With all these facts and figures, what clearly needs to be determined is a strategy for making Manila and other Asian cities more resilient and sustainable in the midst of urban growth. As the “State of Asian Cities 2010/11” report stated, ‘the challenge is to maintain economic development while substantially reducing environmental damage.” This is the question that the Pacific Cities Sustainability Initiative (PCSI) hopes to answer in its Second Annual Forum titled ‘Creating Resilient and Livable Cities.’ To be held in Manila on March 11 to 14, 2014, this invitation-only dialogue will gather 100 sustainability leaders from the Philippines, Asia, and North America to share their knowledge on best practices in making cities both more livable and resilient. Established in 2009, the PCSI is a collaborative dialogue which serves as a means to encourage communities in the Asia-Pacific region to share urban sustainability strategies that will help guide in the building of thriving, livable cities. The forum, which is part of PCSI’s many activities, is being hosted this year in Manila by PCSI with the support of Asia Society Philippines and Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philippines. The four-day forum will be formally opened with a special keynote address during the opening gala night on March 11. The public event, which will feature Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Indonesian Minister Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, and former Mayor of Christchurch New Zealand, Sir Robert Parker, will present insights on how cities can recover and prepare for future disasters. The following days will feature panel discussions and workshops on a range of related issues, including governance and public sector preparedness, resilient infrastructure, community networks, civic participation, PPPs, long-range planning, and housing and access. Attendees will be able to meet and discuss these issues with government representatives and global experts from urban planning, civil society, the private sector, and academia. The Philippines seems an apt choice of venue for the forum given the theme of this year’s dialogue. Manila, like other rapidly growing cities, is constantly facing the problems of developing and implementing urban planning initiatives that are beneficial to all and can also withstand the threats of natural hazards and disasters. More specifically, Manila and other cities are contending with the impact of these natural disasters on economic growth. Read more: business.inquirer.net/165730/creating-resilient-cities-amid-urban-growth#ixzz2vXkbbVDr Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 07:41:19 +0000
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