Legarda urged LGUs joining the Campaign of UNISDR

By Jason de Asis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, January 11, 2011-To ensure that their communities are disaster resilient, Senator Loren Legarda urged the local government units (LGUs) to start the year right by joining the “Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready!” campaign of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).

Legarda’s call is set to commit to the UN’s Ten Essential Actions to Reduce Disaster Risks during the launch of the program in Cebu City on January 13 over 100 local executives from Region VII, mostly from the Province of Cebu as they sign-up for the campaign.

She also encouraged others who have not yet participated to make climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction be a part of their agenda as the year started with thousands of people suffering from the effects of continuous rains in Visayas and Mindanao.

“We are in the midst of La Niña and we would be experiencing heavier and more constant rains and intense typhoons. This serves as a warning to us of what we should expect in the coming days and months. The UN campaign will help us become more prepared when disasters occur,” the Senator said, adding that the sign-up event is being organized by the Province of Cebu, the League of Mayors of Cebu, the League of Vice Mayors of Cebu, the Philippine Senate, the UNISDR, PLAN International, and the Office of Civil Defense.

Legarda said that after the campaign launch in Cebu, LGUs in Metro Manila will also commit to the Ten Essentials in a sign up ceremony in February.

To reduce the impact of floods, cyclones, and storm surges, among other natural hazards, Legarda explained that the Ten Essentials include investing more in disaster risk reduction, preparing and sharing risk assessments, ensuring early warning systems in place, and protecting ecosystems.

“Mitigation is the solution to resolve and avoid casualties and losses of lives and livelihood of the citizenry based on the lesson that the country had experienced from the past years adding that there is a need to prepare the people to adapt to a changing climate,” Legarda concluded.

The commemoration is scheduled on Thursday, January 13 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Social Hall, N. Escario St., Capitol Site, Cebu City. (Jason de Asis)