The Philippine government has assured of decisive actions to meet the target of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030 in support of the worldwide move to ‘reduce disaster risk and mitigate the effects of climate change. The Sendai Framework provides member states with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster as it recognizes that the state has the primary role of reducing disaster risk. Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr.  said the responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders, including local government units (LGUs). “Governments and states should work together and act with dispatch on disaster risks and climate change issues. The Philippines takes these issues seriously and vows to prioritize actions on the Sendai Framework,” said Abalos during the courtesy visit of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific chief Marco Toscano-Rivalta. Through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Abalos stated that the country has launched the Sendai Framework Monitoring in March 2018 to monitor and track the progress of the implementation of the targets and priorities of the Sendai Framework. A Technical Working Group was also created, of which the DILG is a member, to address data gaps and propose measures to streamline available data for SFDRR reporting. On the part of the DILG, Abalos pointed out that the department will provide the LGUs with capacity development interventions continuously to strengthen their implementation of DRRM policies and plans; strengthen local leadership governance; empower communities; highlight local DRR practices for replication; and emphasize all available science including indigenous knowledge. During the courtesy visit, Abalos also shared updates on the country’s preparations for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2024 Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR). The APMCDRR is the primary regional forum for strengthening DRR coordination and cooperation in Asia and the Pacific and putting the Sendai Framework into effect.