Ochoa cites perseverance of Japanese people as Japan commemorates 2011 earthquake
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. cited the Japanese peoples’ perseverance, resolve and dignity as they struggled to rise above the tragedy wrought by the magnitude 9.1 earthquake, and accompanying tsunami, that struck their country a year ago today.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. cited the Japanese peoples’ perseverance, resolve and dignity as they struggled to rise above the tragedy wrought by the magnitude 9.1 earthquake, and accompanying tsunami, that struck their country a year ago today.
In his speech commemorating the first year anniversary of what is now called the Great East Japan Earthquake 2011 held at the University of the Philippines campus in Quezon City on Sunday, Ochoa recalled a Japanese proverb that aptly describes the indomitable Japanese spirit: “keizoku wa chikara nari.”
“Literally translated, this phrase means “perseverance is strength;” and this tragedy has taught us and those in international community that the Japanese are a strong people whose capacity to persevere and triumph over adversity serves as an inspiration to us Filipinos who, like our Japanese friends, live in areas that are particularly prone to devastation from severe weather events and geological hazards,” Ochoa said.
“One can only admire the dignity in which the Japanese people conducted themselves in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake, and marvel at the selflessness of Japanese citizens who were willing to sacrifice their own lives to contribute to efforts to restore control over Fukushima Daiichi, as well as efforts to contain radiation releases in areas badly hit by the earthquake,” he added.
Ochoa also reiterated the Philippine government’s pledge to extend any form of assistance to the Japanese people as they continue their quest to rebuild their country.
“On behalf of the President, I wish Japan success as it undertakes the reconstruction and rehabilitation of affected areas. We continue to be in solidarity with Japan as it undertakes relief, reconstruction, and rebuilding,” he said.
“I likewise reiterate President Aquino’s pledge of our readiness to extend assistance to Japan, a pledge made by the President during his official visit to Japan, where it is hoped that the funds he donated on behalf of our government to Ishinomaki City contributed in helping the local government reconstruct government and public facilities in that area,” he said.
Ochoa was joined by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, UP President Alfredo Pascual and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe. (PCOO)
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Japan and Phl's vulnerability to natural disasters underscores importance of disaster readiness and response programs
The vulnerability of Japan and the Philippines to the onslaught of severe weather disturbances underscore the importance of always being prepared and having quick response programs in place in order to minimize human casualties and property damage, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. said on Sunday.
Ochoa made the statement in his speech keynoting the commemoration of the first year of the magnitude 9.1 earthquake that struck Japan on March 11, 2011.
“The March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan and Typhoon Sendong in our country underscore the particular vulnerability of our two countries, and stress the importance of disaster readiness and response programs to address such vulnerabilities,” Ochoa said.
He thanked the Japanese government for working with the Philippine government, through its overseas development assistance (ODA), to address these vulnerabilities “to improve our disaster prevention and response capabilities.”
The Executive Secretary said that through the Japanese ODA, the country has been able to upgrade its radar systems, flood warning systems, emergency shelters, and river channel improvement projects.
“Next month, in fact, we will be inaugurating a new radar station in Virac, Catanduanes that was built from the funding provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency,” Ochoa said.
“The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) believes that the completion of this radar station will substantially improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, thus resulting in more timely warnings for our people and helping minimize human casualties and property damage as a result of the severe weather disturbances that constantly batter the country,” he added.
Ochoa commended the Japanese government for further extending assistance to other countries in the region such as the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“We commend Japan for its support for the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management and of an ASEAN-wide information-sharing network regarding Disaster Management,” Ochoa said.
“It is hoped that collaborations such as these will help countries such as ourselves replicate the level of disaster response readiness that Japan showed last year,” he said.
“In leading the way to find means to mitigate the effects of the natural disasters that will inevitably plague us, Japan has shown us the best strategy in dealing with natural calamities—and that is to work amongst ourselves to implement programs and projects that will help ensure that natural disasters do not become greater tragedies by needlessly claiming more lives,” Ochoa said. (PCOO)
