• Registered: 2009-03-14
  • Posts: 9

Topic: HFA Priority for Action #2:...enhance early warning

MonPad's advisory to DRRNet Phils last 28 Decemberf 2008 relative to an article featured in Sydney Morning Herald dated 26 Decemberf 2008, entitled: "Disasters warning for Asia-Pacivic", with by-line of Mark Davis,Political Correspondent, prompted me to save the two-page news feature.
This for me is compliant to HFA's number 2 Priority for Action,i.e., "identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning". Now, this featured article of Mark Davis is in itself "disaster warning" or in the HFA lingua: early warning.
And because, by its essence, is a warning, as the title indicated, this saved article, prompted me, still, to have the two pages printed out, and subsequently, reproduced seventy photocopies.
My insight is that: early warning of Buklod Tao, in the past, came only in the form of megaphone siren and announcements, today, our early warning also comes in the form of actual reproduction and distribution of "Disaster warning for Asia-Pacific" - a print medium taking the twin task of information and early warning.
The subject early warning news feature is of course the result of a research by scientist Alanna Simpson, of Geoscience Australia.

The study with the real face of early warning "prompted the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to establish a joint disaster training and research centre - identifies Indonesia, the Philippines and china as the countries most likely to experience large-scale disasters"...

"Mr. Ruddd and Dr.Yudhoyono agreed during the APEC summit to spend $67 million to set up a disaster reduction facility in Jakarta. The facility, .... will aim to reduce the impact of natural hazards by training emergency personnel and carrying out research on risks and threats". So, we observe here, that from risk assessment-research-and early warning mix the two leaders here in Asia committed $67million for risk reduction. That's what early warning can do in a paper submitted to DRR champions.

Hopefully, the "Disaster warning for Asia-Pacific" now distributed to Buklod Tao cbdrm members and Buklod ng Kabataan, and to four lay minister of the Eucharist of our community chapel, would serve the purpose of early warning with a leaning on scientific research.

Now, hypothetically, had the same paper written by Ms. Allana would be read by the DRR champion(s) in the Philippines, would it enervate them to commit P67million for community-based disaster risk reduction and management?

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

Re: HFA Priority for Action #2:...enhance early warning

Last 23 January 2009, in a meeting with Congressman TJ Guingona, I mentioned to the round table panelists composed of Dir. Solidum of PHIVOLCS, Usec. Yumul of DOST, Nilo of PAGASA and the Quick Response Team plus reps. from UP-NIGS. During my intro. about our org, I mentioned that at present our early warning data on rainfall intensity in the mountains of Montalban, San Mateo and Antipolo and data about river water level during heavy rainfall, had been cut off by MMDA-EFCOS. Thus, we lost acces to this one important component of our early warning.

Bobby, Cong.TJ chief of staff, commented that MMDA has a bigger intelegence budget than the Phil. Army (?),the Armed Force(?).

as such he is wondering why the MMDA cut off this lifeline of early warning for our CBDRM.