Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain has presented the Philippines' “build back better’’ approach in the planning for infrastructure projects at the International Recovery Forum (IRF) 2023 in Kobe, Japan.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the DPWH noted that this constitutes the “whole-of-government approach’’ which starts from the impact of the natural disasters and calamities.
Sadain said “that holistic preparedness is needed in building back better and increase the resilience as we emerge from the pandemic crises by integrating disaster risk reduction measures in the restoration of physical infrastructure, and into the revitalization of livelihoods, economies and the environment.’’
He pointed out that the Philippine national government in cooperation with the local government units (LGUs) had instituted a ‘whole-of-government-approach’ in the planning and programs in the implementation of the “Build Better More’’ infrastructure development agenda including projects that will enhance the capability for disaster preparedness.
The DPWH revealed that the Philippines is a steady partner of the Japanese government in adopting the Sendai Framework of ‘Building Back Better’ for reducing human and economic loss as a direct result of disasters.
During the pandemic years of 2020-2021, the DPWH noted that at least three major flood disasters occurred in the country brought by extremely powerful tropical cyclones that made category 5 landfall, which is equivalent to super typhoon.
“Typhoon Rolly in Nov. 2020 affecting Bicol Region; a powerful and deadly category 4 Typhoon Ulysses also in Nov. 2020 that hardly hit the heart of Central Luzon and triggers massive flooding in the areas of National Capital Region and Super Typhoon Odette in Dec. 2021 ravaging islands and coastal communities in the Visayas and Mindanao and flooding towns and cities across the country,’’ the DPWH noted.
“The disastrous impact caused by these typhoons to an estimated total of 16 million people in seven regions in the country highlighted the need to continue building resilient infrastructures in the country,’’ Sadain stated.
As session panelist on the topic “Learning from Experience: Long-Run Recovery from Large Scale Disasters”, Sadain reported that infrastructure development has been a priority of the past two administrations to increase the productive capacity of the economy, create jobs, increase incomes and strengthen the investment climate leading to sustained exclusive growth.
He named the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-assisted Pasig Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, now on its fourth phase of implementation and with the Manggahan Floodway and the river channel improvement for a length of 31 kilometers that significantly reduced the inundation and economic damage of Typhoon Ulysses in the Metro Manila Area as among the pre-disaster investment projects for risk reduction in the country.
Sadain previously served as the chief implementer of the “Build Build’’ program under the Duterte administration.
“At present, a total of 13 DPWH-implemented Infrastructure Flagship Projects are under Official Development Assistance (ODA) financed by the Government of Japan thru JICA namely Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River and Imus River (FRIMP-CTI); Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro River (FRIMP-CDOR), Pasig Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, Phase 4; Cavite Industrial Area Flood Management Project (FRIMP-CIA); Arterial Road Bypass Project, Phase III (Plaridel Bypass); Road Upgrading and Preservation Project (RUPP); Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Project, Phase I; Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao; Davao City Bypass Construction Project; Program for the Support to Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Marawi City and its Surrounding Areas; Cebu-Mactan 4th Bridge and Coastal Construction Project; Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project, Phase 6 (MMICP-VI); and Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project (Guadalupe Bridge and Lambingan Bridge),’’ the DPWH stated.
Aside from Sadain, the local contingent also included Project Director Ramon A. Arriola III and Project Manager Jerry A. Fano of the DPWH Unified Project Management Office–Flood Control Management Cluster. (Chito A. Chavez)