Visiting Scholar Dr. Ralph Brower and a Round table discussion

I have done organizing a conference. I have done inviting a visiting scholar in the college. But this is the first time I have organized a round table discussion.

Pre-RTD
I learned my new academic friend, Ralph Brower, Phd from the Florida State University that he will be visiting Manila this July. And I took the bold move to invite him for a day in our college, the Computer Studies, hub of the unnoticed students (by choice) in the campus. He had small worries, he was actually sensitive of his Filipino colleagues (he is very much concerned like a Filipino as well). And I assured him that his academic visit was to allow our CS community have an insightful exposure of his experience on voluntary organizations particularly during emergency management. I was glad and grateful that I was able to convince him.

Preparations in the university usually requires patience and resiliency especially when you request for budget. I guess I have those characteristics. And my RTD was arranged. Our reliable staff Hazel Ventura and Roger Damo, were always superheroes in most of my events.

RTD

The RTD took place last July 23, 2010, 9am-12nn at the Andrew Hall 1506 with a good view of Manila (not its finest) and the beautiful sky. We had attendees from the Lasallian Partners Office, Lasallian Institute of Governance, Lasallian Institute for Environment, the Phil. National Red Cross, the Social Action office, IT alumni,the college, and from Florida State University.

There was heavy discussion on the need for collective action. Efforts from the government, the LGUs, the NGOs or even the volunteers were typically dispersed and uncoordinated. This sometimes turn into a fatigue of participation.

As our center invited the attendees to become part of a network of experts and resource persons in the field of disaster risk reduction, the group also realized that even within the Lasallian community, we have our experts. Our experts may have to be enjoined to come up with a collective action to help our local communities.

Reflections on the RTD

Getting the experts attend the RTD is one thing, getting them to participate is another thing. And the next big thing is to engage them in real action in helping our communities.

In the country right now, the Disaster Risk Reduction Law had finally been enacted. And the provisions actually emphasized the need to empower LGUs in managing their resources and the other resources that would come in. It is because LGUs have different hazards to face and have different ways of dealing with these hazards. But the new law likewise has not included disaster preparedness in the provisions. And there is this great need to look into ways how to help LGUs prepare, teach their constituents adaptive and mitigation skills.

Also in the country right now, the Volunteer Act provides for the creation of an agency that will coordinate various volunteer and non-profit organizations. The law emphasizes technical cooperation and socio-cultural exchange. But there are no provisions on who to protect and care for the welfare of volunteers, provide for their benefits and even safeguard the volunteers during emergency and hazard situations.

Both the volunteer act and the DRRM law will have to be reviewed in the light of being able to response to the needs of the country.

Special Thanks

In behalf of the CITe4D, I would like to thank Dr. Ralph Brower, Dr. Audrey Heffron, Dr. Kiko Magno, Mr. Ben Eusebio, Mr. Richard Villena, Ms. Eden Battad, Mr. Sherwin Ramos-Yeo, Mr. Andrew Tan, Mr. Johann Dy, the MCO staff, and the Masikan and Sawatain thesis groups for making my first RTD a success.

I am also grateful to the support extended by Ms. Chari Cheng, Dr. Rachel Roxas, Mr. Oliver Malabanan, Ms. Marivic Tangkeko and Mr. Sherwin Ona, CITe4D Director.