MANILA, Philippines - A Singapore-based foundation is working on a joint project with two government agencies in building earthquake-resistant buildings in the country.
Benedict Cheong, Temasek Foundation chief executive officer, said the program dubbed “Earthquake-resistant Techniques for Low-rise Buildings,” aims to make community schools and health facilities earthquake-proof.
“When a disaster happens, many international agencies and foundations respond with support in terms of food, shelter, water… but we thought of helping other countries in their disaster preparedness efforts,” Cheong told reporters.
However, Cheong refused to give further details about the partnership as the project has yet to be approved by the foundation.
Cheong said the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has developed a cost-effective, wall-strengthening reinforcement technology for low-rise buildings that prevents or delays the collapse of buildings in an earthquake.
“It allows building occupants, for example students, 10 minutes to escape,” said Cheong.
Cheong said the program aims to transfer this expertise to Filipino builders.
He said the program was already implemented in Sumatra in Indonesia and Sichuan province in China.
According to Cheong, the master instructors or engineers from local universities develop capabilities to apply the technique and in turn, transfer the expertise to local masons or builders.
Aside from programs on disaster preparedness, Temasek Foundation is also developing a program on training social workers who deal with disaster victims in the next two to three years.
Gerald Yeo, Temasek Foundation director for programs and partnerships, said the Philippines is one of the countries being considered for the new program.
The geographical location of the Philippines makes it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.
An average of 20 tropical cyclones usually enters the Philippine area of responsibility every year, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
On the other hand, about 20 earthquakes strike the country daily but only a few are felt, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
Cheong said that for the past two years, the foundation has implemented three projects in the Philippines.
Last Monday, the Temasek Foundation and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority launched the Train the Trainer Program that aims to develop, enhance and upgrade the pedagogical and technical competencies of Filipino trainers and improve their training modules.
The foundation has allocated some $583,000 for the program.
In January 2008, the foundation, in partnership with the Ateneo de Manila University and the National Institute of Education in Singapore, launched the Leaders and Educators in Asia Program (LEAP), which involved the training of 80 teachers from public elementary schools in Quezon City.
In 2007, the foundation also partnered with the St. Paul University for the training of some 160 nurse leaders, trainers and clinical instructors from the cities of Manila and Angeles in Pampanga to upgrade their nursing management pedagogy and clinical skills.
Established in 2007 by Temasek Holdings, the Temasek Foundation is a non-profit philanthropic organization that contributes to communities in Asia in four areas, namely human development; improving organizations; building connection among people of diverse races, languages, religions and cultures; and disaster preparedness.
Aside from the Philippines, the foundation has also assisted in several programs in various countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea and Taiwan.
“Relationships are what we build in the programs,” Cheong said.