Calls for disaster-resilient cities heightened
Asia Society and the Urban Land Institute spearheaded the second Annual Pacific Sustainability Initiative forum that convened urban sustainability experts from all over the world. The forum aimed to discuss new approaches and share best practices for creating livable and sustainable cities that will survive and thrive in the face of climate change and extreme weather phenomena.
Held at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila in Makati City, the forum speakers included former Christchurch, New Zealand mayor Robert Parker; Dr. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, who heads the Presidential Delivery Unit for Development Monitoring and Oversight in Indonesia; and the Philippines’ “Rehabilitation Czar†and former senator Ping Lacson.
Asia Society chair Doris Magsaysay-Ho disclosed the key role of the forum in the upcoming “Livable and Resilient Cities Competition†organized by the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council and other agencies with funding from the USAID. ULI chairman Charlie Rufino noted that the forum will serve as a significant platform for key leaders to engage in constructive dialogue, share valuable insights and experiences as well as offer practical solutions not only to promote partnerships but to help each nation become better prepared to face disasters and develop resilient communities for the future.
Photos by Ramon Joseph J. Ruiz
