General Information on

East & Southeast Asia Regional Seminar on
Flood Hazard Mapping, 2009

January 2009

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration(PAGASA), Philippines
International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management(ICHARM), PWRI, Japan
Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), Japan

Background
In East and Southeast Asia, it is recognized that many destructive floods occur every year,
resulting in huge loss of human life and property. In order to reduce the damage caused byflood, structural countermeasures such as embankments and reservoirs have been widely used.
On the other hand, non-structural countermeasures like “Flood Hazard Map” (FHM), which
can provide information including the past flood records, flood anticipated inundation,evacuation routes and places, etc. to the residents, are also very important tool for emergency
as well as for long-term flood disaster management in any locality. Especially developing
countries, which are often attacked by severe flood disasters, are lacking of resources to adopt
both structural and non-structural systems in a desired manner. As a result, the poor people,
who suffer most, are the first causalities of such incidents. Since it is urgent to address theproblem, it is essential to promote countermeasures, which are effective, less time consuming,economical and environment friendly. FHM, which are found very effective tool in Japan andmany other countries, can be a tool in developing countries, too.
Under these circumstances, ICHARM has been organizing a training course on flood hazard
mapping for engineers from developing countries. A training course entitled ‘Flood Hazard
Mapping’ has been carried out since JFY2004. An individual trainee of this course is a part ofnetwork that has been established as a knowledge hub. Follow-up activities have also been
carried out to provide assistance to individuals and to update them advance knowledge on
FHM so that it would help to promote the use of FHM in each country. Two regionalseminars were successfully held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and in Guangdong, China withactive participation of former participants of FHM training course from eight different Asiancountries. A similar regional seminar, which is third in its series, is now being organized byInternational Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), the Philippine
Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Objectives
The main objective of the seminar is to strengthen the capacity of professionals who acquired
knowledge on FHM through trainings in Japan and are involving in flood management intheir home countries. In addition, the seminar will be the good opportunity to those whowants to share the experiences in flood hazard management, and to generate interest in theeast and southwest Asia regions in applying flood hazard map. Especially, the seminar willdraw upon experiences in strengthening criteria of hazard mapping i.e. (1) preparation, (2)distribution, (3) utilization and, (4) effectiveness and its potential benefits to every locality
1with different natural, environmental and socio-economic conditions. In addition, this seminar
will lead to exchange appropriate information required for preparing and utilizing effective
FHM in the regions.

Proposed Themes
Following are the proposed themes for the seminar● Methods of preparation, distribution, utilization and improvement of FHM and problems
concerning to its development and dissemination● Experiences on flood hazard management and/or good practices● Impacts of floods in different socioeconomic & environmental conditions of the regions● Advanced Knowledge &Technologies in Flood Hazard Mapping

Organizer
International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM),
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA),
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Supports
 ICHARM and JICA will pay accommodation fee and round-trip air ticket fare between
the designated airport of each participant's country and Manila Airport. However, thisdoes not apply to the participants from the Philippines. Transportation fee between
home and the designated airport will not be paid by ICHARM or JICA.
 ICHARM and JICA will make arrangements for an air ticket and accommodation foreach participant.
 Daily allowance will be provided to all overseas seminar participants according to theICHARM regulations. Honorarium will be provided to the invited lecturers.
 ICHARM or JICA will bear no responsibility for any injuries, illness or loss of theparticipants during the seminar.
 Costs related to the scheduled excursion involving all the seminar participants will be
paid by the local organizers.

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Schedule and Venue
Date: February 17-19, 2009 (Tentative Schedule is shown in the AEX I.)(Participants’ arrival: February 16, Participants’ departure: February 20)
Venue: Edsa Shangri-La
Hotel, Mandaluyong City,
Philippines
1 Garden Way, Ortigas Centre,
Mandaluyong City 1650,
Philippines
TEL: (63 2) 633 8888,
FAX: (63 2) 631 1067

(Notice: Don’t confuse with the“Makati Shangri-La Hotel.”)Language: English

Participants: The participant list is shown in the AEX II.

Report & Presentation Content:
Participants are requested to write and submit a “Progress Report” to ICHARM before theseminar by 10th February, and to give 15-minute presentation on the first day. The content of
the report has already informed to the participants.

If you have any questions, please contact to;International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM)
Ms. Sachiko Ebashi: ebashi77@pwri.go.jp
Mr. Daisuke Kuribayashi : kuribaya@pwri.go.jp

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