Asia-Pacific Inter-economy cooperation in dealing with disasters
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Office of Civil Defense Administrator Alexander Pama stressed Wednesday the need for inter-economy cooperation in dealing with disasters in Asia-Pacific.
“The growing intensity and frequency of natural hazards has become a major concern of the leadership in this region and the rest of the world. Past major disasters such as the Great Hanshin or Kobe Earthquake in 1995, Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in the US in 2005, Wenchuan Earthquake in China in 2008, the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013 show that the impact of disasters is increasingly crossing borders and causing disruptions to human lives particularly on livelihood, business, and trade,” Pama said during the 7th Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Subic Bay Freeport.
“This highlights the fact that a government or a sector in isolation can no longer manage disaster. This further emphasizes the need for an inter-economy cooperation in dealing with disasters to ensure sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region. More importantly, this calls for a holistic, comprehensive, integrated and proactive Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) approach as a new paradigm in confronting calamities,” Pama added.
As such, EPWG shall continuously foster its research and collaboration and knowledge sharing to better protect business, trade, and economic growth and communities in the Asia-Pacific region from disruptions related to emergencies and natural disasters.
“Our tasks are not easy, but truly, I believe that no other group of people can carry it. The outputs made here will not only serve our individual economies, but also that of our collective economies and peoples as well. May we never tire to espouse this empowerment mechanism to build resilience and foster effective DRRM,” Pama ended.
EPWG is among the ongoing related technical meetings in Clark and Subic Freeports in line with the 1st Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1).
“During the discussions of the senior officials during the SOM1, they will take into account the results of these technical meetings in addition to recommendations from the APEC Business Advisory Council, which will have their first meeting this year from January 27-30 in Hong Kong, China,” APEC said in a statement.
Marking the inaugural gathering of APEC senior officials for this year’s Philippine hosting, SOM1 will foster discussion on a range of issues relevant to the region including the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, trade facilitation and implementation, environmental goods and services liberalization, and efforts toward development and against corruption.
The actual SOM1 shall be held from February 6-7 in Clark Freeport.
APEC began as an informal dialogue group in 1989, but has since become the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region.
Apart from the Philippines, other members include Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam.
This year’s meetings carry the theme “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” (PIA 3)
