Philippine Leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action Recognized in Regional Meet of Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
Left to right: Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz Paredes; Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Paisan Rupanichkij; Deputy Minister of Interior Sabeeda Thaised; Dr. Bhicit Rattakul, Chair of the ADPC Advisory Council; ADPC Executive Director Aslam Perwaiz; and Ambassador of Bangladesh Faiyaz Murshid Kazi. (Bangkok PE photo)
BANGKOK 31 January 2025 – Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz Paredes led the Philippine delegation to the 18th Meeting of the Regional Consultative Committee of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) on 23 to 24 January 2025, which was co-hosted by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of the Ministry of Interior of Thailand.
The ADPC, a Bangkok-based international organization, held its biennial consultations with its member states, observers, and international partners on the theme of “Sustainable Anticipatory Actions for Resilient Development Goals.” Key topics covered were: (i) advancing disaster risk reduction through technology and innovative solutions; (ii) supporting the localization of priority actions; and (iii) mobilizing disaster and climate financing.
In her opening remarks, Ambassador Paredes highlighted that the Philippines is most vulnerable to climate change and highly susceptible to extreme weather conditions. To stress this, she cited how in late 2024, six typhoons (including super-typhoons) hit within 30 days – an unprecedented occurrence. Ambassador Paredes thus called on all members and partners to lend their full support to the work and the conference of the ADPC.
The ADPC Secretariat, along with the Asia-Pacific office of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), highlighted the active role of the Philippines in disaster risk reduction and climate, notably as Chairs of the ADPC 17th RCC meeting in December 2022 and the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk (APMCDRR) both held in Manila.
Noting the value of regional cooperation in addressing shared, transboundary issues such as disasters and climate change, Ambassador Paredes renewed the Philippines’ confidence in the ADPC’s continued leverage of its technical expertise and strong networks with local communities and international partners across the region.
The ADPC was established in 1986 as a regional disaster preparedness center, with nine founding members: the Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. ADPC became a non-profit, autonomous, international organization on 17 September 2018. END
Ambassador Paredes delivers her opening remarks on behalf of the Government of the Philippines. (Bangkok PE photo)
Members of the Philippine delegation from the Office of Civil Defense and Filipinos from the ADPC Secretariat join Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes (middle). (Bangkok PE photo)
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