THE Philippine National Police has ordered a suspension of permit to carry firearms outside residence (PTCFOR) in Metro Manila in line with five-day Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center starting today.
In a memorandum, the National Capital Region Police Office said the suspension of the PTCFOR, which is equivalent to a gun ban, in Metro Manila is meant to ensure no firearm-related incident will occur during the event.
The NCRPO issued the memorandum on Saturday based on the directive of PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Friday.
President Marcos Jr is scheduled to address the conference on Wednesday. Some 4,000 delegates from 69 countries are said to be attending the biennial conference.
Malacañang has ordered the suspension of classes and work in the government in Manila and Pasay cities today and tomorrow, given the large number of people attending the event.
The NCRPO said the PTCFOR will be suspended effective 12:01 a.m. today up to midnight of Friday.
It said it is implementing the measure as part of its “comprehensive strategy to ensure the smooth, efficient organization and successful hosting” of the conference.
“In addition, only members of the PNP, AFP and other law enforcement agencies who are performing official duties and wearing their agency prescribed uniforms will be allowed to carry firearms,” the NCRPO said.
“This is to ensure that the activity will be free from firearm-related incidents and the safety of the populace,” the NCRPO also said, referring to the implementation of the gun ban.
Col. Melencio Buslig Jr. acting director of the Quezon City Police District, urged the public to cooperate with the implementation of the measure, specifically in Quezon City, “as we prioritize public safety and strive to create a peaceful environment for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.”
“It is essential that we all work together to maintain order and security during this significant event,” said Buslig of the suspension of the PTCFOR.
The QCPD said the measure is “aimed at preventing any firearm-related incidents and ensuring the safety of all attendees and the general public throughout the event.”
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in a statement, said local government units (LGUs) are investing in disaster risk reduction strategies to safeguard lives and livelihoods, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance disaster resilience of Filipino communities.
The investments and initiatives will be highlighted in the upcoming Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) that was convened by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
The event is hosted by the Philippines for the first time, reflecting the UN agency’s recognition of the significant progress that the country has made in disaster resilience.
“With the theme, Surge to 2030: Enhancing ambition in Asia-Pacific to accelerate disaster risk reduction, the ministerial conference aims to provide LGUs with a platform and network to accelerate their progress in reducing disaster risks through knowledge-sharing and good practices, new tools and ways access to innovative financing,” said Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
RESILIENCE
The conference will have a session on “Enhancing Capacity and Resources for Local Resilience” on Oct. 16, focusing on best practices in capacity-building opportunities, assessments of local resilience initiatives, and efficient resource allocation, the DENR said.
Other critically-important areas for LGUs and their partners are discussions on multi-hazard early warning systems which have been incorporated in disaster risk reduction strategies in places such as the Caribbean for hurricanes, Japan for geohazards and landslides, Bangladesh for monsoon season flooding, and even in various Philippine localities such as Makati City where it has been used to prepare for geological, hydrometeorological and technological hazards.
Co-organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the DENR and the Department of Defense National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Office of Civil Defense (NDRRMC-OCD), the 2024 APMCDRR 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.
APMCDRR is the main platform in Asia and the Pacific to monitor, review and enhance cooperation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 at the regional level. As the first APMCDRR since the adoption of the Political Declaration of the Sendai Framework Midterm Review, the conference will provide 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.
