A Call to Action: UAP Emergency Architects mobilizes architect and student volunteers for Typhoon Odette Response

By. Ar. Rodelon M. Ramos, UAP, PIEP

Urgently responding to the aftermath of Typhoon Odette (International Name: Rai) that mercilessly battered the Southern Philippines late December 2021, the United Architects of the Philippines Emergency Architects (UAP EA), the sociocivic disaster arm of the United Architects of the Philippines, has embarked on an undertaking to assist disaster-struck communities through elevating the role of architects in the realm of disaster response and rehabilitation. In the process of organizing and restructuring itself, UAP EA has hit the ground running by strategically linking with several organizations and institutions while appealing to the collective spirit of volunteerism among architects and architectural aspirants to join the organization’s humanitarian thrust.

Thereafter, the Volunteer Kick-off and Orientation meeting was set last January 11th, and attended by those who signed up through the official registration links publicly disseminated by UAP EA. The main agenda of the meeting focused on determining the proposed forms of working engagement and the general directions to be undertaken by the UAP EA. Six forms of engagement were identified and they were Communications, Linkages, Logistics, Resource Mobilization, Technical Services, and Fieldwork. Additionally, a private Facebook group page that will serve as a centralized repository of updates and information related to UAP EA’s projects and engagements was created. A chapter match-up program, where one UAP chapter will appoint one coordinator for a committed engagement or partnership, was also urgently discussed and deliberated upon.

Building on the Kick-off and Orientation, UAP EA had called for a follow-up meeting with the pool of volunteers to delve into UAP EA’s engagements and directions relevant to Typhoon Odette Response. A Volunteer Engagement Session was organized last February 5th wherein UAP EA formulated a Process Map for its Post-Disaster Response and the overview of the three directions of the organization has been finalized and shared with the participants.

These directions are take-off points for EA capacity building for all volunteers who signified their interest and commitment to become part of the Typhoon Odette Response. The first direction is Community Preparation and Engagement. The second direction is Resilient Shelter Modeling and explores initiatives on coconut timber utilization and the shelter anchor tree, proposing an improved building technique for resilient reconstruction. The third and last direction is engagement related to Information, Education, and Communication, to carry forward the organization’s initiatives and stimulate a wider reach.

An overview of the ongoing projects was shared and discussed to the plenary. These projects are coded as Siargao 1, Siargao 2, Project Mabini (Dinagat,) Project Bohol Shelter Cluster, Project Culasian (Palawan), Project 30K, Project Zambo, and BMC-Build My Church (Negros Oriental). Some of the local convenors officially representing these projects graced the Volunteer Engagement Session and they were given a chance to share more background on and immediate needs for their respective communities.

Process Map for Typhoon Odette Response being explained by Ar. Funk and Ar. Lisay