Beyond DRRM

At  the recent Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the Diamond Hotel, some 280 government officials, scientists, academics, experts and representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society and international organizations from around the world underscored the global imperative of disaster preparedness.

The three-day conference focused on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM). The Department of Foreign Affairs, especially assistant-secretary Zenaida Angara Collinson (who chaired the conference) should be congratulated on its successful conclusion as manifested by the adoption of the Tacloban Declaration.

 I would like to limit this column to the declaration’s reaffirmation of the important role of local government as the first responders and builders of local resilience. In this context allow me to point out that more than preservation and restoration, resilience involves three elements: preparedness, adaptation and transformation.

While effective disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation are essential to containing and coping with the adverse consequences of natural disasters, resilience requires a transformative change in the way society approaches natural hazards and climate change. It calls for a fundamental transformation in business models and mindsets regarding vulnerability in order to create a truly disaster and climate-resilient society. We need to go beyond disaster risk reduction and management. In the Philippine context, this is an imperative.

For example, if you visit Tacloban today, you will see in the northern area where there are sunken ships, a sign has been erected “NO BUILD ZONE.” Yet, I have been told that the poor have once again converted the area into a shanty town. We are an archipelago and there is an understandable gravitation by the poor to build in the coastal areas. It is time we transform our people’s mindset and refrain from building in coastal areas.

During a killer typhoon, it is foreseeable that coconut trees will be destroyed.  It is important we have alternatives for the coconut industry which is responsible for a significant number dependent for their livelihood.  The planting of root crops is one alternative.  Again this is time for transformation.

Zuellig Family Foundation

I happen to chair the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), which has focused on rural health, and we measure our success on the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG). For the last five years, we have worked with some 40 municipalities (in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) and successfully lowered the aggregate maternal mortality ratio in these areas from a high of 180 (per 100,000 live births) to 53, which is one percentage  above the MDG target of 52 by 2015. The Philippine national average is 221. Noting our success rate, the Department of Health has asked us to assist them in improving public health systems in over 600 municipalities using the Health Change Model to build the capacity of local chief executives. Enhanced leadership competencies allow mayors and their health teams to transform their public health systems to incorporate resiliency. Once responsive programs are institutionalized, the sustainability of health outcomes can be ensured even in times of disasters.

ZFF’s Health Change Model as implemented through its Health Leadership and Governance Program, and the strategic partnership between DOH and ZFF offer useful lessons for building resilience at the local level.

The first lesson is the importance of building on best practices at the local level to develop a pilot program that can be replicated and scaled up, and eventually mainstreamed throughout the country. The aim is to showcase successes and share lessons learned at the local level. Another lesson is the empowerment of local government units, led by competent and committed local chief executives to take ownership of and drive the process of achieving well-defined program results.

A third lesson is the need to set time-bound targets and measure results to track and sustain progress. Another useful lesson is the timely delivery of an integrated package of support measures, from policy and advocacy at the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels to training, coaching and mentoring, in order to equip local chief executives with the capability to effectively lead program implementation and, in the process, institutionalize the desired changes at the local level.

And finally, the experience of ZFF underscores the importance of local ownership and public-private partnership to move an ambitious program forward.  While the challenge of building disaster and climate resilience is perhaps more complex, the ZFF Health Change Model and the joint program between the DOH and ZFF on Health Leadership and Governance offer valuable lessons that can provide a useful roadmap to resilience.

Upcoming conference: ‘Partnerships for Disaster and Climate Resilience’

On July 9-10, the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development, the Zuellig Family Foundation and the Manila Observatory in cooperation with PLDT, AIG Philippines Insurance and Federal Phoenix Assurance will host a conference on resilience.  We envision  partnerships with the private sector, NGOs, the Church and multilateral organizations.  Aware that one conference cannot achieve our objectives, it is our intention to have a three year program of workshops and pilot programs in selected municipalities.

We have two speakers from abroad: Professor Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, vice-chairman of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Professor Satoru Mimura from the Fukushima Future Center for Regional Revitalization.  To date, from the government, we will have Dr. Arsenio Balisacan of NEDA and Governor Joey Salceda.

Ms. Luiza Carvalho of the UNDP and Dr. Stephen Groff of ADB have also accepted. On June 10, the morning session will be moderated by Tina Monzon Palma with the panelists reacting to the remarks of Prof. Van Ypersele, Dr. Groff and a third personality to be named closer to the date. The afternoon session will be moderated by Mrs. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga of the Manila Observatory. There will be two panels; the first will cover health, education and ICT infrastructure. The second panel will cover resources, infrastructure, insurance, livelihood programs and microfinance.  Among the panelists are Father Jose Ramon Villarin S.J. of Ateneo,  Professor Ernesto Garilao of Zuellig Family Foundation, Rolando Pena of PLDT, Edgar Chua of Shell Philippines,  Domingo Diaz of Land Bank and Dr. Aristotle Alip of CARD-MRI.   We encourage interactive dialogue between the attendees, the speakers and panelists.

For  those interested to attend, please email Mel Reyes at [email protected].