PASAY CITY: The Philippines emphasized the importance of localizing disaster risk management and improving early warning systems during the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
According to Philippines News Agency, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, speaking on the first day of the conference, highlighted the unique challenges faced by the Philippines due to its diverse geography and the increasing intensity of natural hazards exacerbated by climate change. Yulo-Loyzaga stressed the necessity for early warning systems that resonate with the specific contexts of local communities, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
The environment secretary pointed out that the current warning systems in the Philippines primarily describe hazards without sufficient contextualization, making it difficult for the general populace to understand the real dangers they face. This often results in miscommunication, especially wh
en warnings are issued in languages that are not understood by all residents.
Yulo-Loyzaga also mentioned the urgent need to revisit the national plan for handling a potential massive earthquake, known as the “Big One.” This revision is crucial to ensure preparedness and effective response strategies are in place for such a significant event.
The APMCDRR, which runs from October 14 to October 18, has gathered approximately 4,000 delegates from various Asia Pacific nations. The conference aims to foster collaboration among governments, intergovernmental and international bodies, national and civil society organizations, the private sector, science and academia, and other stakeholder groups to enhance efforts in reducing disaster risk.