The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Philippines was identified as the number one most disaster-prone country in the world, according to 2023 World Risk Index.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Marilou Emi said this ranking highlights the country’s extreme vulnerability to natural hazards and the significant risks it faces from disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
The index underscores the urgency for the Philippines to enhance its disaster risk reduction and management strategies.
Usec. Erni pointed out that the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 highlights that the top global risks are mostly environmental, such as extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
“These risks are particularly relevant to the Asia-Pacific region, which has historically borne the brunt of global disaster impacts. Moreover, the Asia-Pacific region has been significantly affected by disasters, accounting for a large percentage of global disaster fatalities and affected populations,” Usec Emi said.
She also announced that the Philippine Government through the DENR, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction ((UNDRR) will host the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) on October 14-18, 2024 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila. The final day, October 18, is reserved for an optional site visit.
Usec. Erni is the current Chief of Staff and Supervising Undersecretary for Strategic Communications of DENR, the government agency primarily responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources.
Before taking on her current role, Usec. Erni served as the Executive Director of the National Resilience Council (NRC) in the Philippines. The NRC is a public-private partnership focused on enhancing climate and disaster resilience through science and technology. It works towards the implementation of key international frameworks, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Climate Agreement.
The APMCDRR stands as the foremost regional platform in Asia and the Pacific for overseeing and strengthening cooperation on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
The Sendai Framework is recognized as a vital global mechanism for coordinating efforts to reduce risks, with the APMCDRR playing a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices in disaster risk reduction across the region.
The APMCDRR will kick off with “Day Zero” on October 14, followed by three full-day programs from October 15 to 17, and will conclude with a field exposure on October 18. The conference will include various sessions such as plenary sessions, working sessions, partner events, learning labs, and a marketplace with exhibition booths.
This conference will unite governments, intergovernmental organizations, international and national bodies, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, and other stakeholders to advance disaster risk reduction efforts.
As the inaugural regional platform following the adoption of the Political Declaration of the Sendai Framework Midterm Review, APMCDRR 2024 will be held under the theme “Surge to 2030: Enhancing Ambition in Asia-Pacific to Accelerate Disaster Risk Reduction.”
The event is expected to attract 2,500 to 3,000 participants, including ministerial representatives, international organizations, and various sectors from across the Asia-Pacific region.
Concerning identifying the Philippines as the number one most disaster-prone country, the conference (APMCDRR) aims to review risk reduction progress, share innovative solutions, and make actionable commitments to enhance disaster risk reduction efforts by 2030 in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions.
Another objective of the conference is to foster ambition in DRR across the region, focusing on practical solutions, inclusivity, and localization. The private sector’s engagement is crucial for sustainable financing and building resilience.
“With this invitation to support the event, we emphasized the importance of collective action in achieving equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development in the face of disaster risks,” Emi noted.