2009 R - 58 - COMMENDING THE CONTINGENTS OF THE 27 COUNTRIES OF THE ARF VOLUNTARY DEMONSTRATION OF RESPONSE AND RELIEF EXERCISES

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON MAY 6, 2009 AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - - City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer
Hon. Gina Gulanes-Perez - - - - City Councilor
Hon. Rodel S. Cerezo - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Sarah Lugerna Lipumano-Garcia- - - - “ “
Hon. Edwin J. Piano - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Angelito W. Baloy - - - - - “ “
Hon. Aquilino Y. Cortez, Jr.- - - - “ “
Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino- - - “ “
Hon. Elena C. Dabu- - - - - - - - “ “
Hon. Jonathan G. Manalo- - - - - - “ “
Hon. Carlito A. Baloy - - - President, Liga ng mga Barangay

ABSENT:

Hon. John Carlos G. Delos Reyes- - - - City Councilor
Hon. Cheenee F. Hoya- - - - - - - - SK Federation President


RESOLUTION NO. 58
(Series of 2009)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE CONTINGENTS OF THE 27 COUNTRIES OF THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF) VOLUNTARY DEMONSTRATION OF RESPONSE (VDR) AND RELIEF EXERCISES FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN THE CITY OF OLONGAPO

WHEREAS, the United States and the Philippines will co-sponsor the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Voluntary Demonstration of Response (VDR) and Relief Exercises, a well-planned and organized humanitarian activity on May 4 to 6, 2009 in the city. The ARF-VDR is a robust civilian-led, military-supported activity designed to demonstrate ARF national capabilities in response to an affected nation's request for assistance;

WHEREAS, the ARF-VDR will help build regional assistance capacity for major, multinational relief operations. Over 27 countries from the Asia-Pacific region will participate in the ARF-VDR with 12 of those countries providing equipment and personnel;

WHEREAS, this Voluntary Demonstration of Response is a significant milestone for the ASEAN Regional Forum in its development as a regional platform promoting dialogue, confidence building and preventive diplomacy. Through this first ever field demonstration, the VDR moves the ARF dialogues to an active display of national capacities for assisting each other in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Contributing nations include Australia, European Union, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, China, Sri Lanka, and the USA. As of now, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, India, Malaysia, and Russia plan to observe. The Philippines and the United States are co-sponsoring the activity;

WHEREAS, using a scenario where Metro Manila and Central Luzon are devastated by a super typhoon, ARF participating countries will offer assistance to the Philippines in response to her request for international humanitarian relief. Areas of demonstration include land, air and maritime search and rescue, medical assistance/evacuation and engineering reconstruction. The VDR will also test the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) - United Nations Clusters Coordination mechanism in humanitarian assistance through a tabletop exercise;

WHEREAS, as the pioneer host country, the Philippines will be setting the tone for similar future activities;

WHEREAS, the country will benefit not only from the lessons learned from the inter-operability coordination in disaster relief, but also from the various civilian-military projects, which will include the reconstruction of school buildings, construction of a bridge, installation of a water system, and the medical treatment of approximately 8,000 local residents in the area by multinational medical and engineering teams;

WHEREAS, delegates from the United States who will join the said forum will be US Ambassador for ASEAN Scot Marciel as well as Lieutenant General Keith J. Stalder, Commander of US Marine Corps Forces Pacific;

WHEREAS, the VDR and Relief Exercises also embody the conduct of a Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP), to attend to the medical needs of thousands of residents in key barangays of the City;

WHEREAS, the City stands fortunate for being the direct beneficiary of the said program and commends the contingents from the 27 countries from the Asia-Pacific region for leaving a positive difference in the hearts of the Olongapo community by their wholehearted service and random acts of kindness, for which the City is exceedingly grateful for;

NOW, THEREFORE, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present,

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled to commend, as it hereby commends the contingents of the 27 countries of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Voluntary Demonstration of Response (VDR) and Relief Exercises for their significant contributions in the City of Olongapo.

Let copies of this resolution be provided to U.S., Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and Philippine contingents.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, May 6, 2009.


CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO
City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer


GINA GULANES-PEREZ JOHN CARLOS G. DELOS REYES
City Councilor City Councilor
(Absent)

RODEL S. CEREZO SARAH LUGERNA LIPUMANO-GARCIA
City Councilor City Councilor

EDWIN J. PIANO ANGELITO W. BALOY
City Councilor City Councilor

AQUILINO Y. CORTEZ, JR ANSELMO A. AQUINO
City Councilor City Councilor

ELENA C. DABU JONATHAN G. MANALO
City Councilor City Councilor

CARLITO A. BALOY CHEENEE F. HOYA
President, Liga ng mga Barangay SK Federation President
(Absent)


ATTEST:

ELFLIDA S. SALMON
Council Secretary


APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON______________________.



JAMES GORDON, JR.
City Mayor
ATTEST:

DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.
Secretary to the City Mayor