DILG: Multi-stakeholder collaboration to boost NCR quake resilience

MANILA: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) seeks to foster a stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration to strengthen earthquake resilience in the National Capital Region (NCR). During the Dagyaw Open Government town hall meeting in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan said the theme of this year's town hall meeting, "Quake-Ready: Forging Metro Manila's Pathway to Earthquake Resilience," engages the public and focuses on the critical strategies to prepare for the potential impacts of anticipated earthquake scenarios. 'Bakit mahalaga para sa atin ito? Nabanggit na nga kanina nung unang dalawang nagsalita, ayon sa datos (Why is this important to us? It was mentioned earlier by the two speakers that data showed) the Philippines ranks in the highest disaster risk index scores worldwide," Iringan said. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the West Valley Fault (WVF), which can generate a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, moved four tim es in the last 1,400 years with an interval of 400 to 600 years. The last major earthquake generated by this fault was in 1658. The WVF traverses Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, and Muntinlupa, as well as the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna. He said representatives from the different local government units in Metro Manila, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management, and Philippine Information Agency in the National Capital Region, together with SM Prime Holdings, National Resilience Council, ARISE Philippines, Women's International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction - Philippine Chapter, and Earthquake and Megacities Initiative have joined forces to establish a multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing resilience-building efforts in the region. The DILG official said the government has made significant strides in disaster preparedness through the "Operation Listo" (Alert), which covers protocols to address risks and hazards, particularly t sunamis, volcanic eruptions and localized weather disturbances. He added that the activity also sought to gather insights and recommendations from key actors and stakeholders, and document emerging challenges, innovative practices, and significant milestones in earthquake preparedness and risk reduction, as well as facilitate collaboration and partnership through the launch of the Metro Manila Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Resilience Network. 'Dagyaw is a platform for our stakeholders. We hope this discussion initiated would inspire many proactive steps policies and developing programs and actions all aimed at growing solutions to make us prepared in the event of an earthquake,' Iringan said. 'Dagyaw' is a Hiligaynon term which means togetherness, aimed at a more responsive, more transparent and more accountable government that will take deliberate steps to ensure that all voices are heard in governmental affairs. The conduct of Dagyaw Town Hall Meetings is a commitment of the DILG in the Phili ppine National Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership. Source: Philippines News Agency