Building Capacity in Disaster Response

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002050 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/EX AND EAP/MTS STATE PASS EPA STATE PASS USAID USDOC FOR NOAA/NMMS USDA PASS FOREST SERVICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EWWT OTRA EAID RP SUBJECT: Building Capacity in Disaster Response REF: (a) MANILA 03478 (b) MANILA 03549 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Embassy Manila capped its assistance for the worst oil spill in the Philippine history by sponsoring a workshop for Philippine stakeholders to upgrade and update planning, response, and damage mitigation processes for oil spills and other disasters. Two oil spill experts from the U.S. Coast Guard and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist returned to the Philippines to facilitate a workshop, conduct consultations, and assess the spill site. Over 40 representatives of the Philippine government, oil industry, and civil society agreed to form a working group to seek presidential approval to craft an improved disaster plan. -------------- WORKSHOP FINDINGS -------------- ¶2. A broad cross-section of Philippine society participated in the workshop, held in Manila from May 21-23, including representatives from seven Philippine governmental agencies, including the lead agency for disasters, various environmental agencies, and the Philippine Coast Guard; officials from the four largest oil companies shipping in Philippine waters; and leaders from two non-governmental groups. Three representatives from international organizations also made presentations on available support and expertise in the region. This was the first time all of these entities met since the Solar I oil spill (reftels) occurred on Guimaras Island on August 11, 2006. ¶3. Facilitators organized two days of post-workshop consultations. These meetings served to consolidate, refine, and prioritize the workshop findings. Participants unanimously agreed to form a Technical Working Group consisting of all entities represented at the workshop and report directly to the National Disaster Coordinating Council Chairman. The group composed a final document, which will be presented at the next Council meeting and the group will urge immediate implementation of its recommendations. ¶4. The participants agreed that a revision of the Philippine national disaster plan is necessary and formed a Technical Working Group to review and improve these plans. The charter to formalize this group will be presented to Philippine President ;Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and will incorporate the following: a) The National Disaster Coordinating Council will lead the implementation of national disaster mitigation and response plans; b) utilize a unified command structure charging agencies and responsible parties with appropriate authority and jurisdiction; c)adopt a national incident management system that ensures participation of stakeholders in planning, exercises and response at all levels; d) improve preventive measures and standards for transportation safety to reduce future spills; e) clarify stakeholders' roles in the planning process; f) identify domestic and international scientific experts in plans at all levels; g) develop standard rates for service providers; h) pinpoint best practices for debris collection and disposal; i) identify domestic and international media management specialists; j) improve access to technical experts and information; k) develop baseline data for socioeconomic activities in coastal communities and house it in a central repository; and l) identify training needs for Philippine Coast Guard personnel, industry, contractors, stakeholders, and volunteers. ¶5. The week of May 28th, the NOAA scientist returned Guimaras Island with the Department of EnQonment and Natural Resource scientists to evaluate residual damage from the bunker fuel. Although the affected mangroves are showing some signs of stress and patchy mortality, most of the trees have survived the oiling and their recovery is well underway. From the onset, the NOAA scientist recommended that responders refrain from cleaning the oiled mangroves. Most of the oil that initially coated mangrove trunks and roots was naturally cleaned by the abrasion of tidal action, accelerated by a September typhoon. This visit validated the initial recommendation and no further action needs to be taken to clean or treat the mangroves: they will continue to recover MANILA 00002050 002 OF 002 naturally. Previously oiled sand and gravel beaches observed during the May visit also appeared to be much cleaner. The early manual debris removal and subsequent wave action have helped rehabilitate even the most heavily oiled gravel shorelines. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. The Oil Spill Workshop provided a structured assessment of the Solar I oil spill and a platform to improve planning and coordination. This post-disaster activity comes at an opportune time, since the Oil Pollution Compensation Act of 2007 became law on June 4, 2007. This legislation creates a local mechanism for the prevention, mitigation and control of oil pollution within the territorial boundaries of the country. The inter-governmental recommendations from the workshop can serve as the basis for crafting the act's implementing rules and regulations. KENNEY