PBBM underscores need to enhance disaster preparedness, response

• Published date: 06 November 2022
• Publication title: Philippines News agency

The national government will continue to prioritize efforts to enhance disaster preparedness and response, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Sunday.

In his weekly vlog, Marcos underscored the need to improve local preparedness and response capacity to prevent and reduce the impact of disasters on communities.

'Ang disaster response at disaster preparedness natin ay prayoridad ng ating pamahalaan na lalo pang pagandahin o palakasin (Improving and strengthening our disaster response and disaster preparedness is a priority of our government),' he said.

He said collective efforts are necessary to safeguard ecosystems, which will ultimately build climate resilience.

'Kapag may pagkakataon, ay lagi ko bini-bring up ang climate change. Hindi ito biro na. Ito ay totoong-totoo na. Kaya't hindi makakatulong ang paglalapastangan natin sa ating mga kabundukan, ilog o dagat (Whenever there is an opportunity, I always bring up climate change. It's not a joke anymore. It's real. So destroying our mountains, rivers or seas will not help us),' he said.

Marcos said planting trees will help reduce the impacts of climate change because they absorb carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities.

'Malayo ang mararating ng simpleng pagtatanim ng mga puno. Ilang henerasyon ang maisasalba nito mula sa sakuna o trahedya. 'Yan po ang tungkulin natin, hindi lang sa ating bayan, kundi sa ating kapwa tao (Simply planting trees will go a long way. It will save many generations from disaster or tragedy. That is our duty, not only to our country, but to our fellow human beings),' he added,

He expressed confidence that joint societal efforts will help the country and the world deal better with climate change.

This month, the Philippines will reassert its entitlement to support and assistance to fight climate change during the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which opened at Sharm el-Sheikh City, Egypt on Sunday.

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, who leads the delegation to the November 6 to 18 event, said the Philippines would again call on developed countries to step up to obligations and "deliver without delay on their commitments on climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building."

Continued assistance

Marcos likewise gave updates on continuing efforts to...