・ FEATURE ・ Disaster Risk Reduction : PHILIPPINES capacity to survive for at least three days without management issues related to the aquaculture indus- any outside help. In order not to depend solely on the try, for example, on how much revenue to allocate government or military assistance, they have intro- to purchase fry and bait for the next fishing season. Creating a Typhoon-Resilient duced action plans with timelines, in which the roles Now, as envisioned, some locals are successfully of the mayor and each city bureau during and after a making a living in aquaculture. Hosokawa proudly disaster are described in chronological order, based recounts, “In a town called Guiuan, the whole com- Aquaculture Industry on the Japanese model. munity began to flourish thanks to the fisheries busi- ness with the fish cage as its basis. Local women got involved in processing fish raised in the cages, and DISASTER MITIGATION WITH SUBMERSIBLE FISH CAGES: they also raised young fish.” A SENSE OF MUTUAL HELP IS ALSO KEY Similarly, Philippine oyster cultivation is sup- In 2014, in an effort to support the rehabilita- ported by the city of Higashi-Matsushima, where the tion and recovery of local residents’ means of liveli- industry thrives. The city has hosted trainees from hood, JICA began implementing projects that were the Philippines at its aquaculture sites and process- aimed at promoting the cultivation of oysters and ing facilities. In some cases, local fishers acted as milkfish, popular seafood for many Filipinos. These instructors to share knowledge of how best to cul- projects incorporate special measures to help local tivate oysters. Advising their Filipino counterparts residents prepare for disasters of the same magni- involved in aquaculture, the Japanese fishers talked tude as Typhoon Yolanda. Specifically, a new ap- about selecting suitable locations for cultivation, proach for milkfish cultivation is the use of submers- different kinds of quality oyster spats, and improve- ible fish cages. This type of fish cage was developed ments such as how to attach as many spats as pos- first by Nitto Seimo Co., Ltd., a fishnet company in sible on the ropes. Thanks to these efforts, large Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The cage oysters are now being cultivated in the field and are submerges and resurfaces easily using a technology sold to local restaurants in the Philippines. In addi- Tacloban originally developed for pacific bluefin tuna cultiva- tion to raw oysters, cheesed and smoked oysters have tion in typhoon-prone Japan. By lowering itself as become popular items on local restaurants’ menus. Using the experience of Higashi-Matsushima as the typhoon approaches, the cage becomes less vul- Atsutoshi Hirabayashi, JICA’s senior advisor, says, reference, local Filipino Philippines Project Areas nerable to the effects of waves. Apart from the JICA “In the process of building a value chain from pro- residents in the disaster- project, in September 2013, Nitto Seimo had set up duction to processing to sales in the community, a stricken area check to see submersible fish cages for its own business in Pala- sense of mutual cooperation has been strengthened if evacuation routes are wan Island in the Philippines. The cages remained among the local residents. Such collaboration helps free of obstacles. intact despite the fierce waves of Typhoon Yolanda. people recover from a disaster in a sustainable way.” Submersible fish cage Fukuyama is a sister city of Tacloban, so it was only He adds, “Mutual help is essential in building a com- introduced in the Philippines. Tied with natural for Nitto Seimo to join in this project aimed munity that is well prepared for natural disasters.” ropes, the fish cage is n November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon that work entailed formulating rebuilding plans, at rehabilitating the aquaculture industry. Although JICA’s project on rehabilitation and designed to float and sink. Yolanda hit the central Philippines. Tides refurbishing public facilities, and supporting efforts Takashi Hosokawa, who works in the Net Re- recovery from Typhoon Yolanda officially ended in as high as six meters swept into urban for the recovery of the livelihood of the people. search and Development Section of the Technical February of 2017, the city of Higashi-Matsushima Oareas, leaving devastating damage. Disaster-hit Using hazard maps that the project produced, Department at Nitto Seimo’s Hakodate factory, re- continues its commitment to oyster cultivation in the Filipino regions are working to build communi- land-use plans and evacuation plans were made flects on the work. “If we had imported parts and Philippines through a grassroots cooperation initia- ties that can avert future disasters and to restore for areas severely affected by high tides, including materials from Japan for the submersible fish cages, tive with an NPO based in Ishinomaki City, another aquaculture, the basis of the local industry. See- Tacloban City and the towns of Tanauan and Palo. costs would have been higher,” he said. “That’s why city in Miyagi Prefecture that was devastated by the ing a need they can relate to, Japanese communi- These plans addressed the relocation of residents we started by doing field research and product devel- 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. This initiative is Left: Evacuation center ties hit by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, living within 40 meters from the coastline and indi- opment. That way, we were able to make the cages part of The JICA Partnership Program, which aims to during Typhoon Ruby. along with fishnet makers from Hiroshima Pre- cated evacuation locations and routes. using locally available materials.” support local communities in developing countries. Lessons learned from fecture, are helping to rebuild the battered Fili- In making those plans, JICA was guided by the In addition to using local building materials for Tacloban City and the surrounding areas are Typhoon Yolanda pino regions. experience of Higashi-Matsushima, a city in Japan’s the compressors that submerse the fish cages, the now experiencing post-disaster economic recovery allowed better Miyagi Prefecture that was devastated in 2011 by the project uses devices that are compatible with the with domestic investment flowing in from across management of the evacuation center. Great East Japan Earthquake. The Philippines’ offi- fishing boat engines which are already familiar to the country for hotel construction and other related Right: Meeting LEARNING SELF-RELIANCE FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF cials in charge of rebuilding, such as municipal offi- local fishermen. This work culminated in October of support. However, the wounds of the people are not convened for Typhoon cers in charge of disaster risk reduction management 2014 when a total of 40 remodeled cages were set up entirely healed, and their livelihoods are yet to fully Ruby. Alfred Romualdez, HIGASHI-MATSUSHIMA and planning, had previously visited Higashi-Matsu- in four disaster-stricken villages. Two months later, recover. With these goals as guidance, rebuilding ef- mayor at that time, is in On November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda shima four times to learn about relocating people, Typhoon Ruby (internationally known as Hagupit) forts in the Philippines continue to move ahead in the right-hand corner (internationally known as Haiyan) struck four Fili- planning for rebuilding, and promoting disaster re- with an equivalent power of Typhoon Yolanda ap- partnership with Japanese companies and the city of in a red shirt. To his left, with folded arms, is pino islands including Leyte and Samar. According duction measures. proached the Philippines, again causing high waves. Higashi-Matsushima. Bernadas. to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the typhoon In particular, Ildebrando Bernadas, an officer in Despite the storm, every submersible fish cage was had record winds with gusts of up to 90 meters per charge of disaster reduction in Tacloban City, intro- safe and undamaged while nearly all the convention- second. Its power was described as unprecedented. duced a series of disaster mitigation measures based al fish preserves made of bamboo and metal were In the central Philippines alone, the number of dead on what he had learned from Higashi-Matsuyama’s destroyed. and missing reached 7,986 people. Approximately experience. The measures include evacuation plan- Since 2015, as part of JICA’s efforts to support 1.14 million houses were damaged. Immediately, ning, early warning systems, and strategic storage of small- and medium-sized Japanese companies doing Areas affected by Japan provided large-scale emergency assistance. In disaster relief supplies and lifesaving boats. Although business in developing countries in order to promote Typhoon Yolanda February of the following year, JICA started a project Tacloban City is a large port serving trade cargo and economic development, Nitto Seimo has been at- on rehabilitation and recovery from Typhoon Yolan- large vessels, the city remained isolated from all out- tempting, with the help of JICA, to further spread da in 18 municipalities in coastal regions including side help for three days following Typhoon Yolanda. submersible fish cages across the Philippines. The Tacloban City, which was severely damaged. With From this experience, Bernadas and then-mayor Al- company guides local businesses not only in how the aim of building disaster-resilient communities, fred Romualdez stress the importance of having the to operate and maintain the fish cages, but also on 8 JICA'S WORLD JANUARY 2018 JANUARY 2018 JICA'S WORLD 9.