The Top Leaders Forum, an annual initiative organized by SM Prime Holdings, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), aims to maximize scientific innovations for disaster risk preparedness, reduction and resiliency.
The forum, held recently at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, engaged the members of the private sector, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to ensure that they are equally prepared for future disasters.
SM Prime Holdings executive chair of the board and National Resilience Council (NRC) co-chair Hans Sy said, “Arise members actively support capacity building in government-initiated DRR (disaster risk reduction) activities. SM’s Business Continuity Program has been implemented among 1,500 MSMEs through free access to an offsite data storage facility. Let us all heed the call of resilience and do our share.”
Among the forum’s roster of keynote speakers were UNDRR special representative to the United Nations secretary general Mami Mizutori, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, NRC president Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Office of Civil Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia and Mayors Oscar Moreno of Cagayan de Oro City, Nelson Legacion of Naga City, Maria Isabelle Climaco of Zamboanga City and Richard Gomez of Ormoc City.
One of the highlights of the forum was the Young Leaders for Resilience Program where student representatives from various cities and provinces presented potential solutions for the NRC partner local government units’ climate and disaster risk profiles in a friendly competition. The winners were students from Colegio de Muntinlupa and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa for their project “Seismo Power Terminator.”
Arise Philippines is a network of businesses committed to create risk-resilient societies through a distinct approach of private-public partnerships. The NRC is a science and technology-based public and private partnership that supports government, communities, and the private sector in advancing the New Urban Agenda. Both Arise Philippines and the NRC align with the Sendai Framework for DRR, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.
(For more information, e-mail arisephilippines@smprime.com or visit cc.preventionweb.net/arise/asia_pacific/arise_philippines and@UNDRRARISEPH on Facebook.)