The country’s ability to withstand the disastrous effects of natural calamities should be strengthened as these will occur more frequently and be more severe in the future due to the impact of climate change.
This was highlighted during the seventh leg of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management (SPDDM) which concluded on Friday, August 19, in Singapore.
Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy administrator for operations, and Cheryl Lea, acting chief of the Policy Development and Planning Service - Disaster Risk Governance Division, represented the Philippine delegation in the two-day dialogue.
Josephine Teo, Singapore’s minister for communication and information, and second minister for home affairs, graced the top-level discussion and echoed the statement made by the United Nations that climate change “is a defining issue of our time,” stating how it worsens the impact of natural calamities in the ASEAN region.
“We will see sea levels rising and more extreme changes in weather patterns, and these will intensify the occurrences of natural disasters,” Teo said in her speech.
In 2020, Teo said that the ASEAN experienced 530 natural disasters which almost tripled in 2021 to about 1,400. The combined natural disasters in the region last year killed over 1,000 people; injured 16,000 more; while more than 350 others went missing, she added.
One of the most powerful natural disasters in the ASEAN last year was Typhoon Rai or Super Typhoon Odette which hit the Philippines in December 2021, killing 400 people.
As such, Teo enumerated three ways where the ASEAN countries should focus their attention to reach their goal of limiting the increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius in adherence to the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Building resilience
Teo said that foremost of the three is building disaster resilience. She cited the study made by the International Institute for Sustainable Development which stated that for every dollar invested in disaster resilient infrastructure, four dollars are saved from the need to reconstruct damaged infrastructure.
“Prevention therefore should always be better than cure. There needs to be a mindset change to recognize the importance of investing in infrastructure resilience and early warning systems,” she said.
Partnerships
Teo disclosed that a country “cannot afford to work in silos” given the complex nature of disasters.
“ASEAN should collaborate with partners in building disaster resilience,” she noted.
Among the partners that play key roles in disaster management are non-government organizations, civil society groups, and the business community, she said.
She emphasized that the business sector also plays an important role in disaster management by factoring climate considerations in their investment decisions, and by reducing their carbon footprint consumption.
Innovation
“A third area of focus could be to promote innovation in disaster management,” Teo said.
She said that developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics “have the potential to enhance our effectiveness in disaster management.”
“AI technologies may be able to better predict the occurrences of disasters, providing responders with a longer lead time for preparation and evacuation. Scientific research may lead to the development of new building materials and techniques that are better able to withstand the impact of disasters,” she added.
The ASEAN SPDDM is an annual activity and one of the flagship events of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM).
The theme for this year’s SPDDM was “Disaster Resilience is Now: Are We Ready?” and was co-organized by the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF), the ASEAN Secretariat, AHA Centre, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
This was attended by around 130 participants from the sectors of disaster management, environment, climate change, women, private, and academe, among others.