Pact to make Mandaue more disaster-resilient

CEBU, Philippines — Several private stakeholders have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which aimed at strengthening Mandaue City’s climate and disaster resilience with the implementation of the National Resilience Council’s Resilient Local Government Unit Program (RLGUP) through the Adopt-a-City Initiative.

The NRC and the Mandaue City Government, together with Vivant Foundation Inc. (VFI), Visayan Electric Company (VECO), University of San Carlos (USC), and Carlos P. Romulo Foundation (CPRF), signed the MOU which is considered as a significant step towards building a more resilient Mandaue City.

In his opening message, NRC’s executive director Silvestre Z. Barrameda, Jr. stated that the people are at the core of building resilience through the public-private-people partnerships, and the whole-of-society approach, involving all sectors and stakeholders, is necessary in building resilience.

NRC, in a statement, said that the signing of the MOU signifies a shared commitment to enhancing the city’s preparedness and ability to withstand and recover from disasters, economic challenges, and other potential disruptions.

Through this agreement, it said that the parties involved pledge to work together in implementing comprehensive strategies and initiatives that promote resilience across various sectors.

In his vision of resilience for the City of Mandaue, Mayor Jonas C. Cortes shared, “In Mandaue City, we have been promoting sustainable urban living, mobility and resilience, and with the support of our esteemed partners, we are poised to make even greater strides towards our shared goals.”

The signing of this MOU marks the beginning of a new era for Mandaue City — a future characterized by preparedness, effective risk management, and sustainable development.

Each partner, organization, and stakeholders bring valuable expertise and resources to the table, creating a strong foundation for collaboration and collective action.

By working together, Mandaue City and its partners are determined to create a resilient city that serves as a model of inspiration for other communities nationwide, most specially for the island of Cebu.

Cortes and Barrameda are joined by the other notable signatories: Mr. Shem Jose Garcia, President and Executive Director of VFI, Engr. Mark Kindica, AVP for Engineering – Operations of VECO, and Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, President of USC.

Joined as witnesses of the agreement are VAdm. (ret) Alexander P. Pama, Senior Resilience Advisor of the NRC, and Councilor Jennifer S. Del Mar, committee chair of DRRM in the City Council.

With its MOVE MANDAUE campaign, the city has already taken its initial steps to address climate and disaster challenges – from having grassroots capacity-building initiatives down to the puroks to providing training for communities.

In 2015, Mandaue City was named as APEC’s Low Carbon Model Town, rightly recognized for the city’s comprehensive plan involving land use, green building, and transportation.

Also, in September 2023, the Solar PV Hybrid System supported by VECO and Vivant Foundation to Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School (MCCNHS) ensures reliable power supply during critical times like typhoons, engages the academe, and empowers the youth through the STEM strand of the school.

NRC is a science and technology-based public-private partnership that supports the national and local government, academe, civil society, and the private sector in advancing the intersecting goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, Making Cities Resilient 2030 and other international frameworks. — /GMR (FREEMAN)