Let’s build disaster-resilient communities in the country-Legarda

by Jason de Asis on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 7:14am

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, January 17, 2011-To work on the idea of building disaster-resilient communities in the country, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change urged the government, private sector and other organizations to follow the lead of MyShelter Foundation, United Architects of the Philippines, RP-United Nations White Helmets, and San Miguel Properties, Inc. in coming up with a green architecture project.

 

She said that they came up with the Design Against’ the Elements (DAtE) competition, which gathered talented student and professional architects who designed disaster-resilient housing communities, in partnership with the Quezon City Local Government and the Climate Change Commission with the said organizations, adding that the winning design will be the prototype for the disaster-resilient eco-village that will be built in Quezon City.

 

DAtE project is the kind of preparation we need stressing that the government needs shelters and communities that can endure the effects of intense heat, heavy rains and powerful storms. In the harsh effect of the climate change green architecture is essential for survival.

 

The Senator also pushed the use of green architecture in building other infrastructures, such as schools and hospitals, saying that there is a need to build schools that are innovative and environment-friendly by putting up rainwater catchment systems, growing vegetable gardens, using renewable energy and setting up a recycling program, among others.

 

She concluded that there is a need to focus more on disaster prevention and mitigation than on relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, hoping that DAtE projects can contribute to the nation and citizenry and not on what to gain. (Jason de Asis)

 



(Disclamer)

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