On 30 April 2019, researchers from De La Salle University (DLSU) and the University College London (UCL) held a Stakeholders Forum last 30 April. They presented the accomplishments of their Newton Agham Institutional Links research partnership, the Philippine Resilience of Schools to Multi-Hazard (PRISMH).
PRISMH aims to develop a resilience assessment framework for schools subjected to seismic, wind and flood hazards in the Philippines. Co-funded by the British Council and CHED, the project is a joint research collaboration between experts from UCL, Xavier University-Engineering Resource Center and DLSU.
Principal Investigator from UCL Dina D’Ayala opened the forum with an introduction of EPICentre, UCL’s research centre that investigates risk to society, the built and natural environment for natural hazards. She also talked about the importance of the collaboration of project stakeholders.
Co-investigator for DLSU Dr. Andres W. C. Oreta introduced the PRISMH project and its alignment with the Comprehensive School Safety framework, which provides the education sector a comprehensive approach to reduce risks from all hazards. Fellow investigator Engr. Richard De Jesus discussed the overview of school typology and the relevance of school inventory to the project.
This Newton Agham Institutional Links project specifically looks at the dual purpose of schools in the Philippines, both as a learning and a calamity evacuation facility. UCL co-investigator Dr. Arash Nassirpour talked about this by presenting the vulnerability of schools from multi-hazards, while Rebekah Yore shared the use of school infrastructure for emergency sheltering and evacuation.
Representatives who attended the forum were from the British Council, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Department of Education, St. Louis University Baguio, the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, and local government units.