The International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management-Japan (ICHARM Japan) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) organized an International Flood Initiatives (IFI) Plenary Meeting on Water Resilience and Disasters to discuss the current initiatives in the country to achieve effective management of water-related disasters.
The IFI Plenary meeting highlighted the water disaster platforms, systems, and models implemented in the Philippines such as the Davao Online Synthesis System (OSS) and the Hybrid Water-Related Disaster Risk Assessment Technology for Sustainable Local Economic Development Policy (HyDEPP).
The Davao OSS synthesizes data on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development measures. This system also provides data and information on climate change impact assessment, real-time flood monitoring & forecasting, and inundation prediction models.
Meanwhile, the HyDEPP project creates hybrid water-related disaster risk assessment models by combining climate change, hydrological, agricultural, and economic models. It conducts objective assessments of the effectiveness of investing in disaster prevention measures.
These platforms were developed by ICHARM Japan and designed to improve the management of water-related disasters such as floods which are common occurrences in the Philippines.
Dr. Toshio Koike, Executive Director of ICHARM Japan, highlighted the need to showcase the effective implementation of the project on the global level with the presence of high-level leaders to contribute to risk reduction and resilience enhancement against water-related disasters.
In his remarks, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. emphasized the Agency’s efforts to build disaster capacity, increase the resilience of vulnerable sectors, and fully optimize disaster mitigation opportunities in the country. He also acknowledged the need to do more.
“We find it critically important to involve the international community in making disaster risk management an integral part of national and international development policies, programs, and strategies,” he added.
The IFI Plenary session also provided an avenue to discuss scaling-up approaches and ways forward in developing and implementing disaster platforms.
The Davao City Mayor, Hon. Sebastian Duterte, also supported the initiative through Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr. In his message, he highlighted the need to utilize platforms to reduce the impacts of water disasters on the communities.
“The City Government of Davao will always support pursuits to strengthen the country’s disaster resilience and sustainability,” he added.
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