UN top officials to inspect Albay CCA, DRR model projects 

By JOHNNY NUNEZ

 LEGAZPI CITY  – Top officials of at least four United Nations agencies will visit Albay this month to personally see for themselves the serious implementation of various programs on climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR), relief and recovery, and health.

The world body had recently chosen Albay as Global Model for Climate Change Adaptation and has named Albay Gov. Joey Salceda as Senior Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction, with his “Zero Casualty” target during disasters. Many other provinces have already adopted his strategy. 

Renaud Meyer, country director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in a letter to Salceda recently said the UN delegation will conduct a full week Joint Field Visit in the country to personally observe innovative development and humanitarian initiatives, visit UNDP projects sites and talk to project beneficiaries. Three days - March 29-31- of the full week visit will be spent in Albay,

Scheduled to arrive are eight Executive Board Members of the UNDP, World Food Programme, (WFP), United Nations Populations Fund (UNPFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),  They will be accompanied by UN country officials and staff.

Salceda said UN member agencies have shown intense interest on the work being done in Albay and on the ground in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, relief and early recovery and even HIV/AIDS programs,.

Meyer, in his letter, said the Joint Field Visit will enable the UN officials who are representatives of UN member states, to witness first-hand the operations and programmes of UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WFP so they may fully understand the contributions UN agencies make and the challenges faced in attaining the objectives, in the context of sustainable development, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed objectives.

The project UNDP-Albay Strengthening the Philippine’s Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change was chosen as a special focus during the visit as it showcases the results UNDP Programmes in partnership with government are able to make on the ground, Meyer explained.

The UNDP Programme had identified Albay’s Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation and Daraga town as among the sites to be visited by the delegation where they will freely interact with local officials, disaster victims and pupils. They also visit resettlement sites and projects under the Building Safe Learning Environment Program. ####

UN officials bibisitahin mga projects sa Albay

LEGAZPI CITY  – Dadalaw and ilang matataaas na opisyal ng United Nations sa Albay sa Marso 29-31 upang inspeksyunin ang mga proyektong may kinaalaman sa climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR), relief and recovery at pangkalusugan.

Napili kamakailan ng UN ang Albay bilang Global Model for Climate Change Adaptation at itinanghal nito si Albay Gov. Joey Salceda bilang Senior Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction. Ang “Zero Casualty” target at estratehiya ni Salceda sa pagharap sa mga kalamidad ay ginaya na rin ng maraming lalawigan.

Sa kanyang liham kay Salceda, sinabi ni United Nations Development Program (UNDP) country director Renaud Meyer na ang dadalaw na UN delegation ay lilibot sa Pilipinas sa loob ng isang lingo ngunit tatlong araw nito (Marso 29-31) ay gugugulin sa Albay upang personal na tingnan ang mga UNDP projects doon at makausap ang mga benepisyaryo ng mga ito.

Kasama sa mga bibisitang UN officials ang walong Executive Board Members ng UNDP, World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Populations Fund (UNPFPA), at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Sasamahan sila ng ilang UN country officials at staff nila.

Ayon kay Salceda, nagpahiwatig ng di pangkaraniwang interes ang ilang UN member agencies sa mga proyektong isinasakatuparan sa Albay na may kinaalaman sa climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, relief and early recovery at pati na rin sa HIV/AIDS. 

Ang UN Joint Field Visit, ayon kay Meyer, ay magandang pagkakataon para personal na makita nang ng mga UN officials na mula sa iba’t-ibang bansa, kung paano isinasakatuparan ang mga proyekto ng UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF at WFP, at maunawaan nila ang kahalagahan ng mga ito sa pagharap ng mamamayan sa hamon ng sustainable development, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at pagtupad sa iba pang mga internationally agreements.

Ang proyektong UNDP-Albay Strengthening the Philippine’s Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change ay napiling focus ng UN visit dahil mahusay at malinaw na naipapakita nito ang positibong resulta ng mga UNDP Programmes sa pakikipagugnayan sa mga pamahalaang local, paliwanang ni Meyer. 

Napili ng UNDP ang Albay Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation at ang bayan ng Daraga bilang focus ng inspeksiyon kung saan personal nilang makakasalamuha ang mga local officials, mga biktima ng kalamidad,  at mga batang maga-aral. Dadalawin din nila ang mga resettlement sites at mga proyekto ng Building Safe Learning and Environment Program. ###