QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro called on the media to help intelligently prepare communities on the importance of disaster risk reduction as he recognized the power and influence of media.
Secretary Teodoro urged them during the media reception for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) Monday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City to help in public awareness and intelligently prepare the people during disasters to avoid panic.
“Not only have disasters worsened in frequency and severity, but the spread of disinformation has also compromised the integrity of the information landscape, weakening the ability of the public to make informed decisions in times of crisis,” said Teodoro.
Teodoro said that the influence of the media makes communities safer and help save lives.
“I believe that it is not merely a manifestation of support for the Philippines, but a manifestation that the world must go collectively as one towards a goal of saving lives, making lives more resilient and sustainable…,” said Teodoro.
Likewise, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga noted the importance of the whole-of-society approach in disaster risk reduction.
Yulo-Loyzaga shared that the Asia Pacific Region is the most disaster-prone region in the world, wherein 60 percent of disasters occur in the region. She noted the important and powerful role of the media in shaping public understanding and bridging messages.
The secretary also acknowledged the power of stories that inspire change – stories that bring hope, resilience and collective action.
The conference, hosted by the Philippines in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), aims to advance regional efforts in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
As the first regional platform since the adoption of the Political Declaration of the Sendai Framework Midterm Review, the APMCDRR 2024 is held under the working theme “Surge to 2030: Enhancing ambition in Asia-Pacific to accelerate disaster risk reduction,” and also providing an important opportunity to review risk reduction efforts, share innovative solutions and make actionable commitments to accelerate disaster risk reduction by 2030 in the world’s most disaster-prone region. (JEG/PIA-NCR)
(Photo by PIA-NCR)
