All posts by Amormia Moltio

About Amormia Moltio

Mia is a graduate of Journalism who loves blogging and vlogging. Before working as a copywriter, she worked as an instructor to college students for 6 years. Other than blogging, she spends her free time reading Ambeth Ocampo’s books and short stories. She now works as the Senior Copywriter and Editor of Klipp TV.

RS and ECCP conduct Webinar about Flood Protection for Businesses

post your comment

About a hundred people attended the free webinar about flood protection for businesses organized by Flood Control Asia RS Corporation (RS) and the European Chamber of Council in the Philippines (ECCP). President and CEO of RS, Dr. Andreas Klippe, was the keynote speaker in this webinar that was held via Zoom on November 24, 2021 at 9:30 AM.

People from the business sector joined the webinar for business owners.

In addition to the panel of speakers were German and Swedish Ambassadresses to the Philippines, Her Excellency Anke Reiffenstuel and Her Excellency Annika Thunborg, respectively. In their short messages, both of them talked about the challenge of climate change. They also presented sustainable and smart solutions their countries can share with the Philippines.

Left to Right: German Ambassadress to the Philippines Her Excellency Anke Reiffenstuel, Swedish Ambassadress to the Philippines Her Excellency Annika Thunborg gave their messages.

Flood protection for businesses

As a keynote speaker, Dr. Klippe shared the importance of protecting businesses from floods. He pointed out the negative impacts of the flood on their company, employees, products, and equipment.

Once flood protected, you have more comfort, time, and money. Being able to secure your company and employees allows you to join the group of proactive people in flood protection.

-Dr. Andreas Klippe

According to Dr. Klippe, there are traditional solutions like sandbags, metal sheets, and wooden planks. However, they are not the right solutions for increasing problems with climate change.

Dr. Klippe spoke with the moderator before giving his keynote address.

Urban Planner-Principal Architect and Founder of Palafox Associates, Ar. Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. also joined the event as a guest speaker. The good architect showed trends in the architecture of different countries.

We shape our environment and our environment will shape us.

-Ar. Jun Palafox
Top L-R: Ar. Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr, RS Moderators; Below: Dr. Andreas Klippe.

He also gave suggestions for flood management. These include metropolitan, urban and regional planning, hazard mapping, and revising subdivision regulations and other laws.

Hydrostatic Test

Towards the end of the webinar about flood protection for businesses, RS Asian Headquarters in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines conducted a Hydrostatic Test. For the test, RS deployed flood barriers in an area with 1.2 meters of water. This test showed the efficiency of flood barriers as no leaks were seen.

RS Flood Expert Alvin Baking showed the area with flood barriers.

This FREE and LIVE webinar was also in partnership with Advantage Austria, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines, Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, CCI France Philippines, German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine-Swiss Business Council, Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, and NordCham Philippines.

Related News

See all

Flood Expert Talks about Flood Solution on Rainy Season Webinar

post your comment

Flood Expert and German engineer, Dr. Andreas Klippe, talked about engineering solutions against flooding in the 4th Livable Cities Lab on June 30, 2021. This year’s event focused on Rainy Season Readiness.

With Dr. Klippe are four other figures from different sectors of society. They were Mr. Benjamin Abalos, Chairperson of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA); Dr. Missaka Hettiarachchi, a Senior Fellow of World Wide Fund for Nature; Engr. Emmanuel Estrada, Sr. Vice President, Technology Strategy & Service Integration Globe Telecom; and Atty. Princess Feliciano, representative of Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro. All the speakers gave their insights on preparing for the rainy season.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure

Dr. Andreas Klippe emphasized protecting critical infrastructures through Engineering Solutions. In his talk, he cited garbage, urbanization, and most importantly climate change as reasons for severe flooding. As he listed some of the Philippines’ most destructive Tropical Cyclones, he also presented traditional solutions people used. At this point, he emphasized that these solutions may not be effective, especially with the worsening climate condition. Dr. Klippe specified that it is necessary to shift to technological innovation. Finally, he showed examples of critical infrastructures that were flood-protected with modern technology.

“Everything starts with a flood-protection plan, that is what we highly suggest. Without a good plan, that is of German standard… [we] don’t move.”

Dr. Andreas Klippe

Rehabilitation, Disaster Reduction, Community Engagement

Another speaker, MMDA Chairperson Benjamin Abalos, showed different flood management projects in Metro Manila. Some of those are dredging of open waterways, declogging of drainage laterals, desilting of drainage mains and interceptors, fabrication/installation of manholes, rehabilitation of pumping stations, and completion of trash traps design.

“What is important, the ultimate solution here is really the mindset of the people.”

Chairperson Benjamin Abalos

Dr. Missaka Hettiarchchi, a Senior Fellow of WWF, said that to reduce flood risk, different methods should be combined. These are non-structural, soft/green structural, and hard/gray structural methods. He also added that the community should be engaged in flood mitigation.

“In this day and age, the risks are uncertain. The fixed views about the 20-year flood, the 50-year flood — those notions actually have flown out of the window with the changes in the climate.”

Dr. Missaka Hettiarachchi

Mayor Marcelino Teodoro was not able to attend the webinar but he sent his representative Atty. Princess Feliciano. At the event, she talked about Marikina’s flood mitigation structures and practices. Some of these practices are manual monitoring of the Marikina water level and having a 3-level alarm system. In addition to those are checking the weather forecast and rainfall density, conducting rescue operations, and managing evacuation camps. 

“Along with this Marikina River restoration and flood mitigation measures, of course, we need to complement it by our emergency and disaster protocols at all stages: from preparedness, to response, to recovery.”

Atty. Princess Feliciano

Lastly, Engr. Emmanuel Estrada talked about preparedness and business continuity by Globe Telecom even in the midst of disaster.

“The network infrastructures are designed to address risks, threats, and vulnerabilities. We are adapting to the environment itself.”

Engr. Emmanuel Estrada

Webinar Attendees

Around 300 people, including those from the Local Government Units, attended the Rainy Season Readiness Webinar. Also in the event were Mayor Lani Revilla (Bacoor City), Mayor Nicholas Yulo (Bago City), Mayor Ericson Singson (Candon City), Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas (Canlaon City), Mayor Manuel Saladaga (Mahayag Municipality), and Mayor Dello Lood (Sinacaban Municipality). Germany Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency Anke Reiffenstuel was also present at the said event. 

Liveable Cities Philippines and the League of Cities of the Philippines, in partnership with Globe Telecom, are the organizers of the event.

Related News

See all

The Proud and Gritty History of the PGH

post your comment

For the past months, while many people locked themselves in their homes, the staff of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) bravely went out to make war against the unseen forces of death.

Yet, this is not new.

Even before the pandemic swept the country and the rest of the world under the blankets, PGH has always been on the frontline. Tagged as the largest hospital in the country, the hospital caters to 700,000 patients a year with its 1,500 bed capacity. For over a century, PGH has been helping, supporting and nourishing the Filipino people by providing health care services.

The history of the Philippine General Hospital started in 1907 when the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 1688. This act allocated P780,000.00 for the construction of the hospital. Located on a major road of the metropolis, Taft Avenue in Ermita, Manila, PGH was built to cater to the health needs of indigent Filipinos. Though created in 1907, it was officially opened in 1910. Four years later, in 1914, the hospital was linked to the Philippine College of Medicine, the forerunner of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. Right now, it continues to be the laboratory hospital of students enrolled in UP College of Medicine.

PGH IN THE BATTLE OF MANILA

In 2020, it was appointed as one of the COVID-19 referral hospitals. For months now, we know that PGH has been a battleground for those affected by the Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV). Yet, what we do not know is that 75 years ago, it was standing on an actual, literal battleground. During the historic Battle of Manila in 1945, the hospital was made a refuge for wounded soldiers and civilians. In the middle of incessant bombings, with shortage of medical supplies, food and water, these soldiers in white answered to their call of duty. In the face of death, they picked up their arms and ran to the battleground of many wounded soldiers and civilians. An account from a news source tells a story of the surgeon Victor Reyes who treated one patient after another for 20 hours straight. Antonio Sison, the then hospital director, even protected the identity of a Japanese soldier who was in coma.

PGH IN FLOODWATERS

Now, in the time of peace, there is yet another battle that the PGH faces: the raging flood. Because of its geographical location, PGH has been prone to flooding. According to its Deputy Director, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, PGH has been experiencing flooding since the 1920s. Actually, a paper on “Hospitals exposed to flooding in Manila City, Philippines” stated that in 2009 and 2012, incidents of flooding and road blocking were witnessed around PGH and the roads around Ermita. As some of the roads were deemed inaccessible, the hospital staff had to stay inside the facility for days.

PGH is also crossed with several bodies of water. The Manila Bay and the Pasig River are situated not far from the facility. The geographical location of PGH, along with other problems that the City of Manila faces, makes PGH very much vulnerable to flooding.

PGH CONTINUES TO SERVE THE NATION

Still, 113 years later after it was built on the grounds of Ermita, the Philippine General Hospital continues to serve the nation, carrying in its heart the longstanding mission of the UP College of Medicine:

“A community of scholars with a heightened social consciousness imbued with moral, ethical, and spiritual vigor, committed to the development of Philippine society, inspired by love, compassion and respect for the dignity of human life; and anchored on the principles of Truth, Freedom, Justice, Love of Country and, and the Democratic Way of Life.”

In 2020, alongside several donations that the PGH has been receiving for its fight against COVID-19, PGH will also be receiving flood protection for its entrances. With the flood protection program, it is hoped that even with severe weather conditions, PGH can continue with its operation.

For 113 more years, and 113 more, PGH will continue to serve the Filipinos, especially the poor. With its well-trained staff and improved facilities, with the support of the government and other private sectors, the Philippine General Hospital shall continue to be a pillar in health care in the country.

Till then, the Proud and the Gritty History of the PGH will continue to be written.

Related News

See all

Flood Control Asia RS Corp. launches Flood Protection project for PH Hospital

post your comment

“It’s a great morning,” said Dr. Gerardo Legaspi in his opening speech during the grand launching of the Flood Protection project for the largest hospital in the country, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). This initiative was made possible because of the grant given by the Federal Republic of Germany and Flood Control Asia RS Corp. (“RS”).

The event, titled “Protection of a Filipino COVID-19 Hospital against Flooding”, was participated by notable personalities, Dr. Andreas Klippe, President and CEO of RS; Ms. Ma. Fatima V. Usi, Executive Vice President and CFO of RS; Her Excellency Anke Reiffenstuel, German Ambassador to the Philippines; Cong. Cristal Bagatsing, Representative for the 5th district of Manila; and Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, Deputy Director of PGH.

Dr. Andreas Klippe presented the importance of flood proofing the hospital and other critical infrastructures in the country. PGH has a total of 1,500 bed capacity and caters to the health needs of 700,000 patients a year. The 113-year old hospital is also currently serving as a COVID-19 referral hospital. Given this, it is imperative that PGH has to be safe from floods so it can continue to operate even in the midst of calamities like typhoons. Dr. Klippe assured that the Flood Control Asia RS Corp. is ready to help.

“What if the COVID-19 hospital is flooded? Another incident or calamity may come or another incident may happen? We are here to help.”

This flood-protection project will set flood barriers to 14 entrances of the hospital. To ensure the accuracy of the installation, the engineering team of RS will provide the facility with a full engineering assessment with a detailed engineering plan. The project will commence on December 3, 2020 and is expected to run until April 30, 2020.

Meanwhile in her speech, Her Excellency Anke Reiffenstuel claimed that Germany has been a reliable partner of the Philippines for a long time. She also encouraged that everyone should be better prepared and ensure the hospital’s continuous operation. Her Excellency also expressed her hope that everyone could work together.

“We need to be better prepared… and we have to ensure that the hospital remains operational.”

Receiving the grant, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi remarked that the project is really a development because flooding in PGH is getting worse as Manila is getting lower than sea level. He also said that the front area of the PGH has always been flooded since the 1920s. Likewise, Congresswoman Cristal Bagatsing expressed her gratitude for the grant. She mentioned that Manila is not a stranger to flood control projects and that this action is what the city needs right now.

“It’s a development!… In the long run, we are able to battle other challenges!”

-Dr.Gerardo Legaspi


“We [Manila] is not a stranger to flood control projects. We very much need this right now.”

-Congresswoman Cristal Bagatsing

The event concluded with Ms. Ma. Fatima Usi encouraging everyone that there is a solution to flood problems.

“We cannot control the flood but we can protect the vital infrastructures.”

Related News

See all

How Aluminum Barriers Flood-proofed Doha Education City!

post your comment

Qatar Foundation received Flood Protection from German company Flood Control Asia RS Corporation 

In October 2018, after a long time of dry and subtropical desert climate, with a very little downpour, it finally rained in Qatar. However, this was not good news at all for after an unusually heavy rain, this usually arid country was submerged in floodwaters. 

Many houses, businesses, buildings, and properties were affected. One of the properties that suffered the damages brought by the flood was Doha Education City — the pet project of Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. 

Sitting on 250 acres of land, Doha Education City was launched in 1997 by the Qatar Foundation, the Qatari royal family’s non-profit organization currently chaired by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, mother of the current Emir of Qatar. Since its inception, it has been envisioned to be a cultural and educational hub of the Arab world. 

Northwestern University underground parking flooded

Unfortunately, the floodwaters were not even awe-struck at the grand of this place. During the 2018 flooding, many buildings in the “City” were greatly damaged. The damages caused by the flooding include structural damages, electrical damage, cut-off communications, and a lot more.

To save Doha Education City, the Qatar Foundation was asked to find the best flood control solution to protect the buildings of Sheikha Moza’s flagship initiative.

Flood Control Asia Engineers flood-protected Seeroo Fi Al-Ardh Carousel using IneroTM Mobile Flood Barriers. 

After much consideration, Flood Control Asia RS Corporation was contracted by Qatari company QAFAM to provide, fit, and install RS Demountable Flood Barriers and RS Inero™ Mobile Flood Barriers in Doha Education City’s flood-prone areas. After months of planning, communication, and coordination, the team of RS Flood Experts flew to Qatar and started this flood-protection project that will completely secure the property. 

Flood Control Asia Engineers install RS Demountable Barriers in QNCC car park.

Eleven buildings in Doha Education City were installed with flood control solutions. With flood-protection, the extraordinary vision of bringing elite education and academic freedom can continue inside the city — free from flood and the damages it brings.   

Related News

See all