Making Cities Resilient Report 2012

CHAPTER 1 | Enabling conditions for building resilience
Resilient urban planning
The Urban Development Department implements the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Zoning
Ordinance (Z0) to ensure that new and existing facilities are CLUP and ZO-compliant before granting
locational clearances, which is an innovative feature of the City’s permit application process. The Zoning
Ordinance incorporates health and safety considerations and risk parameters into land use regulations.
It requires, for example, an engineering, geological and geophysical assessment report for high-risk
areas, although enforcement of this can be a challenge. Compliance with safe building codes is overseen
by the Office of the Building Official, in cooperation with the private sector and professional ‘watchdog’
organisations that conduct annual inspections, provide training and support in risk-sensitive planning and
construction, and manage a certification mechanism.
One concrete example of resilient site redevelopment planning is the Makati Risk Sensitive Urban
Redevelopment Planning Project (RSURP), a pilot project undertaken in a high-risk Barangay (Barangay
Rizal) that aims to reduce physical, social and economic vulnerability through comprehensive land use
planning and disaster risk reduction.
Health
Disaster management is incorporated into healthcare in Makati through the Makati Emergency Medical
Services Systems (MEMSS), which coordinates mass casualty operations. The emergency department
of Ospital in Makati serves as the pilot agency for mobilising the flow of medical services, supported
by Barangay health centres, which provide extension services. These have been assessed as ‘relatively
safe’ according to ‘safe hospital’ indicators, meaning they will continue to function in case of disaster,
have contingency plans and trained personnel. To help ensure public access to healthcare facilities in
disaster situations, the city has implemented a HealthCard Programme as part of the wider Makati Health
Programme. The HealthCard Programme is implemented citywide for all health care services and provides
free medical and diagnostic services and a 50% discount on maintenance medicines.
Coordination of disaster response across sectors
The Makati Command, Control and Communications Centre (C3) is responsible for central coordination of
early warning and emergency response. The C3 is a component of the Makati City Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office (Makati DRRMO), which is the implementing arm of the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council (Makati DRRMC), chaired by the Mayor. The C3 acts as the city liaison between
and among national government agencies, NGOs, private entities and communities in times of disaster,
to issue warnings to communities and coordinate medical, public safety, and technical rescue responses.
The C3 uses a variety of technologies for disaster management, including: real-time video surveillance;
a GIS system to track patrol units, ambulances, and rescue vehicles; and a radio dispatch system to
coordinate responses by monitoring and coordinating the distribution of resources.
Risk governance at all scales
A key factor in Makati’s resilience is the involvement of all levels and sectors of society, particularly
the active role of Barangays, which exist at a sub-city level. Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Committees are the implementing arm of the Makati DRRMC at community level. Their
multi-sectoral membership includes youth, environmental and women’s groups. Information, Education
and Communication (IEC) campaigns targeting local officials, schools and communities have been used
to raise public and organisational awareness of disaster risk reduction. Drills and simulation exercises are
also held on a regular basis. In collaboration with the Makati Branch of the Philippines Red Cross, the C3
delivers community preparedness and emergency management training courses at Barangay level. This
helps to ensure that all levels of the governance structure have a solid level of preparedness. In addition,
the city publishes monthly publications, brochures, and posters with risk management messages in
local languages and conducts regular Barangay Ugnayan (community dialogues) to discuss disaster risk
management issues.
Making Cities Resilient Report 2012 | 23