Press Release
April 30, 2011

FORUM ON WATER AND WASTE MANAGEMENT
TO AID IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the recently held 2011 Forum on Post-Disaster Water and Waste Management, which brought together the research and development (R&D) operational communities from the Philippines and the United States will help in the nation's disaster preparedness plans.

Angara Chair of the Congressional Commission of Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said that the commission's participation in the event will help local disaster experts increase the ability to prepare and manage disasters.

The event was sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, the Experimentation Center, and the Office of Naval Research Global.

The 2011 Forum on Post-Disaster Water and Waste Management brought together the research and development (R&D) and operational communities from the Philippines and the United States in an interactive environment where current technologies and operational needs can be discussed.

Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Executive Director of the Manila Observatory (MO) moderated the round table discussions on the gaps between policy makers and Science and Technology (S&T).

Angara noted that the MO is a partner of COMSTE in helping to put a more scientific approach to disaster preparedness and management. The MO and COMSTE conceptualized the Philippines Disaster Science and Management Center (DSMC), which was launched recently to help the government and private sector collaborate closely and create a more focused approach to disasters.

The event focused on water purification and distribution, and utilizing new technologies to create systems that can be easily accessed in times if disaster. Angara noted that the event will help with one of the main priorities of COMSTE, which is the expansion of the Philippine Disaster Science Management Center (DSMC).

The DSMC is will also house a training center that will focus on scenario-type learning utilizing technology for disaster mitigation and management. Taiwan and Japan are already actively cooperating with training of local experts for situations like floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

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