ADRC Highlights
Asian Disaster Reduction Center Monthly News
● Announcement
Vol. 344
November
2021
TOPICS
Announcement

ACDR2021 Registration Now Open

The ACDR2021 website has been launched and registration is now open.
ACDR2021 will be held on 14-16 December 2021 using Zoom. Please register
using the link below.
ACDR2021 Registration: https://bit.ly/Regi_ACDR2021¶ ACDR2021
Registration Now Open
Promoting Cooperation
with AffiliatedInstitutions
Highlights of Fifth DRR
Seminar: Promoting
Disaster Mitigation
Strategies for Urban
Resilience

Asian DisasterReduction Center
Higashikan 5F, 1-5-2Wakinohamakaigan-dori,Chuo-ku, Kobe
651-0073 Japan
Tel: 078-262-5540
Fax: 078-262-5546
editor@adrc.asia
https://www.adrc.asia© ADRC 2021

(ACDR2021 Flyer)<Draft Agenda>
14 December 15:00-17:00 (UTC+9)
Opening, Keynote Speech, High Level Round Table
Opening1

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Continued

KeynoteHigh Level Round Table-Statements by Member Countries
15 December 15:00-19:00 (UTC+9)
Session 1: Developing DRR Technologies that Meet Local Needs to Create a Safe, Secure, and Livable
Society-Dr Mandira Singh Shrestha, Programme Coordinator, Climate Services, Mountain Environment
Regional Information System (MENRIS), ICIMOD-Mr Lilik Kurniawan, First Secretary, National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Indonesia-Mr Seong Sam Kim, Team leader, Disaster Scientific Investigation Div., National Disaster
Management Research Institute (NDMI), Republic of Korea-Dr Hasi Bateer, Asia Air Survey Co., Ltd.
-Mr SUZUKI Koji, Project Director, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)-Dr Nguyen David N., International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku
University "BOSAI ISO for Asian countries"
Session 2: Strengthening Disaster Preparedness: Education and Awareness Raising for Promoting Proactive
Disaster Risk Reduction Actions-Dr SAKAMOTO Mayumi, Professor, Graduate School of Disaster Resilience and Governance,
University of Hyogo-Dr Le Quang Tuan, Deputy Director, Department of Science Technology and International
Cooperation, Vietnam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA)-Ms Syuzanna Kakoyan, Head of the Department of Education, Administration of Activities withPublic, Regional Survey for Seismic Protection (RSSP), Ministry of Emergency Situations, Republicof Armenia-Comments/Q&A: Mr FUKASAWA Yoshinobu, Secretary, TeLL-Net/Specially Appointed Professor,Kyushu Sangyo University
Side Event: Public and Private Seminar for Disaster Risk Reduction
Japan International Public-Private Association for Disaster Risk Reduction (JIPAD) & United Nations
Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
16 December 15:00-17:00 (UTC+9)
Session 3: Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for a Resilient Society-Mr TAKEYA Kimio, Distinguished Technical Advisor on Disaster Risk Reduction, Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA)/Visiting Professor at International Research Institute ofDisaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University-Dr Renato U. Solidum, Jr., Undersecretary, Department of Science and Technology -Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS)-Dr Le Minh Nhat, Deputy Director of Emergency Response and Disaster Recovery Department,Vietnam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA)-Mr Abdul Malik Sadat Idris, Director of Water Resources and Irrigation, Ministry of National
Development Planning (BAPPENAS), Indonesia-Mr Jerry A Fano, Assistance Core Head at Office of the Project Director, Unified Project Management
Office -Flood Control Management Cluster, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),
Philippines

The ACDR2021 website will be updated as program details develop. We look forward to your active
participation in ACDR2021!
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Vol. 344● Promoting Cooperation with Affiliated Institutions
Highlights of Fifth DRR Seminar: Promoting Disaster Mitigation Strategies for Urban Resilience

Urbanization exacerbates disaster vulnerabilities as more people live in unsafe buildings, use poortransportation and roads, and are increasingly exposed to the threats of floods, landslides, and tsunamis. In
this context, what actions have been promoted to mitigate disaster risks and prevent the loss of homes,livelihoods, and lives? At the Fifth ADRC Online DRR Seminar held on 18 October 2021, attended by 127
participants from 14 countries, speakers presented various perspectives, tools, and approaches to promoting
disaster mitigation strategies for urban resilience.

Speakers of the Fifth ADRC Online DRR Seminar

Regional-Level Mitigation Strategies. Highlighting UN-Habitat's programs on urban resilience in Asia andthe Pacific, Mr KORESAWA Atsushi (Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, UN-Habitat)
introduced the Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI) which has been implemented since 2009 across
256 communities in 53 cities in 19 countries. CCCI supports cities in responding to the negative impacts ofclimate change by emphasizing participatory processes, sound analysis, sustainable urban planning, good
governance, responsive leadership, and practical initiatives at all levels. In implementing these strategies,
UN-Habitat developed a range of normative and operational guidelines that communities could use to assess
their vulnerabilities and make risk-informed decision in planning and implementing activities.
Mitigation Strategies in Nepal. In discussing the promotion of urban resilience in Nepal, Ms Pragya
PRADHAN (Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat Nepal) highlighted the recovery and mitigation
strategies for preserving heritage settlements that were damaged during the 2015 Nepal Earthquake. One ofthe strategies is "green-reconstruction" – the environmentally sound practice of rebuilding heritage
settlements that is linked with livelihood recovery. Ms Pradhan highlighted two key lessons learned in thecourse of implementing the resilience programme. First, development efforts must be accompanied bydisaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts to safeguard life and investment through risk-informed spatial
development planning, infrastructure investments, and economic activities that address the needs of all.
Second, urban resilience is multi-dimensional and entails strengthening social, economic, institutional, andspatial structures.

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Mitigation Strategies in the Philippines. One of the key mitigation strategies in the Philippines ismainstreaming DRR in urban development. Mr Ibani PADAO (Chief, Monitoring and Evaluation Division
DHSUD, Philippines) noted that DRR has been integrated into the National Housing and Urban
Development Sector Plan (NHUDSP). Since local governments are on the frontlines in the implementation
process, the national government has provided relevant tools and guidelines to be used in resiliencyplanning. These include: Mainstreaming Guidelines for Local Land Use and Shelter Plans; a Climate andDisaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) Tool; and a National Guide for Climate Resilient Urban Plans andDesigns. To share how these strategies and tools were utilized, Mr Christopher ROLLO (CountryProgramme Manager, UN-Habitat Philippines) presented the case of Legazpi City in developing andimplementing an adaptation strategy for flood hazards. Legazpi city utilized the government's resiliency
tools and guidelines to come up with systematic and evidence-based structuring (e.g., designing sites andbuildings to promote structural resilience, safety for users, and facilitation of evacuation and rescue). Inaddition, Mr Rollo explained the case of Rebuilding Marawi City following the siege in 2017 through the"people's process." This process empowered and promoted social cohesion, resulting in faster, cheaper, more
acceptable, and better-quality reconstruction.
Mitigation Strategies in Thailand. Ms PANNAPA Na Nan (Director, International Cooperation Section,DDPM Thailand) reported that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has been
consistently improving its disaster mitigation efforts, especially since the 2011 floods that greatly impacted
the country. Following that disaster, DDPM was sued by various stakeholders and faced about 500 court
cases. To improve its disaster mitigation strategy, DDPM leverages international cooperation support,
particularly through the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and the AHA Centre toimplement urban resilience projects (e.g., community-based flood management projects). Based on its pastexperiences and lessons from other ASEAN countries, DDPM came up with a range of disaster mitigation
strategies, including: integration of structural and non-structural DRR measures; promotion of synergies andintegration of efforts from all levels; adoption of a single plan with a clear line of command and control;
localization, and the creation of a unified disaster management system.
Reflecting on the questions raised by participants, Mr NAKAGAWA Masaaki (Executive Director,ADRC) pointed out that the phenomenon of people moving out of city centers to the suburbs during theCOVID-19 pandemic raises concerns about how to reconcile the momentum between the sustainable
development goals (SDGs) and urban resilience while avoiding urban sprawl. In making his call for action,
he quoted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying, "Today, we have the opportunity to reset ourthinking on how we live, interact, and rebuild our cities." Finally, Mr Nakagawa mentioned that building adisaster resilient society is the overarching theme of the upcoming Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction(ACDR), an event that will further provide opportunities to discuss initiatives and actions to promote disaster
resilience.

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