A whole day event devoted to the discussion of disaster resiliency brought together high-level executives from private and public sectors all over the country.
The Top Leaders Forum, recently happened at the SMX Convention Center MOA Complex, is an annual initiative organized by SM Prime Holdings, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), which aims to maximize scientific innovations for disaster risk preparedness, reduction, and resiliency.
The forum also engaged the private sector, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to ensure that they are equally prepared for future disasters.
“ARISE members actively support capacity building in government-initiated DRR (disaster risk reduction) activities and SM’s Business Continuity Program has been implemented among 1,500 MSMEs through free access to an offsite Data Storage Facility. Let us all heed the call of resilience and do our share,” said SM Prime Holdings executive chair of the board and NRC co-chair Hans Sy.
Among the forum’s roster of keynote speakers were UNDRR SRSG Mami Mizutori, Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, NRC President Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, USEC Ricardo Jalad of the Office of Civil Defense, 4th District of Leyte Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, Bataan Governor Albert Garcia, Cagayan De Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion, Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco, and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.
Another event highlight was the Young Leaders for Resilience Program wherein student representatives from various cities and provinces presented potential solutions for the NRC partner LGUs’ climate and disaster risk profiles in a friendly competition. The winners were students from Colegio de Muntinlup and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa from Muntinlupa City for their project ‘Seismo Power Terminator’.
ARISE Philippines is a network of businesses committed to create risk-resilient societies through the distinct approach of private-public partnerships. The NRC is a science and technology-based public and private partnership that supports government, communities, and the private sector in advancing the New Urban Agenda. Both ARISE Philippines and the NRC align with the Sendai Framework for DRR, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Climate Agreement.
