Tokyo Disaster Facility Eyed as Model for Mindanao Center.

Tokyo: The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said Saturday that it is exploring Japan’s advanced disaster prevention systems as a model for the proposed Mindanao Disaster and Resiliency Center. A delegation led by MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno and Board Member and Dinagat Islands Governor Nilo Demerey visited Tokyo’s Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park in Koto City on Friday.

According to Philippines News Agency, MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno stated that the facility served as a model disaster headquarters with world-class emergency response capabilities and public education programs that could be emulated in Mindanao. “Even if we cannot establish an exact replica of this center, the core concept would be highly beneficial for Mindanao,” he said.

The delegation’s visit featured a simulated disaster preparedness session, recreating the effects of a magnitude 7 earthquake followed by a tsunami, reflecting the 2011 disaster that killed about 18,000. “Gone are the days when Mindanao was free from typhoon
s and other severe natural events. We must lay a strong foundation for our disaster preparedness,” Magno emphasized.

Magno further explained that MinDA envisions the Mindanao Disaster and Resiliency Center as a central command hub, facilitating swift information dissemination and coordinated disaster response across the region.