The hosting by the Philippines of a regional conference on disaster risk reduction puts the spotlight on the need to address this environmental issue plaguing Asia-Pacific.
Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said at the media reception for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDDR) in Manila , the gathering will draw up strategies that will tackle natural hazards such as tropical cyclones and earthquakes as well as man-made ones like natural technological events and the consequences of environmental degradation.
“…The Asia-Pacific Region holds profound potential. We are home to over 60 percent of the world’s population, this region is rich in Asian cultures, in natural resources, in traditional and scientific knowledge, diverse ecosystems and infrastructure that supports some of the world’s largest megacities,” Loyzaga said.
“And yet, while it is important that we value how truly blessed the our region is, it is also crucial that we recognize the significant risks we face. We are recognized by the UN (United Nations) and our development partners as the most disaster-prone region in the world, from vulnerability and exposure, outpaces our capacity,” Loyzaga added.
Loyzaga said the DENR and the whole government is looking at how the country’s international commitments on environmental protection align with the Philippine Development Plan.
The DENR said it is undertaking capacity building exercises with foreign counterparts to acquire knowledge on how to deal with new types of waste as the country shifts to new types of fuels, among others.
Loyzaga said more needs to be done on disaster risk reduction, citing the need to bring in academia, civil society, private sector and local government units in tackling this issue.
“It has not been easy for other countries and for us as well. The key seems to be on how (we can) institutionalize this disaster risk reduction agenda,” said Loyzaga.
She said disaster risk reduction can be localized to the level of state universities and private educational institutions “so that even with political changes, the knowledge continues to develop and (stays) in the LGU.”
The APMCDRR being conducted until Friday serves as the region’s primary platform for monitoring, reviewing and enhancing cooperation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 at the regional level.
The event also brings together governments, intergovernmental, international, national and civil society organizations, the private sector, science, academia and stakeholder groups to accelerate progress in reducing disaster risk.
