Press Release
October 21, 2008

Loren presents Manila Call for Action on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation

Pro-active and preventive strategies are needed to decrease human vulnerability to disaster and climate change, especially that of the poor and with particular attention to women.

Senator Loren Legarda cited this yesterday as she aired the parliamentarians' call on world governments to make disaster risk reduction (DRR) a tool for climate change adaptation (CCA) at national and local levels, as embodied in the just-adopted Manila Call for Action.

Legarda said the governments would be saving much if they opt for investing on preventive rather than reactionary measures in addressing problems brought about by climate change.

The call on world governments is actually one of the four of what the parliamentarians from different countries had promised to carry out after the two-day consultative meeting on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Legarda reported the outcome of the parliamentarians' consultative meeting before participants in another gathering - the four-day Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP)� which started Sunday at Dusit Hotel.

The parliamentarians, according to Legarda, also promised to deliver statements in their respective parliaments to report the same outcome, inquire into the compliance of Governments with the Hyogo Framework for Action and propose legislation to mandate the mainstreaming of gender-sensitive disaster risk reduction in national and regional development plans, including for climate change adaptation.

The parliamentarians noted that distinct gap between DRR and CCA interventions as evidenced by the worsening impact of disasters, increasing human vulnerabilities, and rapid environmental degradation.

"The alarming consequences of leaving these problems unaddressed intensified our desire and commitment to find concrete ways of making disaster risk reduction an international, national and community priority," Legarda told CAPWIP participants.

"I am proud to say that we have come to a consensus that resulted in a Manila Call for Action," added Legarda, referring to the Manila Call for Action of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.

Parliamentarians from Cambodia, National People's Congress of China, Costa Rica, East African legislative Assembly, Republic of Ghana, Jordan, The Netherlands, Republic of Korea, The Republic of Uganda, the European Parliament, and representatives from UNISDR gathered together at a roundtable discussion last Friday and Saturday to harmonize DRR and CCA strategies.

Legarda also batted for the recognition of women's active role in climate change and disaster risk reduction efforts as envisioned by the CAPWIP, a non-partisan, non-profit and non-government regional organization dedicated to promoting equal participation of women in politics and decision-making.

In her report to 300 CAPWIP participants, Legarda said the parliamentarians were convinced not only that preventive measures should be taken in consideration for climate change.

She said the parliamentarians were also convinced that:

DRR is an international, national and community priority and is the first line of defense for adapting climate change;

A comprehensive strategic approach is needed for creating an enabling environment for political and financial commitment in reducing human, social, economic and environmental vulnerability to climate change related hazards;

CCA and DRR are closely linked and that the two should be properly addressed as requirement for attaining Millenium Development Goals.

"This is the first of its kind in DRR history and this landmark document embodies our convictions and commitment to DRR and CCA and I am extremely happy to present this to you today: The Manila Call for Action of Parliamentarians on disaster risk reduction and Climate Change Adaptation," Legarda said.

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