02 November 2015 – People - our relationships, and the trust we need to forge with one another - are key to the success of the WHS and Global Humanitarian Action.”

This was stressed by the Philippines during the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) Global Consultation-Dialogue with Member States held from October 14 to 16 at the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Given the growing number of emergencies and the continuing crises worldwide, we reiterate our support to the WHS process in order to reshape the global agenda for humanitarian action,” said Philippine Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Jesus Domingo during the Dialogue with Member States, adding, “while governments retain the primary role in humanitarian action, humanitarian challenges are not stand-alone concerns. There are new actors that play a very significant role in the humanitarian system – the private sector, NGOs, FBOs and civil society. Thus a “whole-of-society approach” or a spirit of real cooperation among all stakeholders is necessary – the very essence of the WHS.”

The Philippines also welcomed the WHS Synthesis Report (see link: https://www.worldhumanitariansummit.org/whs_global/synthesisreport), which was a product of a series of consultations with more than 23,000 people (stakeholders, regional and thematic consultations in 151 countries). The Report contained the main proposals from the consultations, grouped under five key action areas: Dignity, Safety, Resilience, Partnerships and Finance.

PHL Government, PHL stakeholders’ active participation during the Global Consultation

The Philippines, both the Government and other Filipino stakeholders, actively participated in the World Humanitarian Summit Global Consultation in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss among a wide range of stakeholders the need to ensure that the Summit delivers the solutions for the millions of people around the world that are affected by crises and disasters.

In the breakout sessions, designed to discuss topics related to the five action areas in the Synthesis Report, the Philippine Government and other Filipino stakeholders also interacted with other participants in highlighting proposals and best practices to achieve the Summit’s goals.

In the breakout session on Reshaping the Current International Humanitarian System, Assistant Secretary Domingo said “the WHS is groundbreaking – bringing together the international community and non-governmental stakeholders.” He expressed that the humanitarian community should not neglect the “middle” – governments of emerging non-donor states, highlighting that one key element of the WHS is partnership – inclusivity.

In the breakout session on Collaborating with the Private Sector: Towards A Global Network, Mr. Rene “Butch” Meily, President of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation, one of the world's few permanent private sector disaster management organizations, said that that the private sector in the Philippines is coming up with a new framework to contribute to the humanitarian system – a cluster of companies that would provide a forum to meet regularly, establish pre-agreements and exchange best practices on humanitarian action. The cluster will compose of companies in the lifeline industries (what people need in order to survive during crises – telecommunications, water, power, health, search and rescue, and logistics, among others) and would engage government and UN agencies involved in humanitarian response.

Other Filipinos who were speakers in the breakout sessions were Atty. Cecilia Jimenez, National Director of the IDP Project for the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, who spoke in the session on Regional and National Frameworks for the Protection and Assistance of Displaced Persons and Ms. Vicky Arnaiz Lantig, Project Coordinator of the Tacloban Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and Volunteer of the Philippine Red Cross Society - Leyte Chapter, who spoke in the session on Transforming How Humanitarian Agencies Engage with Affected People.

More than 1,000 participants from across the world attended the three-day intense Consultations about the future of humanitarian aid and the improvements needed in the humanitarian system, among others, in order to address the world’s humanitarian needs.

The outcome and proposals discussed during the Global Consultation will form part of the UN Secretary-General’s report, which will be the basis of the discussions for the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit that will be held in May 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey. END