches Angelo about having faith in the Lord when he said, "Pagdarasal ang kailangan upang makamit ang kapayapaan. Maaaring magbago ang buhay ng tao sa isang iglap lang." 

The play showcases the stories of the other characters-- the real score behind their "imprisonment". The narrative reaches its climax when Angelito's mentor-friend gets killed by a petty fight with another inmate. The incident strengthens Angelito's character. He behaves well in jail until such time that he is granted pardon and eventually released from prison.

"Bilanggong Walang Rehas" was written and directed by Siddha Araneta, a Bilibid prisoner himself. All the 30 cast in the play are all inmate-students of Camp Sampaguita as well, and according to Siddha, the story is based on the true life stories of inmates and what is truly going on in prison. The play is a showcase of talent worthy of praise given the limitations in practice time and venue and other privileges regular thespians enjoy. The band in charge of the background music and the sound effects are inmates themselves-- all these are proof of the many positive changes a reformative justice system could give to the unjustly labeled dregs of society. 

The production is also one of the culminating activities for the week-long foundation celebration of the said agency as it clings tight to its advocacy of providing humane, integrative, and meaningful corrective measures to those who were sentenced imprisonment for crimes committed. It is also in cooperation with the Block Rosary of Our Lady of Fatima and the Bureau of Corrections.

As PPA Information Officer Elanie Layawen said, the PPA, together with Bureau of Corrections have been steadfast in its ideals of making something positive and useful out of the prisoners as well as probationers, parolees, and pardonees. The Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the agency is one way of tapping into the inner strengths and latent skills their clients possess. "And eventually, as the time draws nearer to their release, these prisoners are confident to face the outside world with renewed hope and forward-looking as they are armed with skills and knowledge gained from the ALS," Layawen added.

The ALS is a non-formal education/training system where inmates are given lessons in skills development in various fields like the arts, technical courses, and even college courses. It is one way of reforming prisoners into skillful and knowledgeable constituents.

Also present during the occasion is Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista who underscored the word "rehabilitation"-- not only the physical, but also the emotional and mental part of prisoners as well in order to be brought back truly healthy to mainstream society and be reintegrated as purposeful and productive citizens of the country. 

The Probation and Parole Week was held from July 18 to 24, centering on the theme "Matuwid na Landas, Susi sa Pagbabago at Kaunlaran." 

Mga dalubhasa ng siyensiya at teknolohiya, may suporta ng pamahalaan—DOST

Nilinaw ng Kagawaran ng Agham at Teknolohiya (DOST) na ang mga Filipinong siyentipiko at imbentor ay hindi naisasantabi ng ating pamahalaan.

Ayon kay Luningning Samarita-Domingo, Punong Tagapangisawa ng DOST, may mga nakatalagang ahensiya para sa mga likha o proyekto ng mga imbentor at siyentipiko ng bansa.

Isa na rito, aniya, ay ang Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) na siyang pangunahing nagtataguyod ng mga imbensiyon at makabagong produkto sa bansa.

Bukod sa pagsusulong ng mga likhang Filipino at pagpapalawak ng paggamit sa mga imbensiyong ito ng mga mamamayan, mandato din ng ahensya ang pagbibigay ng tulong sa pagpapaunlad sa mga imbensyong Pinoy.

Kung ang mga imbentor ay may TAPI, ang mga siyentipiko naman ay may National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) na pangunahing layunin ay ang pag-ibayuhin ang pananaliksik sa bansa at ang pagsuporta sa mga proyekto ng ating mga siyentipiko.

Sa programang Communication and New Exchange (CNEX) ng Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at Philippine Communications Operations Office (PCOO), ipinaliwanag ni Domingo na ang mga panukala ng mga dalubhasa sa agham at teknolohiya ay maaring isumite sa DOST upang pag-aralan, at kung papasa sa pagsusuri ay popondohan ng ahensiya. Karaniwan ay nasa dalawang milyong piso ang inilalaan ng DOST sa bawat proyekto na kanilang aaprubahan.

“Ang mga mananaliksik at dalubhasa sa mga probinsiya ay maaaring makipag-ugnayan sa mga tanggapang panlalawigan ng DOST para sa kanilang mga likha,” dagdag pa niya.

Binigyang-diin din ni Domingo ang kahalagahan ng agham at teknolohiya sa pag-unlad ng bansa, hindi lang sa aspektong ekonomik kundi pati na rin sa kalidad ng pamumuhay ng mga Filipino.

Upang lalong mapalawig ang imbensiyon at pananaliksik sa bansa, isang ahensiya ng pamahalaan—ang National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)—ang nagbibigay dangal at pagkilala sa ating mga siyentipiko.

“Sa pamamagitan ng pagkilala at parangal sa mga Filipinong dalubhasa ng NAST, lalong napagyayabong ang larangan ng agham at pananaliksik sa bansa,” pahayag ni Domingo.

Sa pangkasalukuyan, mayroon nang 67 miyembro-siyentipiko ang NAST.

Mayroon ding Science and Technology Scholarship na ipinagkakaloob ang DOST sa mga mag-aaral na nagnanais kumuha ng kursong may kinalaman sa agham at teknolohiya.

-------------------

Ang Linggo ng Siyensya at Teknolohiya o National Science and Technology Week ay gaganapin sa ika-27-30 ng Hulyo. Ang tema sa taong ito ay “Nasa Syensya ang Pag-asa” at itinatampok dito ang mga henyong Pinoy sa larangan ng agham at teknolohiya at ang kontribusyon nila sa paglago ng ating bansa.

Iba’t ibang aktibidades ang nakalinya sa Linggo ng Siyensya at Teknolohiya na gaganapin sa iba’t ibang panig ng Maynila. Kabilang dito ang:


  July 27-30- Expo Science 2011 (SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia)
  July 13- Outstanding Young Scientist Summit (Manila Hotel)
  July 14-15- Annual Scientific Meeting  (Manila Hotel)
  July 18-22- Science for Kids (DOST-NRCP Auditorium, Bicutan, Taguig City)
  July 19-  STARBOOKS Launch (SM MOA, Nido Fortified Science Discovery)
  July 28- Tagisang Robotics ( SM Mall of Asia-Music Hall)
  July 29- S&T Summit and S&T Quiz Bee ( SMX Convention Center)
  July 29- In Touch With Excellence (Landbank Auditorium)