PH, Japan sign pact for enhanced earthquake, tsunami resilience

July 29 ------ The Philippines and Japan have forged an agreement that would further strengthen both countries’ disaster resilience in Greater Metro Manila area, particularly in dealing with earthquakes and tsunamis. Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Officer-in-Charge Charge Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Representative Mr. Morishima Takanori signed the minutes of meeting (MoM) for the technical cooperation project at the OCD headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

In a statement, the OCD said the event marked the completion of the project’s detailed planning survey and the start of preparations for its expected implementation in 2026. According to Alejandro, the project will help institutionalize key measures such as strengthening infrastructure, ensuring continuity of services, localizing risk strategies, and developing sustainable financing mechanisms for disaster risk resilience.

He said the initiative supports the national government's direction under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has emphasized disaster preparedness and resilience. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also expressed support for the collaboration, calling it “a model of effective international cooperation for long-term national security.” Meanwhile, Morishima thanked the OCD for the partnership, saying that the stakeholders meeting and workshops they conducted have created a huge momentum on earthquake resiliency.

Japan’s disaster-resilient architecture has been a model for the OCD especially as the country braces for the “Big One”.

The term is associated with the worst possible scenario that may happen not only in the Greater Metro Manila Area but in every region or province that is vulnerable to high-magnitude earthquakes. One of the largest earthquakes recorded in the history of the country occurred along the Philippine Fault in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija segment in 1645 which spanned 100 kilometers long and generated a 7.9 magnitude temblor, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Source: mb.com.ph