Iriga City
Philippines

Local Implementation of the Sendai Framework - Iriga City, Philippines

Organizer(s) United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Office in Incheon for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction United Nations Human Settlements Program - Philippines (UN-HABITAT) Iriga City
Date
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Background

The world is changing with an increasing global population growth rate and urbanization. Since 1990, the number of mega-cities has nearly tripled. In 2014, over half of the world’s population lived in cities, and by 2050 it is estimated that 66 per cent of the world’s population will be urban.

Given the rapid urbanization of cities and the increasing concentration of assets in urban areas, it is critical for local governments to develop local disaster risk reduction strategies and be prepared to effectively respond to disasters triggered by natural hazards. When disaster strikes, local governments are the first line of defense and thus in a position to implement local plans that minimize destruction of life and economic assets and launch a quick recovery.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 adopted at the Third World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, provides strong guidance to support national and local efforts to build resilience to disasters within the context of sustainable development. Understanding disaster risk requires building awareness and knowledge of disaster risk through training and education of government officials, civil society, and other stakeholders.

The newly adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promotes resilience and disaster risk reduction as a foundation of sustainable development. It calls for strengthening the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, to reduce risk, increase resilience and adapt to climate change. More specifically, the Agenda sets a goal of substantially increasing the number of cities that have adopted and implemented disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation policies by 2020.

So, how to implement the Sendai Framework and make progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda? Clearly, concrete actions must be taken to increase local disaster risk reduction strategies and to localize the Asia Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

In this regard, building resilience and adapting to climate change is crucial for cities. Efforts to build resilience in cities can benefit from integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation with existing efforts in disaster risk reduction and other similar planning processes.

Philippines Context

The Asia and Pacific region and the Philippines are particularly vulnerable to disasters. Between 1970 and 2010, disasters and natural hazards caused an estimated 1.7 million deaths in the region, which was more than half the global total. Extreme weather events are expected to increase in the years to come because of the onset of climate change.

In 2014, Typhoon Hagupit, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Ruby, was one of the most intense tropical cyclones tied with Typhoon Vongfong in terms of maximum sustained winds. Typhoon Hagupit particularly impacted the Philippines in early December 2014. Hagupit, the twenty-second named storm and the eleventh typhoon of the annual typhoon season, started as a tropical storm on December 1 and then became a typhoon the next day. A day after it left at least 21 people dead, according to the Red Cross, and sent more than a million others into shelters in the Philippines.

This storm comes one year after the central Philippines were devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan, that claimed more than 6,300 lives, displacing four (4) million, and cost the economy around $12 billion in damages.

The policies adopted by the Philippines1 toward disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response are reflective of the actions being taken by governments and communities around Asia and the Pacific. This involves taking a broader view of managing disasters.

UNISDR is closely partnering with the Philippines to support the development of more disaster resilient cities and communities. After Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda hit the Philippines in November 2013, UNISDR has been actively engaged through its Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and

UNISDR Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) provides capacity development, policy advice and tailored technical assistance to national and local government, so they are able to conduct assessments of disaster risks at national and local levels. The Institute also provides tools, methodology and training to support the process of the local action plans preparations based on findings of the previously conducted disaster risk assessment exercises.

Workshop

This capacity building training workshop, will provide:

  • an opportunity for cities and local governments to enhance capacities in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction with a focus on local disaster risk reduction plans development and implementation.
  • a platform to exchange in-depth learning from experts in the related area and to share good practices among participants
  • a venue for city-to-city cooperation in building resilience in cities by integrating disaster risk principles into local DRR and CCA plans, programmes and initiatives.

Objectives

Overall, the training course will provide an opportunity to local governments in the Philippines to:

  • Learn about the Making Cities Resilient Global Campaign and how its tools, materials and approaches may be used to build local resilience to disasters.
  • Building capacities of experts and officials at local level with a focus on local disaster risk reduction plans development and implementation based on MCR Campaign 10 Essentials and the draft local urban indicators to make their cities resilient to disasters.
  • Increase political commitment and social demand for risk resilient development, adapted for climate change, aiming for sustainable development.

Expected Outcomes

  • Commitment of Mayors to the Making Cities Resilient Campaign
  • Draft Local Disaster Risk Reduction Plans

Attachments

Concept Note , English

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