The Department of Finance (DoF), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the European Union (EU) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group launched a disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) program on March 22 to enhance local government units (LGUs) readiness capacities.
The Disaster Risk Reduction Enhancement at the Local Level Technical Assistance (DRREALL TA) Program aims to support the DILG in reinforcing local government units, specifically in building and enhancing existing capabilities in key DRRM aspects. The DRREALL TA Program will cover activities to address critical gaps, namely, risk-informed planning, integrated capacity development strategies, effective local DRRM funds' utilization, and gender sensitive and socially inclusive disaster response towards ensuring the readiness and protection of citizens especially the vulnerable.
The program also aims to conduct high-level policy dialogue among government and non-government stakeholders in setting important policy directions and solutions that foster co-ownership and accountability. Co-funded by the EU and the AFD, the €4.28 million or P256 million TA accompanies a programmatic policy-based loan by the French government amounting to €250 million to the Government of the Philippines in 2021.The DRREALL TA program will be implemented by the Expertise France and will run from 2024 to 2027 in close partnership among DILG, LGUs, partner national agencies and French institutions.
In a recorded statement, the DoF said that the DRREALL program is a fitting solution to the Philippines' ongoing battle against climate change.
"Given our archipelagic nature, each locality in the Philippines faces its own unique set of challenges and vulnerabilities. This [DRREALL program] will allow us to empower our local government units as we develop climate projects and programs uniquely tailored to their specific needs. By doing so, we ensure sensitivity to localities and increase the likelihood of achieving the greatest positive impact for our people," said Secretary Ralph Recto.
EU Ambassador Luc Véron stated, "The European Union is proud to be able to continue supporting the Philippines' efforts to improve the country's climate resilience, most especially at the local level, through blended financing, in partnership with AFD. This project responds fully to the Government's objective to address Climate Change in a more effective and coordinated manner, and should help to take practical steps and support LGUs to move from plans to action."
"DRREALL is one element in a larger framework of partnership – the Team Europe Green Economy Initiative. As part of this initiative, the EU launched recently the €60 million EU-Philippines Green Economy Program, which will focus on the Philippines' transition towards a more circular economy, reducing waste and plastic, as well as increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy," he added.
"The DILG stands firm in our mandate to lead local government units in shaping strategies for local governance, including developing policies, and programs relevant to protecting most especially our local citizens from natural and human-induced hazards. The strengthening of LGUs in delivering devolved services will always be at the forefront of our vision for a climate resilient Philippines. We encourage all stakeholders identified in the implementation of the DRREALL TA activities, to pledge their active engagement, valuable knowledge, and technical expertise for the successful implementation of the Program," said DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan.
For Philippe Orliange, AFD Executive Director of All Countries' Operation, the Philippines is an important stakeholder in advancing France's Indo-Pacific strategy. "The Southeast Asian region houses 14 of the 20 most climate-exposed countries, 54 percent of the global population, and contributes to 40 percent of the global GDP. Through a €250 million policy-based operation in 2021, AFD demonstrated its commitment to a long-term partnership with the Philippines on a territorial approach to enhance adaptation capacities to climate change. Further, we are mobilizing our French expertise network through the CEREMA (public expertise agency for ecological transition and regional planning) for flood risk planning and Expertise France as DRREALL TA project implementor."
A panel discussion with the theme "Carving a Collaborative Path on the Philippines' disaster risk management" followed the ceremonial exchange of the Trilateral Memorandum of Understanding and the Technical Cooperation Memorandum for the DRREALL TA Program on Friday.
The panel was joined by DILG Usec. Marlo Iringan, Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Calzado, Jr., Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) Executive Director Aileen Leycano, AFD Executive Director Philippe Orliange and Expertise France Deputy Director of the Peace, Security and Stability Department Olivier Sublard. A deepdive and Q&A sessions also followed in the afternoon.
According to the 2023 World Risk Index, the Philippines ranks as the country with the highest disaster risk worldwide alongside multiple exposures, high intensities and severe impact due to flooding, storm surges, typhoons, and landslides. According to the national weather bureau PAGASA, 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility per year on average.
Since 2009, extreme weather events such as Typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, Sendong caused over 3,000 deaths, directly affected more than 10 million people and led to economic loss and damages amounting to approximately $5.7 million. The most intense of which is typhoon Haiyan, which caused more than 6300 deaths and economic destruction valued at approximately $2.3 billion.
More than a decade ago, the government of the Philippines has developed Republic Act 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act with an accompanying roadmap aiming to advance the central role of local authorities in climate adaptation and resilience improvement efforts.
The Foreign Ministry of Taiwan recently invited and hosted a group of 10 international media representatives for a weeklong visit to Taiwan to experience its sites, culture, technology, and more.
Ten international media representatives from around the world, namely from the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Togolese Republic, the Republic of Singapore, the Italian Republic, the United States of America, the Republic of Kenya, and the Republic of the Philippines, were hosted for one week in Taiwan, staying primarily in Taipei, as well as one day in Tainan. They were hosted for a series of courtesy meetings with officials from the government and private sector while simultaneously experiencing the tastes, flavors, and beauty of Taiwan.
To learn more about Taiwan's soft power, the international media group met with the General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC), where the Deputy Secretary General and her team presented their projects for international connectivity through cultural creativity. The GACC "tells the stories of Taiwan to strengthen cultural awareness for the coming generation in order to let the world recognize Taiwan."
Following the courtesy meeting with GACC, the international media group was taken to the Ministry of Agriculture. The Director General for the Department of International Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture highlighted the advancements in agricultural technology and processes that Taiwan has been using to assist countries like the Philippines to modernize their agriculture industry.
The programs by the Taiwan Ministry of Agriculture are very favorable for an agriculture-based country like the Philippines. These Taiwan Ministry of Agriculture projects include an exchange program to host young Filipino farmers to learn about the best agricultural practices at various farms in Taiwan.
The session with the Ministry of Agriculture was followed by a brief visit to the Taiwan Tourism Administration, the National Biotechnology Research Park, Taiwan Office of the President tour, the Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan National Palace Museum, and to Tainan for the 2024 Taiwan Lantern Festival.
The international media representatives were impressed with the various programs and activities that were planned and currently being rolled out by Taiwan to showcase its soft power, highlighting trade, business, culture, and adventure for strengthening Taiwan's international image.
Read The Rest at :
