13 June 2016- In light of the country’s international leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), human mobility and climate change agenda, the Philippines expressed that it will continue to promote the Nansen Initiative, which advances principles on cross-border displacement of people, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and migrants, due to natural disasters and climate change.

At the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in Istanbul on May 23, Undersecretary Alexander P. Pama, Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Administrator of the Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense, shared the country’s experience in addressing disaster risks and in assisting disaster displaced persons, underscoring the importance of a whole of society approach and regional cooperation in disaster displacement.

Citing the example of Typhoon Hagupit in December 2014, Undersecretary Pama said, “We adopted a comprehensive approach with the implementation of the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment - Actions, Protocols and Programs (PDRA-APP), and we evacuated almost a million individuals to safer grounds and addressed their needs as part of the government’s preparation.

The PDRA-APP is both a tool and a process where warnings are issued based on a “Hazard specific, Area focused, and Time bound” risk assessment and not only based on “across the board” warning signals in order to mitigate and minimize the effects of disasters.

This action of the Philippines significantly resulted in reducing casualties. Beyond pre-emptive evacuation action, the PDRA-APP also provided basis for determining the appropriate level of response actions, which should be undertaken by the national and local government units.

Leveraging on the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management for Emergency Response (AADMER) and the “ONE ASEAN, ONE RESPONSE” through the AHA Center, the Philippines also effectively implemented an inclusive and participatory disaster management and emergency response in cooperation with other ASEAN countries in the protection of victims of calamities and disasters to include foreign nationals.

This explained the continued engagement of the Philippines in the promotion of the implementation of the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda, now going to be pursued by a new group called New Platform on Disaster Displacement, to be chaired by Germany beginning July 2016.

“Our continued engagement therefore in the new Platform on Disaster Displacement is a testament to our country’s commitment to continue working with the international community in tackling the current gaps and challenges of disaster displacement. Ultimately, it is our people who face the brunt of hazards, natural and human-induced, thus, let us all work together and empower and support them as they build resilience vis-à-vis displacement,” concluded Undersecretary Pama.

The Philippines was one of the speakers in the side event on “Commitments and Opportunities to Implement the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda” held at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul on May 23. It continues to demonstrate the country’s resolve to contribute meaningfully to global discussion on dealing with disasters and displacement, particularly in the context of international cooperation. END