Philippine School of Business Administration
Manila, Philippines

Dr. Raza officially opened the event. He welcomed everyone participating in the lecture: his class, the visitors from Lahore Women's College, and other Quezon City Local Government Officials.

He then stated that this event is joint venture between PSBA and Lahore Women’s College University for Researches and Exchange Programs in partnership with Quezon City Local Government Unit. He then welcomed to the Philippines the visitors from Lahore, Pakistan.

Arch. Rodriguez Jr. started his talk stating that there are people who find the Quezon City Plans to be outrageous and ineffective and blames the Quezon City Government for it; but where does the QC plan comes from? City Development Council is composed by a Consultative Planning System: Convention of LGU officers, Volunteers, and other stakeholders. This system is a consultative Data Generation and Situational Planning. This council is composed of people who really knows the geographical, economic, and demographic problem of Quezon City. This is to characterize the city and try to make an analysis out of this. Once analyzed the council will formulate a goal and act on the goal. These goals will make up the mission and vision of Quezon City.

The role of Quezon City beyond borders is to be the Green Lung of Metro Manila; the Knowledge Industry Capital of the Philippines; the Health and Wellness Center of Asia-pacific. City Land Use Plan has integrated Disaster Risk Reduction; this tries to maintain and extend the roles of Quezon City for its citizens and the country as a whole. This is the Institutional-participative governance of Quezon City.

 

Q: Prof. Rabia Asif to Arch. Rodriguez:

How does Quezon City manage to coordinate such a big group?

A: Sometimes it goes through heated debates, but we try to divide the group into subdivisions and each of the Sectoral heads have gone through trainings that would make them better for handling such a situation.

Q: Follow-up: In this participative system, is public opinion involved?

A: Yes, we try to include everyone, especially the minority groups. They would elect amongst themselves 50 representatives.

How do we measure good governance? That is the question raised by Cdr. Cuña to start his lecture. Philippines has a Seal of Good Local Governance. To get this a local government must pass three core and one of the three elective competences. If you pass the seal, you get the recognition and a bonus financial incentive.

The process is that the Department of Internal and Local Government does a data gathering and then validate the data and adjust it for calibration. Lastly, they are set for selection and endorsement for winners. Department of Interior and Local Government presents an LGU Performance Scorecard. There are goals to be achieved under the goal of winning the seal of Good local governance. The First is being the most Disaster Resilient Community in the whole country. Business Processing and Renewal has been hastened for the people. City Land Use Plan (CLUP) has been revised to be adjusted for many types of risk, Risk Sensitive CLUP. Local Climate Change Adaptation Plan and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in addition to CLUP.

 

Dr. Raza started explaining the Pakistan Local Government System. Tehsil-Union Council is comparable to the Philippines’ City-Barangay. Compared to the decentralization of grass root level in the Philippines, Pakistan has a completely centralized system of government.

Management and Collection of their own funds is important, being able to control the funds by the people who experience the problem and the values of the people who will be affected by it.

 

Q: Mr. Iñigo Espinosa to Dr. Raza:

Is the power to tax limited to central.

A: Yes, the taxing power is limited to the central government. The effectivity of the local leader is being impeded by the lack of power to address the area specific problems.

 

Quezon City being one of the Business Hubs of the country is being used as a measurement of the overall nationwide Ease of Doing Business matrix performed by the World Bank. Quezon City Local Government is implementing reforms for ease of doing business because of the drop in World Bank Ranking for 11 ranks. Explanation of how to start a business. RA 11032, if Local Government takes time for screening there is an automatic approval. Quezon City took time for reforms by making tie-ups with separate government offices that would hasten processing.

Having a One-stop Business Permit, added office assistant to help applicants through the process. Construction Permits, Building Regulation Office. One stop shop for Building Permits. BRO only covers simple building structure. Tie-up with Utilities Provider to ease the application. The reforms in process hasten it by at least 5 days. Electronic Payment Centers to allow payers to pay off-site and 24/7. These are perks given to those without delinquencies.

 

Ms. Leceneri Formento started the talk to by introducing the UN ECLAC. There are three types of disaster effect: damage, Losses, socio-economic Impact. Damage is measurable by physical units and translated to monetary value by reparation cost.

Losses are accounts by future value being put on hold. Socio-economic Impact-unquantifiable social impact of disaster. Damage and Loss Assessment translated into a Needs Assessment Study.

 

Ms. Nathalie Dela Cruz talked about the Methods of Assessment. There are different sectors: Infrastructures, Productive, Social, Manufacturing, Commerce, Tourism.

In order to assess the damage, they must assess the Pre-disaster Baseline and Post-disaster situation. Estimation of Damage and Losses Physical Asset and Sales & Production as Pre-disaster Baselines Calendar Of Reconstruction, Economic Performance Forecast. Comparison of Pre and Post Disaster.

Ms. Rachelle Oandasen discussed the following sectors: Manufacturing/ Commerce/ Tourism/ Productive Sector: Domestic Tourism, Reputation supersedes the actual, increasing the Risk Reduction Efforts would increase the call for fame of the tourist place.

Productive: Crop, Livestock, Fisheries, Forestry Damages: agricultural Land, Irrigation System, Harvested Crop Loss: yield decline/production loss, increase in production cost.

Q: Prof. Rabia Asif to Ms. Oandasen:

What is the difference between Damage and Loss and in an Accounting Sense which one is the abnormal and normal Loss?

A: Damage is Past and Loss is Future Production. In terms of accounting sense, all of which is abnormal loss.

 

The professors thanked everyone that participated and made the event possible. They iterated that the International Faculty Strengthening Program has been catering the increasing demand for Business and Public Administration program.

Saying also that there has been a mutual benefit for the exchange program being planned by this partnership. They said that they found numerous opportunities in the Philippines and that Philippines will have a bright future ahead.

Dr. Tabassam Raza, closing remark.

Why the need for the symposium? To establish your idea for the cross image the impact of disaster.

How to assess the disaster damage? When the hazard goes beyond the capacity that is when to call it a disaster. To show the other side of the story. Utilizing Media to Mainstream disaster risk effort.