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UN asks Philippines to host Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

Residents of Brgy. Sapang Bayan in Calumpit, Bulacan go about their day amid deep flood water that have yet to subside on July 25, 2024, a day after the typhoon Carina-strengthened habagat lashed parts of Luzon. Bulacan, along with Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, and Metro Manila were put under a state of calamity which allows the government to tap emergency funds for relief and reconstruction efforts. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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Joyce Balancio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span dir="ltr" id="isPasted"></span></div><p>MANILA--- The United Nations (UN) has asked the Philippines to host the next Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDDR), Environment Secretary Maria Anontia Yulo-Loyzaga said Friday. </p><p>The APMCDRR is a biennial conference that is held every two years. </p><p>&quot;The last one was in Brisbane, Australia and during that Brisbane, Australia conference, the Philippines was approached by the United Nations to ask whether we would be willing to host the next one,&quot; Loyzaga said in an interview over Malacanang Insider.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/5/10/denr-to-digitize-shorten-permit-process-for-mining-2213">DENR to digitize, shorten permit process for mining</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/1/is-manila-bay-reclamation-to-blame-for-worsening-floods-denr-shares-findings-1359">Is Manila Bay reclamation to blame for worsening floods? DENR shares findings</a></div><p>This conference, attended by countries in the Asia Pacific, usually focuses on disaster risk financing, inclusion,  and localization of solutions and measures. </p><p>Loyzaga said one of the cited reasons for the invitation is for the Philippines to share its experiences in handling a number of hazards. </p><p>&quot;The Philippines has also been a model for strategic engagement across sectors, also bringing in local governments in these decision support systems for disaster risk reduction, and in partnerships between different sectors in the country as well as bilateral/multilateral partners,&quot; she added.<br/><br/>&quot;The Asia-Pacific, as you know, is one if not the most disaster-prone region in the world. It’s acknowledged to be such, but we are also recognized as the strongest regional economy and that is bound for growth all over the world,&quot; she also said. </p><p>The next conference is scheduled on October 14-18 this year. </p><div><strong>LOSS AND DAMAGE BOARD</strong> </div><p>Loyzaga also said that the law that will govern the hosting of the Philippines of the Loss and Damage Board is expected to be passed soon. </p><p>The Loss and Damage Board was operationalized at the COP 28 UN Climate Change Conference in December 2023  to help vulnerable countries recover from climate impacts.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/7/40m-filipinos-do-not-have-access-to-clean-and-potable-water-denr-1320">40M Filipinos do not have access to clean and potable water: DENR</a></div><p>Out of the seven countries, the board has selected the Philippines to be its host country.</p><p> &quot;We&#x27;re very grateful, first of all, for the opportunity to be able to host the Loss and Damage Board. And, what we need to understand is how that brings the Philippines to center stage in terms of this very, very long fought battle to have loss and damage recognized by developed countries in terms of how the vulnerability of developing countries actually is a result of really events that have been not of their own causing,&quot; Loyzaga said.<br/><br/>&quot;So, the Loss and Damage Fund Board requires legislation because we actually need to imbue it with privileges and immunities as a legal entity. And therefore, we had to go to Congress and we had to go to the Senate, so I’m very happy to report that in Congress were almost done with third and final reading and the same in the Senate as well,&quot; she added.</p><p> In his recent state of the nation address, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr encouraged lawmakers to pass this legislation, citing the importance of the country&#x27;s participation in climate action.</p><p> &quot;This will require an enabling law from Congress to confer the legal personality and capacity to the board. This welcome development shall complement all our other climate adaptation and mitigation measures and give us a strong voice to access the needed finance assistance for climate-related initiatives and impacts,&quot; Marcos said.</p>

<p>The United Nations (UN) has asked the Philippines to host the next Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDDR), Environment Secretary Maria Anontia Yulo-Loyzaga said Friday.</p>

The United Nations (UN) has asked the Philippines to host the next Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDDR), Environment Secretary Maria Anontia Yulo-Loyzaga said Friday.