4. Promoting Cooperation in Disaster Reduction

4-2-3. SUMA Projects in the Philippines
1)

Organizers
Co-hosted by: WHO West Pacific Regional Office (WPRO), Office of the National Disaster
Management Council of the Philippines, ADRC, UN Office for theCoordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) Kobe Office2)

Basic Concept
One of the lessons from large-scale natural disaster experiences of the Philippines,including Mt. Pinatubo Volcanic Eruption in 1991 (900 death tolls), is that the lack ofeffective distribution means of humanitarian aid and relief supplies leads to confusion in relief
and support activities. It frequently is the case in major natural disasters that relief supplies
and financial aids do not reach affected communities and people in need of them.
Based on these experiences, the Office of the National Disaster Management Council of thePhilippines urged the member organizations of the Council to exchange memoranda foreliminating possible problems in disaster control. In addition, the Office has organized theInternational Humanitarian Assistance Network in order to facilitate activities of overseas
relief teams and acceptance of relief supplies. However, the health-related emergency supplies
distribution system is not managed effectively enough to cope with a large-scale naturaldisaster. Against this background, ADRC in cooperation with the WHO West Pacific Regional
Office (Manila) invited the local disaster prevention officials to a five day induction programfor introducing and implementing the WHO-developed Supply Management System (SUMA),
which has been successful particularly in South America, as a model for the relief supplies
distribution system in the Philippines.

Fig. 4-2-3-1 Lecture by Dr. Jean Marc Olive, WHO Philippine representative

3)

Dates
October 20 – 24, 20034)

Participants
Thirty-three individuals from the Government of the Philippines (Department of Health,Department of Social Welfare Development, Office of the National Disaster ManagementCouncil, Department of Defense), Philippine Red Cross, Custom Bureau, UNDP, NGOs, theGovernment of East Timor, etc.

5)

Details
This training project provided the following programs as an opportunity for governmental
and non-governmental organizations responsible for emergency disaster response to learn:• Software operation skills for the Relief Supply Management System (SUMA)

１０６

4. Promoting Cooperation in Disaster Reduction• Total Supply Management technique
Day 1: Oct. 20
1. Total Disaster Risk Management Approach
Mr. Satoru Nishikawa, executive director of ADRC
2. Current Humanitarian Aid Supply System in the Philippines
Dr. Jean Marc Olive, representative of WHO Philippine
3. OCHA’s Organizational Structure, Disaster Preparedness, and Disaster ResponseActivities
Ms. Takako Izumi, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, OCHA Kobe
4. Open Forum
5. Outline of the Relief Supply Management System (SUMA)
6. SUMA Operation (SUMA software operation exercises at the Headquarters and fields)
Ms. Ardi Voets, FUNDESUMA Consultant
Day 2: Oct. 21
1. SUMA Operation (SUMA software operation exercises at the Headquarters and fields)
Ms. Ardi Voets, FUNDESUMA Consultant
Day 3: Oct. 22
1. Total Logistics Management in relief supplies distribution(Logistic chain for relief supplies）
Mr. Gerardo Quiros Cuadra, FUNDESUMA Consultant
Day 4: Oct. 23
1. SUMA Operation (Warehouse Management Exercise）
Ms. Ardi Voets, FUNDESUMA Consultant
Day 5: Oct. 23
1. Field Exercise (visits to warehouses of customs, Philippine Red Cross, and the National
Disaster Management Center）
2. Wrap-up and Proposals from the Participants6)

Proposals from the Participants• To use and develop SUMA on a long-term basis, it is necessary to hold regularmeetings after the completion of the course.
• To facilitate effective relief supplies distribution, the National Disaster Management
Council and the Custom Bureau should exchange a memorandum of understanding on
smooth customs clearance of relief supplies from overseas.
• Successful cases of application of SUMA in different countries should be introduced
into lectures.
• It is necessary to promote the application of SUMA at both national and regional
levels.

１０７

4. Promoting Cooperation in Disaster Reduction

Fig. 4-2-3-2 Group photo of the seminar participants

Fig. 4-2-3-3 Lecture by Mr. Satoru Nishikawa, Executive Director of ADRC

Fig. 4-2-3-4 Snapshot of SUMA software operation exercise

１０８

4. Promoting Cooperation in Disaster Reduction

Fig. 4-2-3-5 Snapshot of the field exercise

１０９