UN to launch global assessment report on RP

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations will launch the Global Assessment Report on the Philippines and the whole world about disaster risk reduction.

Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committee on climate change adaptation, said the Global Assessment Report, initially launched by UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon in Bahrain last May, will provide guidance to the country on how to minimize the impact of climate change and reduce its risk.

Marikina City was chosen for the “on location” launch because it reflects how heavy rains caused by climate change has changed the environmental landscape in the country.

Legarda stressed the need for good governance for communities to meet the challenges of climate change and reduce disaster casualties and damage.

“Development cannot be focused only on economic gains without the accompanying responsibility of good governance.  Development should not create risks for our people and our economy. We need to ensure the resilience of our development investments,” she said.

In the “Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2009: Executive Brief,” Legarda said the world as a whole must act immediately to seize and reduce disaster risks.

She noted the grim statistics globally, citing the UN report which showed that the world in the year 2008 alone saw 321 disasters which killed about a quarter of a million people and affected more than 200 million lives. – Christina Mendez