Phl presses global effort in disaster preparedness, response

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government urged the Group of 77 and China (G77+China) to push for a revitalized global policy framework in disaster preparedness and response, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Arsenio M. Balisacan made this statement during The Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the G77+China on June 15, 2014.

“Without a doubt, natural calamities have become a major consideration in framing our shared goal of sustainability and development. Likewise, the challenges of climate change demand action from all of us, individually and as a group, toward establishing the well-lived society we all want,” he said.

Balisacan also emphasized that even with the Philippine government's efforts, natural calamities, with magnitude such as that of Typhoon Haiyan, have negated some of the progress it has made and have even pulled back development, especially in the affected areas.

“We commit to advance the G77+China’s interest and aspirations in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, particularly in its call to scale up existing commitments to eradicate poverty in all its dimensions, achieve equality of opportunities for all and fight climate change.” he concluded.

The G77+China, also celebrating its 50th founding anniversary this year, is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations (UN). The group provides developing countries an avenue to articulate and promote collective economic interests and enhance joint-negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the UN system.

In September, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will convene a Climate Summit alongside the annual General Assembly meeting. The event is aimed at building on momentum ahead of official talks next year when world leaders will agree on a legally-binding treaty that would cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Also later this year, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Peru in its last official high-level meeting before the negotiations in Paris in 2015.