Private sector pushes for more disaster risk reduction initiatives

MANILA, Philippines - The private sector has pushed for a more active role in disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives as world leaders and business executives adopted the Sendai Framework as a new structure on disaster management.The Sendai Framework on DRR was adopted as a post agreement after the end of the Hyogo Framework during the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan recently.The Hyogo Framework is a ten-year (2005 to 2015) action plan for governments and businesses to reduce losses from natural hazards and make the world more resilient to disasters.

As the Hyogo Framework ended this year, world leaders agreed to adopt a new framework aimed at improving global targets on DRR over the next 15 years or until 2020.?One hundred eighty seven states attended the conference participated in by 6,500 delegates, including 25 heads of government, 100 at the ministerial level, 42 intergovernmental organizations, 236 non-governmental organizations and over 300 private sector?representatives.?Hans Sy of SM Prime Holdings Inc., the only Filipino member of the UN Private Sector Advisory Board, attended the planning session for the private sector during the conference to show his commitment to DRR.

Sy has been working with the UNISDR since 2012.?

“My experience has proven that investing in resilience of my company assets simply makes good business sense,” Sy said, recalling a statement he delivered at the last global conference in Geneva, Switzerland.?

DRR is a continuing agenda that SM advocates to its business partners and communities where they operate. SM raises further awareness for its importance via annual forums, gathering field experts and top business leaders alongside its stakeholders and tenant partners.?

Sy said that disaster resilience is an investment and the efforts to put DRR in business is the right thing to do in these times of natural hazards. Sy actively dialogued with the Philippine delegation in Sendai to encourage disaster resiliency.