AN INTERNATIONAL conference on disaster risk reduction management is set to be attended by local government executives next month.
Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the conference, dubbed “Lessons from Yolanda: A Disaster Summit,” will be held in ESSU Multi-purpose Hall, Eastern Samar State University in Borongan City on September 3-5.
“This conference aims to, among others, serve as a venue in sharing knowledge and experiences from among international inter-agencies’ responses and practices to disasters in areas of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation through scholarly paper presentations on these thematic areas and lectures from the erudite speakers,” he said.
He said local government units (LGUs) should foster awareness and involvement from stakeholders on the effect of disaster to the human condition, and to find ways to sustain trade and economic development in affected areas.
LGUs may also forge an alliance or partnership through networking between affected local communities and the national and international humanitarian organizations in creating opportunities and valuable resources in disaster management.
Organizers of the three-day conference will also recognize the groups and individuals who helped the people affected by the killer Typhoon Yolanda, which devastated Eastern Visayas in November 8 last year.
The typhoon claimed thousands of lives and while almost 14 million individuals were homeless.
Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said stronger typhoons are expected to enter the country due to climate change.
“There is definitely a link between climate change and the frequency and intensity of typhoons. I suppose we were in a state of denial before that typhoon that brought so much destruction in the Visayas. There is no excuse this time,” Roxas said. “It’s just a matter of how we prepare for it." (Third Anne Peralta/Sunnex)