MinDA eyes Japan-inspired disaster facility for Mindanao
DAVAO CITY -- The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is exploring Japan's advanced disaster prevention systems as a model for the proposed Mindanao Disaster and Resiliency Center, aiming to boost the region’s preparedness for natural calamities.
MinDA Chairperson Leo Tereso Magno, together with MinDA Board Member and Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr., recently visited Tokyo’s Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park.
This facility serves as a model
disaster headquarters, offering world-class emergency response capabilities and
public education programs.
Magno expressed hope that similar infrastructure can be adapted in Mindanao.
“Even if we cannot establish an exact
replica of this center, the core concept would be highly beneficial for
Mindanao,” he stated.
The visit featured a simulated disaster preparedness session, recreating the effects of a magnitude 7 earthquake followed by a tsunami, reflecting the 2011 disaster in Japan. Inspired by Japan’s approach, Magno emphasized the urgency of such measures for Mindanao.
“Gone are the days when Mindanao was
free from typhoons and other severe natural events. We must lay a strong
foundation for our disaster preparedness,” he said.
MinDA envisions the Mindanao Disaster and Resiliency Center as a central command hub, facilitating swift information dissemination and coordinated disaster response across the region.
Magno and Demerey were joined in their learning session by SGV representatives Marie Stephanie Tan-Hamed, Thyrza Marbas, and Kazuma Nakagomi, who shared insights into Japan’s resilient infrastructure and operational strategies. (MinDA/PIA-Caraga)
