Legarda urges PH to be proactive in disaster risk management

Senator Loren Legarda challenged the status quo in disaster risk reduction, calling on people to be more proactive in mitigating risks related to climate change.

“We are at a crossroads where climate change and disasters threaten our very existence. Typhoons ravage communities, droughts cripple livelihoods, and data reveals alarming trends,” Legarda said during her keynote address at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) on Thursday, May 22.

“The scorching heat is a sign that our planet is in distress,” she added.

Legarda led the ceremonial launch and signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the Sustainable Leadership Learning for Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction (SLL-CDRR) Scholarship Program, in coordination with the Climate Change Commission and the AIM.

The program aims to produce a group of competent climate and disaster resilience leaders, equipping them with skills to transform policy into action, as well as data into concrete solutions.

It will be implemented by the CCC, in partnership with AIM, under the Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management (EMDRCM) program and Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) program.

For 2026, a total of 26 scholars will be supported by the program, initiated and supported by Legarda.

“Laws alone are not enough. We need you: planners, data scientists, advocates. We need you, the scholars who will bring resilience to the barangays, the data scientists who will turn analytics into action, the indigenous leaders who will bridge tradition and innovation,” asserted the four-term senator.

“The pandemic taught us that a crisis accelerates understanding. We will not return to normal. Normal was the problem. Instead, let’s build a Philippines that thrives—a nation of climate champions.”

Legarda, a trailblazer in climate legislation, has championed landmark laws and spearheaded the adoption of international agreements.

Among the pieces of legislation she passed are the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the Clean Air Act, the Climate Change Act, the People’s Survival Fund Act, the Green Jobs Act, and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.

She also shepherded in the Senate the country’s ratification of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, and the adoption of the Paris Agreement.

Legarda has also been recognized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction as a UNDRR Global Champion for Resilience, a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Global 500 Laureate, and an ASEAN Biodiversity Hero, among other honors. (30)

Legarda: Disaster risk management, aksyunan

Hinamon ni Senator Loren Legarda ang publiko na maging proactive sa disaster risk reduction upang mabawasan pa ang sakuna dulot ng climate change.

“We are at a crossroads where climate change and disasters threaten our very existence. Typhoons ravage communities, droughts cripple livelihoods, and data reveals alarming trends,” talumpati ni Legarda sa Asian Institute of Management (AIM) noong Huwebes, Mayo 22.

“The scorching heat is a sign that our planet is in distress.”

Pinangunahan ni Legarda ang paglulunsad at pagpirma ng isang memorandum of agreement para sa Sustainable Leadership Learning for Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction (SLL-CDRR) Scholarship Program.

Itinatag ang programa sa pakikipagtulungan sa Climate Change Commission (CCC) at AIM.

Target ng SLL-CDRR na magkaroon ng matinong lider na kayang tumugon sa climate disasters, pati na ang paglalatag ng kaalaman upang maging epektibo ang pagresponde rito.

Ito ay ipatutupad ng CCC katuwang ang AIM, sa ilalim ng Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management (EMDRCM) program at Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) program.

Magkakaroon ng 26 na iskolar para sa 2026 sa ilalim ng programang isunulong at sinusuportahan ni Legarda.

“Laws alone are not enough. We need you: planners, data scientists, advocates. We need you, the scholars who will bring resilience to the barangays, the data scientists who will turn analytics into action, the indigenous leaders who will bridge tradition and innovation,” a four-term senator.

“The pandemic taught us that crisis accelerates understanding. We will not return to normal. Normal was the problem. Instead, let’s build a Philippines that thrives—a nation of climate champions.”

Pinangunahan ni Legarda ang pagpasa sa ilang mahahalagang batas, pati na ilang kasunduan. Kabilang dito ay ang Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Air Act, Climate Change Act, People’s Survival Fund Act, Green Jobs Act, at Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.

Nanguna rin siya sa pagratipika ng Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, pati na ng Paris Agreement. (30)