PHL Highlights Progress on Sendai Framework Implementation at Global Dialogue

on Disaster Risk Reduction

The Philippine Delegation to the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Cancun, Mexico from 22 to 26 May 2017. This is one of the unique times when the Philippines was represented jointly by the government and stakeholders demonstrating a one country-team delegation in promoting disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts and initiatives as a show of support to and ensure the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

02 June 2017 CANCUN, MEXICO – The Philippines, jointly represented by the Philippine Government and the country’s stakeholders, highlighted the country’s progress in its implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 at the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GP17) held last week in Cancun, Mexico.

Led by Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and lead official of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Philippines successfully contributed to the global dialogue by putting forward its best practices and initiatives in ensuring the effective implementation and mainstreaming of the Sendai Framework into its own DRR programs, plans and strategies. This has been coupled by the Philippine Delegation’s active engagement in many different activities in the GP, providing insights on DRR and at the same time learning from the sharing of experiences of other governments and stakeholders.

The Philippine Delegation participated in various sessions and actively engaged in the discourse on the four priorities for action of the Sendai Framework on understanding disaster risk; strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk; investing in DRR for resilience; and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “build back better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

“It is clear to us that our people’s lives are the most important resource we have so in our DRR initiatives, we strive to ensure that our legal framework and our DRR efforts are aligned with the Sendai Framework,” Undersecretary Jalad stressed in his delivery of the Philippines’ statement during the dialogue.

He shared some important initiatives and achievements so far of the Philippines on the Sendai Framework implementation, but at the same time underscoring that “the success of any DRR effort lies in the vibrant relationship and engagement between the Government and various stakeholders towards building community resilience.”

“We work in collaboration with the academe, civil society organizations, the private sector, media, UN agencies and other stakeholders,” Undersecretary Jalad said.

The Philippines is considered a model for multi-stakeholder cooperation on DRR. However, while there may be achievements, the Philippines also recognized that it has its own challenges but is committed to working with other countries to help address these challenges in order to build a resilient world.

“We believe that together, all of us will be able to positively and substantially contribute towards resilient communities and sustainable development,” stressed Undersecretary Jalad.

The Philippine Delegation was composed of government agencies coming from the OCD, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Health (DOH) Emergency Management Bureau, Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Science and Technology, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Finance (DOF), National Housing Authority (NHA) and of country stakeholders from civil society organizations (CSOs), local government units (LGUs), private sector and academe, among others.

“The Global Platform was an important occasion for the international community to assess the progress on curbing the impacts of natural and human-induced hazards. Beyond that, it was also a key moment of multilateralism. And that matters,” said Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva and co-lead of the Philippine Delegation to Cancun.

The GP17, the world’s important international forum of governments and stakeholders on DRR, had more than 3,000 participants composed of policy makers and disaster risk managers from governments, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, humanitarian and international organizations, among others. It culminated in the issuance of a Chair’s Summary that reflected the way forward – concrete, practical measures – to keep the momentum on the implementation of the Sendai Framework.

The Global Platform holds biennial sessions. The 2019 edition of the Global Platform will be held in Geneva, Switzerland. END

Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, leads the Philippine Delegation to Cancun. In this photo, Undersecretary Jalad delivers the country statement at the Global Platform.