Dr. Tanhueco at 1st Regional Conference on Natural Disaster - Indonesia

Dr. Renan Tanhueco, Assoc. Professor in the Hydraulics and Water Resources (HWR) Division of the Department attended the 1st Regional Conference on Natural Disaster last Jan 22-23, 2014 at Inna Garuda Hotel, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. . The conference has the theme, “Building Disaster Resilience in the ASEAN Region.”  The conference was hosted by AUN/SEED-Net and organized by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). As Natural Disaster is a new field of AUN/SEED-Net under Phase III, the conference was held the first time in this field. 

Dr. Tanhueco presented a paper on his research on Flood Risks, DRR and Climate Change Adaptation in Surigao Del Norte Province. The abstract of the paper is shown below:

Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in Local Development Planning and Decision-making Processes: Managing Flood Risks in Surigao Del Norte Province, Philippines

by Renan Ma. Tanhueco

Abstract

The paper shares the learned experiences on how to build resilience and reduce vulnerabilities through physical framework and land use planning in Surigao Del Norte Province. It presents key concepts and practice of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in local development plans and decision making processes. It also identifies gaps in knowledge and understanding of risk sensitive physical planning and implementation in the study area and how these were addressed through technical assistance to different levels of government with support from development partners and educational institutions of higher learning. Among the key concerns that prevented integration of DRR and CCA in local physical development planning in the study area include: a) the lack of framework and process for mainstreaming DRR and CCA in plans, b) the need to improve hazard mapping and develop flood risk assessments, c) the lack of technical capacity and political experience to deal with areas impacted by natural hazards and e) the difficulties of utilizing land use management (engineering and land use) methods to reduce disaster risks and adapt to future climate change related hazards.

Papers from various topics namely disaster management, debris and flood, drought, disaster management, earthquake, geo-hazard and tsunami were presented by participants from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.The next ND Regional Conference will be jointly held with Geological and Geo-Resources Engineering at the University of Yangon, Myanmar on 29-30 September 2014. 

Group Photo from AUN/SEED-Net Website

The natural disaster management is a new field of study in the AUN/SEED-Net program and funding had been allotted for this new field for research, scholarships, exchanges, visits. To increase participation of the faculty who have researches in hazard and risk assessment, DRR and climate change, the Department nominated Dr. Renan Tanhueco and Dr. Andres Oreta as contact faculty members in this area of Natural Disaster (ND) of the AUN/SEED-Net.

Cultural Tours

Participants of the 1st RC on Natural Disaster - AUN/SEED-Net

- Information from AUN/SEED-Net website