QC ties up with group to curb disaster risk

MANILA, Philippines - To address any movement of the West Valley Fault that may cause damage to life and property, the Quezon City government has established ties with the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI).

The EMl is an international scientific initiative organization established to advance urban risk reduction policy, knowledge, and practice in megacities and fast-growing metropolises. The group is a member of the UN Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and partner of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. As a scientific organization, EMI is endorsed by the International Geographical Union, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, and the International Union of Geological Sciences.

Mayor Herbert Bautista said he has ordered the assessment of all the city government programs and projects to know whether they are aligned with the standards that will guarantee a more disaster-resilient city.

“It is imperative that the city government should always be prepared to ensure lesser damage and zero casualty when there would be a disaster. Being the most thickly inhabited local government unit in the metropolis, Quezon City could have the highest possible number of affected individuals if ever a Luzon-wide catastrophe like earthquake would occur, given the fact that the West Valley Fault traverses the eastern part of Quezon City,” the mayor said.

Bautista expressed optimism that by building a disaster-resilient city compliant with the international standards, risks will be reduced in the long term, winning not only the interest of public investors but at the same time inviting private investments to come in.

“While the city government delivers the quality basic services for its constituents, the need to provide them the employment opportunity to earn a living is another thing. This is the reason why the city focuses on its economic policy that will encourage investments to come in. Transforming Quezon City into a disaster-resilient city is the first big step to take in order to attract more investments,” he said.