Network of women leaders on disaster risk reduction in the PH launched 

Women International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction Philippines Chapter (WINDRR PH) was launched on April 26 at the Directors Club 2, Mall of Asia, Pasay.

Senator Loren Legarda, a staunch environmentalist and disaster risk reduction global advocate, gave the keynote address, while Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Mami Mizutori, delivered a special address from Geneva, Switzerland.

SRSG Mizutori lauded the organizing committee on the successful launch of WINDRR PH. She also acknowledged SM Prime’s Hans Sy for his continued leadership and support for disaster risk reduction.

“SM Prime’s contributions are a shining example of how public–private partnership can strengthen whole of society engagement so that no one is left behind. One group that continues to be left behind and suffers disproportionately from the impacts of disaster is women. This is why we established WINDRR with the support of Australia to promote women’s leadership in DRR,” said SRSG Mizutori.

She added that she looks forward to more participation from the Philippines in the 2023 WINDRR Excellence Awards.

For her part, Sen. Legarda, a UNDRR Global Champion on Resilience and founding member of WINDRR PH, reinforced her commitment to DRR by saying: “I will be available, I will make time, I will give whatever I can not only in lawmaking but in urgent concrete actions to spread the word and translate these words and policies into actions that can impact lives for the better.”

 After her speech, she met with participating women leaders and discussed the importance of recognizing the best practices in addressing climate change and DRR, especially for those who work in the frontlines, those who are not recognized for their efforts, and those who may not realize that their work is part of DRR.

WINDRR is a flagship program of the UNDRR on women’s leadership on disaster risk reduction in the Asia Pacific region and is supported by the Australian Government.

In the Philippines, WINDRR PH is powered by SM Prime through its SM CARES Program for Women and the Asia Pacific College.

WINDRR PH founding members are Dr. Tata Pastor Medado, Engr. Liza Silerio, Atty. Pearl Turley, Atty. Violeta Seva, Dr. Marqueza Reyes, Dr. Ronilda Co, Johanna Laddaran, Minet Aguisanda Jerusalem, and Dr. Angela Zafra.

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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by SM Prime Holdings.