According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) records, floods remain the top hazard that could potentially cause disasters or disruptions in Cagayan de Oro (CdO). Moderate to strong ground shaking due to earthquakes, although not as frequent, is also a concern due to the rapid urban development in the city.

In response to this challenge, Xavier University has been working on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) initiatives for many years. One of its ongoing projects is the “Resilience Modelling of Integrated Education and Transport Infrastructure in The Philippines” – a collaboration with the UNESCO Chair in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Engineering (DRR-RE), headed by Prof Dina D’Ayala of University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom.

[In Photo] In his presentation, Engr Dexter Lo, Vice President for Social Development, shared the
Cagayan de Oro earthquake and flood risk profiles.

On 27 May 2024, XU, through the Social Development Office, UNESCO, and UCL, co-hosted a Seminar on Infrastructure Resilience: GLOSI and PARNASSUS. Engr Dexter S Lo, XU’s Vice President for Social Development, started the session with flood and earthquake risk profiles of selected infrastructures in the city. He narrated how XU became part of the UNESCO Chair in DRR-RE through working with Prof D’Ayala for over a decade. VP Lo further noted that CDO is very fortunate to have been chosen as one of the pilot project areas because the tools and technologies being used can actually be replicated all over the country, and even globally.

Prof D’Ayala then delivered a lecture on infrastructure resilience, focusing on how school and transport systems interact during disaster events. She emphasized the role of local communities in these dynamics. She explained that these elements and parameters can be simulated using Bayesian Network Models and Agent-based Models, which could lead to more timely and proactive decision support systems and tools. She then introduced GLOSI and PARNASSUS – globally accepted vulnerability assessment tools for earthquakes and floods, respectively, that consider the physical, structural, and engineering attributes of structures. Prof D’Ayala is the lead scientist in the development of the World Bank GLOSI Project.

[In Photo] Prof D’Ayala, UNESCO Chair for DRR-RE, delivering a lecture on GLOSI and PARNASSUS
as tools used in infrastructure assessment.

The free seminar was well attended by government agencies and offices such as the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 10 (DPWH-10), DPWH-CDO 1st and 2nd District Engineering Office, Department of Science and Technology Region 10 (DOST-10), Department of Education Regional Office 10 (DepEd-10), Office of Civil Defense Region 10 (OCD-10), Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers-Misamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro Chapter (PICE MisOr-CDO), the LGU CDO City Engineer’s Office (CEO), Office of the City Building Official (OBO), and CDRRMD. Representatives from the LGU Tagoloan’s Municipal Engineer’s Office (MEO) and Municipal DRRM Office, as well as the PLGU Misamis Oriental’s Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO) and Provincial DRRM Office, also attended. Key offices and representatives from XU participated in the seminar, including the XU Administration Cluster, Campus of the Future Project, and the College of Engineering. These participants were targeted due to their vital role in advocating and operating DRR-CCA, particularly regarding the resilience of infrastructure systems.

After a short break, Engr Jan Carlos Vincent G Arquiza, XU’s lead person for GLOSI and PARNASSUS surveys, provided participants with a virtual experience in implementing the surveys. The XU Team conducted such surveys for over 120 school buildings in the city in 2023. Prof D’Ayala and Engr Arquiza then facilitated virtual survey exercises, giving participants hands-on experience with the GLOSI and PARNASSUS tools. The session was very engaging, with participants sharing practical questions and actual experiences.

[In Photo] Engr Jan Carlos Vincent Arquiza, XU focal person for GLOSI and PARNASSU survey,
shared his actual experiences in conducting GLOSI and PARNASSUS surveys.

During the Open Forum, the participants expressed their deep appreciation of the tools and for being invited to such a learning session. They suggested that the seminar be replicated for their colleagues and other stakeholders to learn and experience as well.

[In Photo] Participants of the Infrastructure Resilience Seminar held at Xavier University.