DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said Saturday that it is exploring Japan’s advanced disaster prevention systems as a model for the proposed Mindanao Disaster and Resiliency Center.
A delegation led by MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno and Board Member and Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey visited Tokyo’s Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park in Koto City on Friday.
In a statement, Magno said the facility served as a model disaster headquarters with world-class emergency response capabilities and public education programs that could be emulated in Mindanao.
“Even if we cannot establish an exact replica of this center, the core concept would be highly beneficial for Mindanao,” he said.
Their visit, according to Magno, featured a simulated disaster preparedness session, recreating the effects of a magnitude 7 earthquake followed by a tsunami, reflecting the 2011 disaster that killed about 18, 000.
“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,” Magno said.
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. (PNA)