Loyzaga

PH eyes duplicating Australia’s Nat’l Emergency Mgmt Agency

September 26, 2022 Cristina Lee-Pisco 303 views

THE Philippines expressed keen interest in duplicating Australia’s National Emergency Management Agency that combines the National Recovery and Resilience Agency and Emergency Management.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said she is looking forward to further engagement with Australia to further learn from the latter’s national emergency management when she met Senator Murray Watt, Australian Minister for Emergency Management and Head of the Australian Delegation at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR). Watt also serves as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Australia.

The two countries exchanged best practices in the delivery of disaster preparedness and response services and discussed developments in national efforts to address climate change and develop national resilience. Yulo Loyzaga talked about the importance of government engagement with the private sector to stop the cycle of merely responding to the damages caused by disasters.

The Secretary underscored the importance of the commitment of the industry to embed resilience in its business framework.

Murray thanked the Philippines for its leadership on disaster risk reduction and expressed Australia’s desire to pursue bilateral discussions on emergency preparedness and response.

Yulo Loyzaga and Watt reaffirmed the long-standing relations of the Philippines and Australia and committed to support efforts to advance the partnership to a strategic level.

The Government of Australia and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) co-hosted the APMCDRR at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Conference is the largest Asia-Pacific biennial gathering focused on disaster risk reduction, resilience, and the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Secretary Yulo Loyzaga was joined in the meeting by Undersecretary Raymundo Ferrer of the Department of National Defense – Office for Civil Defense. Minister Watt was joined by Senator Tony Sheldon, Australia’s Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery.

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