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Philippine Disaster Management Forum (PDMF) Conference,
"DISASTER RISK REDUCTION THROUGH ADVOCACY AND COALITION BUILDING"
Ciudad Christhia Resort Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal, the Philippines,
September 4-5, 2003

The Partnerships for Disaster Reduction – South East Asia II (PDR-SEA II) project of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and the Philippine Disaster Management Forum (PDMF) are collaborating in organizing the Philippines Disaster Management Forum Conference on September 4 and 5, 2003 in Manila, the Phillipines to advance the community-based disaster management efforts in the country.

The Philippine Disaster Management Forum (PDMF) is a network of NGOs and individuals working on disaster management in the Philippines.

Objectives:

The PDMF conference is a consolidating venue that can strengthen the network in its pursuit to promote community-based disaster management and in laying down strategies and actions that can respond to immediate issues.

The specific objectives are:

• To formulate a framework for NGO coalition and collaboration in the Philippines, within the local, national and Southeast Asian context and perspective.
• To present, critic and re-formulate an alternative legislative bill on Disaster Management in the Philippines.
• To assess situations and responses of NGOs in the Mindanao conflict and lay the ground for the regional formation of networks of DM NGOs.
• To come up with internal policy recommendations and action plans towards consolidation and response of the PDMF as a network of NGOs.

Background

Disaster management practitioners have long realized the strategic advantage of working together in preparing and responding to disasters. Sponsored by the Partnership for Disaster Reduction in Southeast Asia (Phase I) in 2002, twenty six DM practitioners and advocates from the non-government and government organizations met to re-examine the current state of DM practice in the Philippines. This led to the formation of the Philippine Disaster Management Forum (PDMF), a network of NGOs and individuals working on disaster management. From the series of reflection sessions and workshops that followed, the group confirmed the need to bring down disaster management practices to the community level, making it more proactive and sensitive to people’s situations and needs.

The legal framework for DM in the Philippines was also analyzed.  This included an examination and critique of DM related bills in the upper and lower chambers of the Philippine legislature.  The results of these forums were documented and have helped significantly in improving the tone and content of the DM bills in the lower house. It was seen that advocacy and legislation were tactical ways in improving DM practice in the country.

The workshop and the forums served as groundbreaking activities for PDMF.  With funding support from Oxfam Great Britain, it was able to strike a stable ground in the months that followed.  Government agencies also came to acknowledge PDMF’s efforts.  For example, in recognition of PDMF’s commitment to CBDM promotion, the NDCC-OCD engaged the network in organizing the First National Conference on Community Based Disaster Management.  The conference proved to be a very stimulating venue for discussing the ways and means of improving and integrating CBDM in the current approaches of DM in the country. 

In the months that followed, the Forum lined up a string of activities that sought not only to promote CBDM but also to lobby for its incorporation in proposed DM bills in the Senate.  Advocacy, lobbying and information campaigns became core activities of PDMF.  The PDMF laid down its development thrusts such as:

• Legislative and policy development concerning disaster management in the country;
• Promotion of Community-Based Disaster Management as a viable approach for disaster risk reduction and sustainable development; and
• Partnership building among PDMF members for capacity enhancement, resource sharing and mutual support for common disaster management agenda.

PDMF aims to further move towards the creation of an integrated, responsive and proactive disaster management system in the Philippines through favorable legislative, executive and policy environment for CBDM.  The network believes that continued advocacy work could open doors opportunity that will eventually allow individuals and organizations to see the expediency of making disaster management a part of the nation’s development process.

PDMF is presently in the process of institutionalizing the network to effectively influence policies and programs.  More than twenty organizations have signified their intentions to support and uphold the ideals that the network subscribes to.  These ideals are spelled out in Covenant of Partnership, a document that spells out PDMF’s principles and values, objectives and commitment towards collaborative endeavors in CBDM advocacy and legislation. 

All these however are only decisive initial steps.  PDMF has to do more than just muscle flexing in order to make a bigger dent in the process of influencing policies and eventually institutionalize CBDM.  With the unwavering support of its network members, PDMF is confident enough that it will be able to satisfy its vision, mission and goals.  Only then could the network boast of its vital role in building disaster prepared communities in the country

Schedule of Activities:

Deliverables:

PDMF will submit the following documents and reports, according to the date specified:

Conference Secretariat:

The Conference Secretariat for the PDMF Conference will be managed and operated by the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP). CDP is a non-governmental organization and a resource training center engaged on community based disaster management in the Philippines.