• Registered: 2009-03-14
  • Posts: 9

Topic: 2nd DRR Ministerial Meeting in Malaysia

Next year's focus of the UN-ISDR is DRR in urban communities.

Buklod Tao peripheral high risk communities are urban.

There ought to be a long term and permanent risk reduction in these communities. But there are many factors to be overcome-
local government disinterestedness in DRR efforts for these communities, voiceless advocacy of Buklod Tao aimed at DRR because it is miscontrued by government as development obstructionism.

This new tact of the UN-ISDR to focus urban DRR next year is most welcome by us. Now, we have an INTERNATIONAL PARTNER and PARTNERS to help us advocate for a well-meaning DISASTER RISK REDUCTION advocated by the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

Eventually, the local government officials of San Mateo, municipal and barangay level, would be spurred into action meant for risk reduction.

Ten years of disaster response did not bring us any better in terms of risk reducrtion. The risks we are living with everyday are getting worse. RESPONSE IS NOT ENOUGH.

Our RESPONSE CAPABILITIES are no longer at par with the magnitude of hazards brought in by global warming and climate change.

  • Registered: 2009-03-14
  • Posts: 8

Re: 2nd DRR Ministerial Meeting in Malaysia

The Center for Disaster Preparedness has just hosted an exchange visit (CBDRM training and study visits to Dagupan City,Pampanga c/o PDRN and Mindanao c/o MSFI and Balay Rehabilitation Center to Batulawan Annex 1 and 2 Evacuation Centers and Barangay Panicupan and meeting with Mindanao People's Caucus to understand the causes/root cause of conflict in Mindanao.

Buklod Tao of Barangay Banaba, San Mateo, Rizal was kind enough to host the Participatory Community Risk Assessment and give feedback on the suggested risk reduction measures of the Exchange Participants from Central America, Indonesia and Afghanistan.

Noting that most of the interventions in Barangay Banaba are focused on needed disaster preparedness and short-term risk reduction measures, a proposal is now being put together to have a project with Buklod Tao to have a process of participatory design/redesign within the framework of having urban renewal with prominent safety features. Or if this is not possible explore relocation to ensure not only safety but also sustainable livelihood and wellbeing.

A call is being made to all partners of Buklod Tao to come together to support this project or to immediately coordinate supports to Buklod Tao for a more comprehensive and longer-term approach.

  • Registered: 2009-03-14
  • Posts: 9

Re: 2nd DRR Ministerial Meeting in Malaysia

Attention: UN-ISDR

The month of January 2009 is almost over. So far I have not heard yet of a plan to make good on that point of unity in the 3rd Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur to focus DRR activities in urban communities. For my community in Buklod Tao, one big step towards disaster risk reduction and vulnerability reduction is the purchase of that parcel of land at the fringes of Nangka River, and for Buklod Tao be empowered to parcel the land for our high risk members living at the highly erodable river banks.