Public-private partnership continues to plays an increasingly important role in reducing the disaster risks and improving response and recovery efforts. Following successive large-scale disasters in the Philippines, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) was reorganized as an umbrella organization in the private sector for disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery. The Foundation now provides a valuable private-sector vehicle and coordinating body to providing linkage to government agencies, humanitarian institutions, and civil society groups.

Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) has been engaged with the disaster risk reduction (DRR) community in the Philippines for many years. On March 11, 2016, PDC Southeast Asia Program Advisor Victoria Leat provided user training in Manila on the Emergency Operations (DisasterAWARE/EMOPS) system. This training is part of a new five-year project led by partners from PDRF and the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI).

More than 20 people attended the EMOPS training, which was designed to help participants achieve a working mastery of all software functions necessary for hazard and disaster monitoring. They also were exposed to advanced functions that will be used by administrators at a later time and they became familiar with the types of geospatial and non-geospatial data and information available to them. 

Following the training, participants were able to demonstrate their newly acquired skills and knowledge through practical exercises.

Project partners are working together to build skills and understanding, becoming better able to quickly access and effectively share valuable information to support coordination and decision-making about hazards monitoring and disaster operations.

For more information:

  • Read “Response and Recovery Remain Challenging”  (Haiyan)
  • Earthquakes and Megacities (EMI)
  • Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF)