Symposium with Philippine Public Safety College (2018/11/15)
Topics: Disaster Risk Management
Venue: IRIDeS (Sendai, Japan)

On Nov. 15, 2018, Prof. Shinichi Egawa in Disaster Medical Science Division and Associate Prof.
Takako Izumi in Regional and Urban Reconstruction Research Division made lectures for thevisitors from Philippine Public Safety College. The Philippine Public Safety College is a specialized
government educational institution and providing the Master in Crisis and Disaster Risk
Management (MCDRM) program. The visitors are mid-level managers to executives from various
government agencies such as the Local Government Units, Disaster Risk Reduction andManagement Officers, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, Department of theInterior and Local Government, Office of Cabinet Secretary, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Atmospheric Services Administration (PAGASA), Bank of Philippine
Islands. They came to Japan to visit the disaster affected areas and seeking the collaborative workand academic exchange with Tohoku University and other Japanese universities.
Prof. Egawa talked on the application of simulation technologies in disaster risk management.
Associate Prof. Izumi talked on the global platform and local context of disaster risk management.
The visitors composed of experts in governmental administration, weather and health showedvarious interest in the medical needs in disaster. IRIDeS fact finding mission to Philippines after
2013 Typhoon Haiyan disaster enhanced understanding of difference in medical system, medical
needs and disaster medicine in both countries. It is not possible to protect the physical and mental
health of the affected people without cluster approach. We discussed on the collaboration ofclusters and the improvement of resilience. Prof. Egawa demonstrated two types of simulations.
The total outcome of medical needs in Minamisanriku Town that lost all medical facilities by tsunami
was reproduced using system dynamics model. Another example was the agent-based simulationof outbreak of Ebola virus disease in a community. Prof. Egawa showed the effect of social memory
and people’s awareness on the outcome (number of death). Simulation software can reproduce
the sustainability of memory on disaster in a community. Even the model is representing theinfectious disease, it is applicable to many other social models to investigate the social resilience.
Associate Prof. Izumi lectured on the international commitment of disaster risk reduction, disasterrisk management in local context, the role of academia and stakeholders. The Sendai Framework
prioritizes the action to understand the risk scientifically, to manage the risk and to prepare for
efficient response with the concept of Building Back Better. Seven global targets include thesignificant reduction of damage on critical infrastructure, especially education and healthinfrastructures by 2030. We shared the importance of global framework and harmonized proposalof local decision making. The Philippine Public Safety College appreciated the lectures and wishedthe continuous collaboration with IRIDeS in the future.

Report by Shinichi Egawa (Disaster Medical Science Division) andTakako Izumi (Regional and Urban Reconstruction Research Division)(continues to the next page)Prof. Shinichi Egawa

Associate Prof. Takako Izumi

Visitors from Philippine Public Safety CollegeGroup photo