PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday emphasized the importance of working together to address, if not mitigate the impact of climate change to reduce disaster risks and losses and eventually protect lives and livelihoods, among others.
The President, during the dinner reception for the delegates of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) that he hosted in Malacanang, said the conference comes at a time when the adoption and implementation of measures to address or at least cushion the impact of climate change has become more urgent.
“Our vision is clear. To reduce disaster risks and losses, and in doing so, protect lives, livelihoods and the social and economic assets that underpin our societies. At the heart of our efforts, all our efforts, is climate change, an issue that we have integrated into our national and regional policies,” Marcos said.
“From investment strategies to policy implementation, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation are now central to how we shape our future,” he added.
The President said that as nations experience an increasing frequency and severity of natural hazards, the need for deeper innovation, closer cooperation, and a sustained commitment from everyone becomes vital.
“I think it would not be an exaggeration to say that…whenever there is a discussion or a planning session, there is no longer even a single conversation that we have that does not include an aspect of adaptation, mitigation to climate change. That is how primordial it has become in our everyday lives,” Marcos said.
“Through this conference, we are presented with the opportunity to explore new avenues for collaboration, especially in leveraging science and technology to alleviate the impact of climate change and ensuring that disaster risk reduction financing is accessible to all. By harmonizing all of our efforts, I trust we can build an Asia Pacific region that is truly adaptive, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable,” he added.
The 2024 APMCDRR is a key platform in the Asia-Pacific region for monitoring, reviewing and enhancing cooperation on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which serves as the global blueprint for preventing and reducing new and existing disaster risks in the world’s most disaster-prone region.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), are hosting the APMCDRR 2024 from October 14-18 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
During the opening of the event, Communications Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez asked the members of media to help promote a culture of risk reduction and resilience as he echoed the President’s pronouncements that climate change is the biggest threat to the collective future of the world.
Chavez, in his message that was read by Communications Senior Undersecretary Emerald Ridao, said the media has the power to influence the world, including informing the public about public life-saving information including the risks posed by disasters and calamities.
“We must amplify this message, as it represents real risks and dangers to lives and realities on the ground. This existential threat deserves the best press coverage— that is, fair, but without fanfare,” he said.
“Let it be our shared goal as media practitioners to advance a culture of risk reduction and resilience in service of the community of nations,” he added.
