International disaster meet hosted by Philippines starts today

MANILA, Philippines — More than 4,000 representatives from 69 countries will gather in the Philippines starting today as the country hosts the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) in an effort to mitigate the impact of climate change.

The APMCDRR is a biennial event convened by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to bring together governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, science, academia and stakeholder groups to accelerate progress in reducing disaster risk.

It will be held from Oct. 14 to 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

“With the theme, Surge to 2030: Enhancing ambition in Asia-Pacific to accelerate disaster risk reduction, the ministerial conference aims to provide LGUs (local government units) with a platform and network to accelerate their progress in reducing disaster risks through knowledge-sharing and good practices, new tools and ways to access innovative financing,” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the country’s hosting of APMCDRR reflects the UN’s recognition of the significant progress that the Philippines has made in disaster resilience.

President Marcos is set to welcome delegates during the second day of the international gathering.

Other critically important areas of discussions for LGUs include multi-hazard early warning systems which have been incorporated in disaster risk reduction strategies in the Caribbean for hurricanes, Japan for geohazards and landslides, Bangladesh for monsoon season flooding and even in various Philippine localities such as Makati City where it has been used to prepare for geological, hydrometeorological and technological hazards.

APMCDRR is the main platform in Asia and the Pacific to monitor, review and enhance cooperation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 at the regional level.

As the first APMCDRR since the adoption of the Political Declaration of the Sendai Framework Midterm Review, the conference will provide an important opportunity to review risk reduction efforts, share innovative solutions and make actionable commitments to accelerate disaster risk reduction by 2030 in the world’s most disaster-prone region.

Aside from the DENR and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the APMCDRR is co-organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Office of Civil Defense.