The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) wants to tap the youth in disaster risk reduction response initiatives as part of the Philippines’ push to attain the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, OCD administrator, said the empowerment of youth leaders down in the communities is essential in improving the disaster response initiatives of the national government.
“Disaster risk reduction initiatives should be fostered among our youth to make them more purposeful for the communities and stakeholders that they serve and work with,” said Nepomuceno in his message during the 5th National Youth Eco Camp in Aklan.
During the gathering under the theme Bridging Leaders for Sustainable Development Inc. (BLSD), OCD officers discussed the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRRM) as well as the mainstreaming of DRRM - Climate Change Adaptation in local youth development plans and activities.
The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals composed of 169 targets, were founded from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
There are 10 SDGs and 25 targets that are related to disaster risk reduction.