NEWS

Monday, 09 September 2024

EVENT TITLE: PLANADES SUCCESSFULLY HOLDS INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE ON RESILIENT FINANCING FOR PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND ACTIVITIES (I-REFINE)

Manila, Philippines, (September 09, 2024) - The Planning and Development Research Foundation (PLANADES), through its project, Linking Disaster Risk Governance and Land Use Planning: The Case of Informal Settlements in Disaster-Prone Areas in the Philippines (LIRLAP), successfully conducted the International Training Course on Resilient Financing for Settlement Planning (I-ReFine), held from August 27 to September 5, 2024.

The International Training Course on Resilient Financing for Settlement Planning (I-ReFine) was a two (2)-week training course conducted from 27 August to 6 September 2024 by the Institute of Spatial Planning - Technical University of Dortmund (IRPUD - TU Dortmund), in collaboration with the Planning and Development Research Foundation (PLANADES), with the participation of the University of Stuttgart, the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) of Munich, the UP School of Urban and Regional Planning (UPSURP), Thammasat University in Thailand, and the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA).

The course explored essential financial strategies for planning resilient settlements. Participants gained valuable insights into the concept of resilient financing, best practices, and applications within the framework of risk-resilient settlement planning and implementation.

The two-week training brought together professionals from the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, including planning officers, local government officials, housing development practitioners, NGO and CSO representatives, community leaders, and academic specialists. The course offered a comprehensive understanding of financial mechanisms, risk-resilient settlement planning, and real-world applications.

The I-ReFine Training Committee consisted of the following:

• Dina C. Magnaye, PhD, EnP. - LIRLAP-Philippines Team Leader and Senior Research Specialist
• Prof. Dr. Tabassam Raza- Executive Director of PLANADES and LIRLAP Research Specialist
• Dr. Sonia Islam- Junior Research Specialist cum Coordinator for LIRLAP-Philippines.
• Mr. John Patrick P. Caytiles- Junior Researcher
• EnP. Patricia Shaira P. Esguerra- Junior Researcher
• Engr. Dianne Joy C. Sanchez- PLANADES Assistant Project Development Officer II

The course featured a distinguished panel of experts consist of Prof. Dr. Tabassam Raza, Executive Director of PLANADES; Dr. Dina C. Magnaye, Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning (UP SURP); Dr. Ronnie H. Encarnacion, Assistant Professor at UP SURP; and Dr. Indrajit Pal, Associate Professor and Chair of the Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, and Management Program at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (DPMM AIT).

Key Training Modules:

1. Principles of Resilient Financing – Led by Prof. Dr. Tabassam Raza, this module introduced the foundational concepts of resilient financing, laying the groundwork for the entire course.
2. Financial Mechanisms for Resilient Settlements – Presented by Dr. Ronnie H. Encarnacion, this session explored the critical roles of financial institutions and stakeholders in the settlement planning process.
3. Application of Resilient Financing in Projects – Also facilitated by Prof. Dr. Tabassam Raza, this session addressed real-world challenges and strategies for implementing resilient financing in projects.
4. Institutional Mechanisms for Resilient Financing – Presented by Dr. Indrajit Pal, this module focused on institutional coordination and innovative financial models to enhance resilience.
5. Best Practices of Community-Based Resilient Financing – Delivered by Dr. Dina C. Magnaye, this module highlighted case studies from the Asia-Pacific region, showcasing practical approaches to community-based resilient financing.

The training also featured hands-on group activities, where participants worked on case studies to propose financing mechanisms for resilient settlement projects. During the final session, participants presented their findings, showcasing innovative ideas that emphasize the practical application of resilient financing concepts in settlement planning.

Upon completion, participants received certificates equivalent to 10 technical training hours, having met the attendance and evaluation requirements.