4th Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Workshop on Disaster Management/Communications:

Best Practices and Lessons Learned from Other Countries (Part I)

Alejandro P. Melchor III Smarter Philippines Program Director Department of Science and Technology Philippines

4th Asia Pacific Telecommunity Workshop on Disaster Management/ Communications

Large-scale natural disasters have been occurring more frequently in the Asia Pacific Region. There is now a widespread awareness of the importance of ICTs in times of disaster. The Bali Declaration of 2009 led to an action plan for the beneficial use of ICTs in times of disaster.

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, or APT, is the focal organization for ICT in the Asia Pacific Region. It was founded in 1979 by the United Nations and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The Department of Science and Technology, Philippines co-hosted the above event with APT on July 23-25, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center. 50 foreign delegates attended, together with Filipino disaster management communications practitioners.

Here are some highlights of best practices and lessons learned from foreign experts, which may be of use to the Philippines.

Alejandro P. Melchor III

Smarter Philippines Program Director

Department of Science & Technology

budmelchor@yahoo.com

Alejandro “Bud” Melchor