DAGUPAN CITY - An official from USAID and project PROMISE coordinators from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam and Bangladesh were impressed by the effective and expeditious implementation of the disaster preparedness project of the city during their field visit in Dagupan on October 5.

The visit to Dagupan followed after the first Annual Working Group Meeting (WGM) of PROMISE (Program for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Mitigation in Secondary Cities in Asia) coordinator on October 2 to 4 in Manila.

Dagupan City is being benchmarked by the international project implementors because the city is ahead in the implementation of the project among the five implementing cities in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Philippines, PROMISE-Dagupan focal person Emma Molina said.

The visiting delegates went to the PROMISE-Dagupan pilot areas, Tebeng, Salisay, Mangin, Bacayao Norte, Bacayao Sur, Lasip Grande, Lasip Chico and Pogo Grande. Each of the barangays presented a certain topic.

Barangay Tebeng reported on early warning system. Salisay on the duties and functions of the Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council (BDCC), and Mangin on the evacuation system.

Bacayao Norte presented its “Kabuhayan, Kaugalian and Kalusugan,” and “Social Venn” diagram, while Bacayao Sur did a role playing and simulated an evacuation drill.

Lasip Chico presented its “Timeline”, Lasip Grande showed its “Hazard Map”, while Pogo Grande reported on risk assessment.

Aside from the barangay visits, the delegates attended an overall update on the first phase implementation of the project and a press conference. The delegates expressed how they greatly admire the commitment of the city government and the communities in upholding disaster preparedness.

“From what we have seen, I think we made a right choice with Dagupan. We see a strong involvement not only from the community but also from the local government,” said Robert Barton, regional advisor for Asia-Pacific of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).

Barton added that the citizens of Dagupan, especially the pilot areas are very committed to disaster preparedness and working together to mitigate the effects of disasters even as he expressed confidence that project PROMISE will be a success in Dagupan.

B.M.M. Mozharul Huq, the project PROMISE coordinator in Bangladesh was gratified with the knowledge imparted by the pilot barangays on what to do before, during and after a calamity hit, while Duong Thi Hoai Trang from Vietnam admired the intense participation for the project coming from both the community level and city level.

“We are happy that our visitors are pleased with what they have been. Therefore, we should continue to advocate this kind of program,” Mayor Benjamin S. Lim said in his message.

USAID-funded project PROMISE will be implemented for two years by the city government of Dagupan in coordination with the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). The program emphasizes the importance of preparedness of the community for hydro-met related disasters.

The other cities in Asia which are also implementing the project are Chittagong (Bangladesh), Hyderabad (Pakistan), Kalutara (Sri Lanka) and Da Nang (Vietnam).

Participants during WGM included: Humanitarian Assistance Program Manager Benjamin Kauffeld, Program Resources Management Office chief Laura Coughlin, and Robert Barton. USAID: Saidur Rahman, B.M.M. Mozharui Huq, Ashekur Rahman, and Ian Rector. Bangladesh: Masood Mahesar, Khizer Omer, Mohammad Hussain, Syed and A. Karim Nayani. Pakistan: H.M.L. Indrathilake, Achala Navaratna and M.M.M. Jauffer. Sri Lanka: Duong Thi Hoai Trang. Vietnam: Marie France Biron and Gaby Breton of Canadian Cente for International Studies.

From the Philippines were: Mayor Lim, City Agriculturist Emma Molina, City Information Office head Orpheus Velasco, CDP’s Lorna Victorio, Fe Andaya and Mayfouth Luneta, and ICLEI Local Government for Sustainability operation manager Victor Aquitania.

Participants from ADPC included director and team leader NMSI Arambepola, project manager K. Iftekhar Ahmed, Muihibuddin, Bin Usamah, Information and networking coordinator Gabrielle Iglesias, program administrative coordinator Suree Sungcharoen and M&E consultant Manel Javamana.

Other participants from CDP were research assistant Grace Molina and administrative data bank officer Jelyne Gealone. (CIO/Sunshine D. Robles)