PH Showcases Best Practices at the 2017 Environment and Emergencies Forum
Members of the Philippine delegation (left to right) (1) Ms. May P. Ofrasio, UN Focal Person-Philippine Permanent Mission in Nairobi; (2) Ms. Elsie I. Encarnacion, Director-Metropolitan Manila Development Authority; (3) H.E. Uriel Norman R. Garibay, Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP & UN-Habitat; (4) Mr. Patrick Lawrence V. Alzona, Acting Section Chief-Quezon City Local Government; and (5) Ms. Majella Pua-Diezmos, Deputy Permanent Representative- Philippine Permanent Mission in Nairobi
02 October 2017 NAIROBI - The Philippines showcased its best practices in disaster risk reduction and management and in building disaster resilience at the 2017 Environment and Emergencies Forum (2017 EEF) which was held in Nairobi, Kenya on September 26 to 28.
These best practices include, among others, the development of the disaster early warning mobile application for use by the Greater Horn of Africa region called the Regional Early warning, Action, and Communication Tool-Horn of Africa or REACT-HOA; Philippine initiatives in mainstreaming disaster waste management (DWM); and building resiliency in the urban context.
His Excellency Uriel Norman R. Garibay, Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative, conveyed the pleasure of the Philippine government in seeing the mobile app REACT-HOA take off and contribute to building disaster resilience in the Greater Horn of Africa region. REACT-HOA was patterned after the Philippines’ award-wining Batingaw, the disaster management mobile application developed by Cebu-based Tudlo Innovation Solutions and which was launched in 2014 by the Office of Civil Defense-National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCD-NDRRMC) and Smart Communications. REACT-HOA was developed by the Philippines through a South-South/Triangular Cooperation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Ms. Elsie I. Encarnacion, Director of Solid Waste Management Office of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, presented the Philippine experience and lessons in managing disaster waste following Tropical Storm Ketsana (Ondoy). She highlighted that TS Ketsana served as a wake-up call which resulted in the passage of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 and in strengthening of institutional mechanisms. She also shared current initiatives aimed at institutionalizing Disaster Waste Management.
Mr. Patrick Lawrence V. Alzona, Acting Chief at the Environment Protection and Waste Management Department of the Quezon City Local Government, presented the Quezon City Local Government’s experience in building resiliency through a holistic approach of sustainable urban development and planning that integrates development, environment, and disaster risk reduction and management principles and approaches.
The 2017 EEF was jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Program and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and participated in by over 100 experts, practitioners, government agencies, and stakeholders from various regions. END
For more information, visit www.nairobipe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineEmbassyNairobiKenya
Ms. Elsie I. Encarnacion, Director of Solid Waste Management Office of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, presenting the Philippine experience and lessons in managing disaster waste following Tropical Storm Ketsana (Ondoy).
Mr. Patrick Lawrence V. Alzona, Acting Chief at the Environment Protection and Waste Management Department of the Quezon City Local Government, presented the Philippine experience in building resiliency in the urban context.