UN cites Phl efforts to lessen effects of disasters

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines was one of many disaster-prone countries cited for successfully addressing the effects and damages of natural calamities to lives and properties.

Margareta Wahlstrm, United Nations assistant secretary-general for disaster risk reduction, said the Philippine government has done things to lessen the effects of disasters.

“One of the more extreme disaster-prone countries is the Philippines,” she said. “They have cyclones, earthquakes and volcanoes. A couple of things that the central government has done is to issue very strong legislation on how the country must manage disaster risk, and also equally strong legislation on managing climate risks.”

Wahlstrom said the government needs to cooperate with the national climate commission and the people that manage disaster risks.

More important is the implementation of this legislation at the local level, she added.

Wahlstrom said both pieces of legislation are very clear on the necessity to channel resources to the local level to ensure preparedness systems to reduce the impact of climate change. 

“All these institutional mechanisms are in place and there are several places in the Philippines where the local government, with these resources and these mandates, has built a very strong plan for how to achieve their development goals, taking into account disaster risk and its costs,” she said.

Wahlstrom said in Albay, Gov. Joey Salceda’s objective is zero people killed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

“It’s very concrete, and the goal is sustainable development, but he says very clearly that they have to take into account the costs of disaster losses and its consequences such as changes in agricultural output,” she said.

World leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, non-government organizations and other groups, will come together in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to take part in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) beginning June 20.

The conference seeks to shape how countries and their citizens can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection to achieve long-term growth.

The UN has identified seven key areas as needing urgent attention: creation of jobs, access to energy, building sustainable cities, ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture, access to water, managements of oceans and disaster readiness. – With Christina Mendez