Participants of the consultation workshop included members from the public, government and private sectors discussing how they can better work together to create a more resilient community.

Ban Pho Tambol, Ayutthaya, a community in Central Thailand, has established a public-private partnership committee to boost cooperation between community, local governmental administration, private sector enterprises, and government departments for improved disaster risk reduction.

A consultation workshop organized by Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in late March brought together more than 50 stakeholders to discuss cooperation in managing flood risk in the area.

A large number of community members are employed by a local industrial complex creating a need for public-private partnership to help manage disaster risk.

“We want to create a dialogue between the private sector and the community to better understand each other. The private sector has policies for corporate social responsibility and we hope that disaster risk reduction can be incorporated into them,” said Mr. Rewat Prasong, Vice Governor of Ayutthaya Province.

Mr. Rewat Prasong, Vice Governor of Ayutthaya Province, speaking to workshop participants about the importance of public-private partnerships during his opening remarks.

Cooperation agreements reached

Workshop participants agreed to collaborate to improve the dissemination of early warnings of natural hazards and to develop a comprehensive action plan for disaster situations. They also decided to improve public health services in emergencies and open a pre-established disaster shelter with standard equipment that can be used during disasters.

The agreements were created based on previous challenges during floods.

“It is most important for the community, government, and businesses to work together in order to maximize the capacity for disaster risk reduction,” stated Mr. Mana Puangkwansook, General Manager at the Thai Toray Synthetics Co. Ltd.

If either the public or private sector becomes incapacitated, the other will become impaired.

"The industrial area and the community rely on each other," said Mr. Akekaluck Montreechon, Ban Pho Tambol community representative. "If the industrial area can't operate it loses profits, and the employees lose their source of income," he continued.

“A disaster can happen anywhere and anytime, and it is time for us to start thinking about how to prepare beforehand,” said Human Resource Officer Mrs. Amornthip Paksuchon from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Thailand, emphasizing the need for improved early warning systems.

With funding support from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, ADPC implements the Program for Reduction of Vulnerability to Floods in Thailand to build communities’ capacity to respond to, prepare for, and mitigate the impacts of flooding and associated natural disasters.