In what was a step forward for DRR in the country, the Philippines launched its A-PAD Platform on the 3^rd of March 2016 in collaborative effort with the Citizens’ Disaster Response Centre (CDRC) and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government of Japan. The Philippines stands at 4^th place in the most disaster-prone countries of the world having endured 247 natural calamities in the last 10 years alone. The international symposium which marked the launch comes at a most apposite time for the country.

The launch included a panel discussion of international actors in DRR from Korea, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan and Sri Lanka where they shared the local experiences, best practices, challenges and experience in collaborating with national and international bodies in. Guest speakers included government and ministerial personnel representing the public sector as well as academics, members of the private sector and civil society. A-PAD’s Founding-CEO, Mr Kensuke Onishi too addressed the gathering.

Representing the public sector and of notable mention were Undersecretary Alexander Pama, Civil Defence Administrator and Executive Director, NDRRMC, Mr Makoto Iyori, Minister for Economic Affairs, Embassy of Japan, Hon Loren Legarda, Philippine Senator and Chairperson, Committees on Environment and Natural Resources, Climate Change and Cultural Communities and Hon Joey S Salceda, Governor, Province of Albay, Bicol Region, Philippines and Member, Philippine Delegation to the Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A-PAD Sri Lanka was represented by Mr Firzan Hashim and Ms Jayanthi Somasekeram. Mr Hashim contributed to the panel discussion on behalf of A-PAD Sri Lanka.

As a trans-national disaster-aid alliance that works to facilitate cooperation and understanding between governments, private companies and NGOs in the Asia Pacific region, the launch promotes the A-PAD goal towards intra-regional collaboration, as was highlighted by the A-PAD Chairman, Mr Faizal Djalal of Indonesia.

A-PAD Sri Lanka congratulates the Philippines on this achievement and looks forward to many years of collaboration in the future.

 

A-PAD Sri Lanka  http://www.apadsl.org/