MANILA (PIA) — Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on Monday, Oct. 14, stressed the media’s crucial role in communicating the urgency of disaster risk reduction and resilience building to the public.
“Disaster risk reduction and resilience building is a whole of society endeavor,” Yulo-Loyzaga told local and international reporters and journalists at the Philippine International Convention Center, to set the stage for opening of the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2024 (APMCDRR 2024).
“We are counting on you to help convey this sense of urgency and inspire action beyond these walls,” she added, emphasizing the need for local governments and communities to view disaster risk reduction as part of the development process.
The Marcos administration, together with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), kicked off a major regional conference on disaster risk reduction, with officials emphasizing the Asia-Pacific region’s vulnerability to natural disasters and the need for collaborative action.
“We are home to over 60% of the world’s population,” Yulo-Loyzaga said, highlighting that the Asia Pacific region, despite being the world’s most disaster-prone area, is also its fastest-growing economy.
She also noted that the United Nations recognizes Asia-Pacific as “the most disaster-prone region in the world, where vulnerability and exposure outpaces our capacity.”
The conference aims to develop strategies addressing various risks, from tropical cyclones and earthquakes to man-made disasters and environmental degradation.
The APMCDRR 2024 brings together governments, international organizations, academia, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate on meeting disaster risk reduction goals by 2030.
This year’s APMCDRR event aims to address this pressing issue. The conference’s theme, “Surge to 2030: Enhancing Ambition In Asia-Pacific To Accelerate Disaster Risk Reduction,” emphasizes the need for concerted efforts to achieve the ambitious goals set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
The Sendai Framework, a global agreement adopted in 2015, outlines a plan for countries to better prepare for and respond to disasters like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other emergencies.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of National Defense (DND) are co-chairing this important event. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
