Disaster management experts hail Sagip Batis

A team of international disaster management experts cited yesterday the Sagip Batis (Saving the Streams) program of the Quezon City government as among the most sound practices in reducing the risk of casualties in times of disaster.

US-based Earthquake and Mega-Cities Initiative (EMI) said the Sagip Batis Program implemented by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. reduces the risk to residents during earthquakes, floods and other calamities that may hit Metro Manila.

The team headed by Foauad Bendimerad held a meeting yesterday with Quezon City officials to report on sound practices being adopted by the local government for disaster mitigation and for the implementation of the Comprehensive Disaster Risk Master Plan for Metro Manila.

Quezon City, Makati and Marikina are the pilot areas for the disaster management program.

Neil Britton, a member of the team and coordinator of the Japan-based International Disaster Reduction Strategies Research, said Sagip Batis is now being introduced to other mega-cities in the world for possible replication.

The program, known as Saving the Streams outside the country, involves a massive clean-up of rivers and streams in Quezon City. It began in April 2003 and involves the participation of 1,000 volunteer-residents living along waterways.

The program consist of two phases — the actual clean-up of the waterways by volunteers and heavy equipment and maintaining the water quality of the river.

"The idea has caught the attention of the national level agency — the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which now promotes the practice for the entire metropolis," the report said.

Britton said the program will be made available to 20 mega-cities in the world through the Internet.

Welcoming the visiting team of experts were Mayor Belmonte and deputy city administrator Pacifico Maghacot. The team included Jim Buika and Jeanette Fernandez of the Pacific Disaster Center in Hawaii and former Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology director Raymundo Punongbayan, who is now EMI executive director.