Third Plenary Meeting of the Platform on Water Resilience and Disasters held in Quezon, Philippines

The Third Plenary Meeting of the Platform on Water Resilience and Disasters was convened on February 7, 2019, in Quezon City of Metro Manila, the Philippines. The meeting was attended by 78 people, consisting of those from 20 Philippine organizations, such as the Department of Science Technology (DOST), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the Davao City Government, and the University of the Philippines, and observers from foreign organizations, such as the Han River Flood Control Office of Korea, the Royal Irrigation Department of Thailand, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage of Malaysia, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of Lao PDR, the Typhoon Committee Secretariat, and ICHARM.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., the undersecretary for DOST, and Mr. Patrick B. Gatan, the project director for DPWH, on behalf of Mr. Emil K. Sadain, the undersecretary for DPWH, greeted the participants, expressing high expectations towards the Platform activities. They hoped that ICHARM and Philippine government agencies would closely cooperate in systematically managing and analyzing data and information of different fields, such as nature, society, and disaster, in the Pampanga and Davao river basins and eventually propose new scientific knowledge and effective policies for disaster risk reduction.

At the meeting, Director of ICHARM Toshio Koike explained the Platform activities in detail, including its background, relationship with other international projects, and expected outcomes and prospects. Senior Researcher Miho Ohara, Researcher Mamoru Miyamoto, and Research Specialist Tomoki Ushiyama also spoke about the results of their studies using the data collected so far since the Platform activities started. Project Assistant Professor Masaki Yasukawa of the University of Tokyo was also at the meeting and made a presentation on his research findings.

The latter part of the meeting was spent on discussions. Philippine participants proposed ideas for various activities, such as collaboration with a climate-change impact control project for the Davao River, proposal of a specific study area in the Pampanga River basin, and inclusion of the Cagayan River in the activities of the Platform. The observers also commented on the significance of the Platform and expressed their hope that similar activities should be implemented in their countries.

At the meeting, Director of ICHARM Toshio Koike explained the project in detail, including its background, relationship with other international projects, and expected outcomes and prospects. Senior Researcher Miho Ohara, Researcher Mamoru Miyamoto, and Research Specialist Tomoki Ushiyama also spoke about the results of their studies using the data collected so far since the project started. Project Assistant Professor  Masaki Yasukawa of the University of Tokyo was also at the meeting and made a presentation on his research findings.

The latter part of the meeting was spent on discussions led by the participants from the Philippine government. Inspired by the project, they proposed ideas for various activities, such as collaboration with a climate-change impact control project for the Davao River, improvement of the ongoing operations for the Pampanga River, and addition of the Cagayan River to the project rivers. The observers from other countries also commented on the significance of the platform project and expressed their hope that a similar project should be implemented in their countries.

The meeting was very successful in providing an excellent opportunity for those involved to share the vision and understanding of the Platform and have meaningful discussions on future activities it should address. The outcomes of the meeting will surely accelerate the implementation of the Platform activities.

(The following is part of the conference proceedings and the presentation material)
Agenda
Summary