THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) assured the public on Monday there would be continued efforts to strengthen ties with Japan on disaster risk reduction.
In a statement, OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said the initiative would be beneficial to the OCD, especially after the courtesy call by officials from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense.
“We are pleased with the recent visit of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense to OCD. Japan is one of our steadfast partners or strong allies in DRRM. We are grateful for their continued support of us. Their best practices in DRRM are invaluable and worthy of emulation,” Nepomuceno said.
VISITORS FROM JAPAN Philippine officials welcome visiting Japanese officials. From left are Col. Carlyleo Nagac; Tomoko Matsuzawa, director for Defense Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region, Indo-Pacific Regional Policy Division, Bureau of Defense Policy, Japan Ministry of Defense; OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno; Col. Miyuki Yoto, chief, Women Peace and Security Promotion Office, Policy and Programs Division, Policy and Programs Department, Ground Staff Office of Japan’s Ministry of Defense; and Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, OCD deputy administrator. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
During the visit, the OCD briefed the Japanese officials on various systems, mechanisms and efforts relative to the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management.
The discussion covered topics on earthquake and volcanic eruption monitoring and early warning systems; standard operating procedure for earthquake and volcanic eruption preparedness, response and recovery; evacuation plans and safe zones for earthquake and volcanic eruption; and ongoing efforts to improve earthquake and volcanic eruption preparedness.
Officers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan Ministry of Defense are in the Philippines for the Japan-Philippines Humanitarian and Disaster Response Cooperation Project 2024 from Sept. 1 to 7, 2024, at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City, and in Legazpi City, Albay.
The OCD and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have been engaged in several capacity-building initiatives as part of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management–Capacity Enhancement Project Phase partnership program.
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