Int’l conference on integrative disaster risk reduction mgmt set

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar, Philippines -­— Eastern Samar State University (ESSU), Main Campus, Borongan City will hold an international conference on integrative disaster risk reduction management on Sept. 3-5, 2014 at the ESSU Multi-purpose Hall with the theme, “Lessons from Yolanda: A Disaster Summit.”

Eastern Samar is one of the provinces in Eastern Visayas that was severely devastated particularly the towns of Guiuan, Salcedo, Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Hernani and Balangkayan.

Although still reeling from the aftermath of Yolanda wherein two external campuses of ESSU namely, ESSU-Guiuan and Salcedo, were heavily damaged, people in Eastern Samar are slowly trying to rebuild their lives with the help of international humanitarian organizations and its local government units. 

The conference spearheaded by ESSU president Dr. Edmundo Campoto, envisions to bring together government officials, experts and other specialists from Asia and other parts of the world to discuss the growing trend of people affected by natural disasters.  Specifically, it aims to attain the following objectives: 1) to get a clear understanding on the science of disaster and the global link of climate change to disasters; 2) to serve as a venue in sharing knowledge and experience from among international inter-agencies’ responses and practices to disasters in areas of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation through paper presentations on these thematic areas; 3) to foster awareness and involvement from various stakeholders on the effect of disaster to human condition and to find ways on how to sustain trade by creating economic opportunities and valuable resources in disaster management; and 4) to give due credit and recognition to the noble efforts of selfless and charitable groups and individuals who extended their time and resources in easing the plight of typhoon victims in Eastern Samar.

One of the highlights of the three-day conference is to propose and adopt ESSU as one of the lead academic institutions that will conduct and embark research studies related to natural disasters and calamities in support to the mandate and programs of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.     

For further inquiries, interested parties are advised to text/call Dr. Letecia Ladera, director for extension services of ESSU at 0927-3723558/0906-8506132.