Towards mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into the planning process of road construction

With particular reference to Asian countries, this paper discusses the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction into the planning process of road construction. It highlights some areas of learning in this process, provides some recommendations and outlines next steps for the immediate future.

It is highlighted that disasters make the road system in the Philippines prone to landslides, road slips, embankment scouring and other sediment related disasters. Roads are often closed for several days when hit by disasters causing disruption that affects the access of passengers, goods and services. The authors argue that the key to successful integration of disaster risk reduction on road projects lies in the planning phase of the project cycle which includes project identification and preparation of the feasibility study. Assessing the possible impact on the project of natural disasters or other hazards at this stage means that the appropriate risk reduction measures can be included in the scope, layout and arrangement of the project’s major components - and that these measures will be allowed for in the cost estimate. Attempting to include risk reduction measures at the design stage cannot adequately satisfy the need for disaster risk reduction.

The key recommendations include:

• mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development (DPWH) needs to have a standard on project identification and preparation procedures to eliminate quality discrepancies between nationally and externally funded projects and to pave the way for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in road projects
  
• an enhanced natural hazard/impact assessment component should be included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for nationally-funded and foreign-assisted projects
  
• standard formats and reporting standards should be introduced for monitoring and for collecting damage data from the impact of natural disasters on roads
  
• for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into road sector in the Philippines, one of the key next steps should involve Identifying two pipeline road projects in a hazard prone area of the Philippines.