Statement by Mr. Gustavo Gonzalez at the Asia-Pacific Science and Technology Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense

Secretary Fortunato de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology

Dr. Rajib Shaw, Professor at Keio University and Co-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (AP-STAG),

My colleague Marco Toscano-Rivalta, Chief of UNDRR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and Co-Chair Asia-Pacific Scientific and Technical Advisory Group

Mr. Hans Sy, Co-Chair of ARISE Philippines,

For decades, natural disasters have been one of the major causes of worsening poverty, forcing some 26 million people into poverty each year and reversing hard-won developmental gains.

These disasters have claimed the lives of millions of people and resulted in close to US$3 trillion US dollars in economic losses.

The COVID19 pandemic reminded us of biological hazard already foreseen in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

We also know that climate change is altering rainfall patterns, affecting water availability, prolonging periods of drought and heat, and increasing the intensity of cyclones, which can lead to severe flooding events.

We are just slowly recovering from super typhoon Odette, that affected an estimated 9.9 million people across the six worst hit regions, leaving about 2.4 million people in need of assistance, with, massive damage to infrastructure, agricultural land, fishing communities and livelihoods.

But addressing risks is a fundamental governance issue. It relates to policies, strategic decisions and financial allocations that put “prevention” and “disaster risk management” at the heart of the political agenda.

We know that allocation for emergency response is approximately 20 times higher than for prevention and preparedness, countering sustainability principles. We also know that investing in resilient infrastructure is an investment in the future. Every $1 invested in making infrastructure disaster-resilient saves $4 in reconstruction.

This approach represents the most cost-effectve way of saving lives, preserving critical assets and systems and remain on the development track.

More than 100 countries now have a disaster risk reduction strategy at least partially aligned to the Sendai Framework. And in at least 55 countries and local governments have their own disaster risk reduction strategies – essential to building resilience from the ground up.  

In this context, the United Nations in the Philippines is very happy and proud of supporting this regional conference that represents a concrete step forward in the implementation of the Sendai Framework.

As you know, the United Nations just just updated its cooperation framework with the Philippines to strengthen prevention and disaster risk management in its programming.  The new Socioeconomic and Peacebuilding Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in the Philippines 2020-2023 supports priorities outlined in the Sendai Framework to strengthen disaster risk governance and enhance disaster preparedness.

While states have the ultimate responsibility for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, stakeholders, including the scientific and academic community, play a critical role through their ability to bring in a ‘whole-of-society’ perspective.

The contribution of science and academia, particularly from this conference, will be key to empowering decision makers with the necessary knowledge to tackle the challenges posed by disaster risks and make them adaptive to its changing landscape.

I hope the Philippines can make the most of two on-going processes to highlight and address these challenges:

First, the Voluntary National Review being prepared by the Philippines this year provides a timely opportunity to showcase how disaster risk reduction contributes to, and is necessary for the achievement of, the SDGs; and

Second, the voluntary national Mid Term Review of the Sendai Framework can bring together all the stakeholder groups in the review consultations to get a robust assessment of progress and map out concrete actions to urgently strengthen DRR capacities.

In closing, I would like to congratulate all the organizers of this important conference. I wish all of you a productive debate.

Thank you.