Legarda Lauds Adoption of the Incheon Resolution of the Philippine Parliamentarians on Effective Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA COMMENDED SIXTEEN MEMBERS OFTHE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHO UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED “THE INCHEON RESOLUTION OFTHE PHILIPPINE PARLIAMENTARIANS ON EFFECTIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN THE PHILIPPINES” AT A LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP HELD IN INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA YESTERDAY.
“This document fortifies the commitment of agrowing number of policy makers in the country to decisively confront theissues of worsening disasters and climate change impacts,” said Legarda.
Legarda, United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia and the Pacificand Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, was particularly pleased that the forum facilitated discussions on how legislators can harmonize and further strengthen our legislation on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
“While the Climate Change Act of 2009 and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 are consideredmodel legislation by the UNISDR and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the greater reward is to translate these laws into concrete and measurable targets towards building the resilience of the vulnerable to climate impacts,” the Senator stressed.
“It is encouraging that we found partners in the House of Representatives who resolved to exercise our oversight function in the effective implementation of the laws on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation at the national and local levels and who echoed our call forthe convening of the Climate Change Commission.”
According to Legarda, the resolution was adoptedat an opportune time, as there is growing clamor for President Aquino to make climate change a government priority and declare this commitment in the forth coming State of the Nation Address.
“The administration should demonstrate leadership on this issue that affects food security, livelihood, public health andeconomic development goals, lest our strategies and action plans be washed away by swelling floods. I urge the executive department to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in its development plans and investments”, Legarda concluded.
Senator Loren Legarda, in collaboration with the United Nations International Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction, will hold a forum to assess the state of the country’s resilience against disasters on July 26, a day after President Aquino delivers the SONA.
The Incheon Resolution was signed by Cong. Imelda Calixto Rubiano, Cong. Ben Evardone, Cong. Alfredo Garbin, Cong. Lucy Marie Torres Gomez, Cong. Roger Gaviola Mercado, Cong. Rene Relampagos, Cong. Cesar Sarmiento, Cong. Mel Senen Sarmiento, Cong. Maria Carmen Apsay, Cong. Jocelyn V. Bernos, Cong. Danilo Fernandez, Cong. Rodolfo Biazon, Cong. Jose CarlosCari, Cong. Rodante Marcoleta, Cong. Ana Cristina Go, and Cong. Jesus Sacdalan.