TACLOBAN CITY, (PNA) -– The government and Japanese experts are conducting a study on disaster-resilient feeder ports and logistics network in the ports of Tacloban and Ormoc cities in Leyte, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional office here disclosed on Wednesday.
The data collection survey, which kicked off last month, aims to establish an effective network in times of disaster, is being done by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Overseas Coastal Area Development of Japan (OCDI).
NEDA Regional said the study involves the formulation of prioritization guidelines for the development of social ports, formulation of prioritization guidelines for the development of disaster-resilient feeder ports, and development of standard design model for disaster-resilient port facilities.
“The OCDI will present the interventions to be undertaken by implementing agencies on the facilities of selected ports and the proposed standard designs to withstand natural disasters such as typhoon, storm surge, earthquake, and tsunami,” Uy said.
The DOTC and JICA will complete their final report of the study by end of December 2015. The next step is to consider providing development assistance to selected ports.
Aside from Leyte ports, the study also prioritizes ports in Iloilo and Estancia in Western Visayas and Tagbiliran and Tapal in Central Visayas. These ports were recently affected by natural disasters.
The prioritization of port development assistance takes into consideration the poverty incidence of the area, lack of assistance for investment both from the national government and foreign funding institution, population, distance from nearby ports and trading centers, land ownership of wharf, and local government support.
During extreme natural disaster, selected ports are acknowledged for its role in logistics, alternative to land transport, core of disaster management activities, and risk management. (PNA)
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