The Department of Public Works and Highways, together with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and various government agencies met recently for the 2nd Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) Meeting on a Technical Cooperation Project for Capacity Development in Coastal Engineering for Disaster Resiliency.
In his report to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain said that the second JCC Meeting was held to present the first-year progress and initial outputs of the JICA-funded project which aims to draft a human resource development plan to strengthen the DPWH’s capacity and know-how in building disaster-proof structures along coastal areas in the Philippines.
Joining Sadain in the review were JICA Philippines Senior Representative Masanari Yanaguichi; DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Flood Control Management Cluster Project Director Ramo Arriola III; Regional Directors Loreta Malaluan, Ronnel Tan, Cayamombao Dia, Zenaida Tan, Juby Cordon, and Basir Ibrahim; Bureau of Equipment Director Toribio Noel Ilao; Assistant Regional Directors Melquiades Sto. Domingo and Ma. Margarita Junia; JICA Project Team Leader Tomoo Iba; DPWH UPMO Project Manager Dolores Hipolito; and representatives from the academe and relevant national government agencies.
The Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) and Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Project for Capacity Development in Coastal Engineering for Disaster Resiliency was earlier created on August 3, 2022 by Bonoan thru Special Order 152 in order to establish effective coordination and collaboration with concerned agencies/officials and ensure the smooth conduct of the project with Senior Undersecretary Sadain as Chairperson and Project Director Arriola as Vice-Chairperson.
Project accomplishments presented during the meeting include the conducted lecture series on Basic Coastal Engineering; completed Case Studies in Agno River mouth and Labrador Coastline in Pangasinan, Hinigaran-Tagda Fishing Port, Binalbagan Coastline/Seawall, and Aguisan Fishing Port in Negros Occidental; and ongoing Case Studies in Batan and New Washington, Aklan.
The JICA Team identified the selection of sites being considered for case study nationwide.
The JICA Team also identified the selection of sites being considered for case study nationwide, the country’s natural conditions which is the result of the completed detailed planning survey report, as well as coastal issues.
“I am happy to note of our substantial progress under this technical cooperation. From the site inspection, training in Japan, up to the three (3)-part lecture series that we had so far and of course, our case studies in Pangasinan, Negros Occidental and Aklan,” Sadain said.
“This technical cooperation is vital for the Philippines as a country prone to geological hazards like typhoons.”
“This technical cooperation is vital for the Philippines as a country prone to geological hazards like typhoons. It highlights the importance of coastal engineering and the need to put more intervention in this field, especially in an archipelagic country like the Philippines,” he added.
Other than DPWH, official members of the joint coordinating committee for the Philippine side are representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, Department of National Defense – Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Philippine Reclamation Authority, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Space Agency, and the University of the Philippines.
