A United Nations (UN) official commended President Marcos for his strong leadership in climate action through strengthened policies and programs.

Mami Mizutori, the Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, said this during her meeting with Marcos in Malacañan on Friday, Oct. 13.

In her remarks, Mizutori expressed the UN's readiness to assist the Philippines in climate financing, noting the efforts of the President to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country.

“Because of your rather challenged situation, there is a very strong (need) and under your leadership, (the) policy and structure in your government … by building resilience at the national level but also at the local level down to the barangays and the communities,” Mizutori said.

Mizutori, also the special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, praised President Marcos for accepting the invitation to host the Asia-Pacific ministerial conference for disaster risk reduction in October next year, which she described as a “very important conference.”

“I think the Philippines can share so much of the best practices that have come up from the challenges, and so we are here to accompany your Excellency and the government in the journey for resilience,” she said.

“We believe, I truly believe, the Philippines is a great example,” she added.

In response, President Marcos welcomed the UN official’s offer, but he noted the difficulty of developing countries in accessing financing for climate change.

“We are already in the middle of the effects of climate change. It’s time to get it done. But I’m glad that you’re here. As you can see immediately, this is very high on our priority,” he said.

“And then there are many, many other requirements that we have to fulfill. And sometimes it seems that it is very difficult to actually qualify for some of these,” he added.

According to Mizutori, the UN Secretary-General wants reform in the international financial institutes and system, noting the situation of middle-income countries like the Philippines, which are constantly affected by climate-related disasters.

“So, we will work as a United Nations system on how better to access climate financing,” she said.

The President said vulnerable countries, like the Philippines, have to wrestle with the wide-ranging effects of changing climate, including the “very rapid” increase of the price of rice, because all Asian countries are anticipating El Niño in the first quarter of next year.

He added that regions not experiencing typhoons and other calamities are now prone to flooding and other climate-related disruptions and changes.

“We are always expected to be one of the most vulnerable when it comes to the effects of climate change, and we certainly are very concerned,” Marcos said.

“As I’ve said, right now, we are already feeling it because of the frequency and the intensity of these disasters that fall into the country,” he added.