Speakers and Discussants from this year’s Top Leaders Forum include (From left) Top Row – Ms. Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction; Mr. Hans Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and Co-Chair of ARISE-Philippines, Ret. VAdm. Alexander Pama, Co-Chair of ARISE-Philippines; Mr. Hans-Peter Teufers, Co-Chair ARISE Global; Second Row – Atty. Alex Cabrera, Vice Chair ARISE-Philippines; Ms. Liza B. Silerio, VP Corporate Compliance Group of SM Supermalls and board member of ARISE Global; Ms. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, President of the National Resilience Council; Assistant Secretary Casiano Monilla, Civil Defense Deputy Administrator for Operations; Bottom Row – Dr. Fernando T. Aldaba, Ateneo de Manila University-School of Social Science; Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Projects Paola A. Alvarez, Department of Finance; Mr. Alfredo Pascual, 2022 President Management Association of the Philippines; Mr. Arturo C. Guerrero III, Governor of Employers Confederation of the Philippines; Ms. Ma. Alegria S. Limjoco, Chairman of Philippine Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
ARISE-Philippines, the local network of the global private sector alliance for disaster resilient societies organized by the UN Office For Disaster Risk Reduction, in collaboration with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and the National Resilience Council (NRC), held the 2021 Top Leaders Forum virtually last December 6 attended by over 300 top executives from the private sector as well as representatives from government units. This is the 9th installment of the annual event that was initiated in 2012 by Mr. Hans Sy.
This year’s forum centered on the theme — Ensuring Continuity of Private Sector Engagement for Effective Disaster Risk Governance Given New Risks Due to the Pandemic, Impact of Climate Change and the Economic Outlook, and included presentations from the Office Of Civil Defense (OCD), the Department of Finance (DOF), and the Ateneo Eagle Watch of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research & Development.
Ms. Mizutori, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for DRR, highlighted the need for a better understanding of risks in order to build resilience, from fundamental aspects of governance to what constitutes sustainable development, and what is a healthy relationship with the environment. She was pleased that the Philippine NDRR plan clearly identified the role of the private sector. This was evident in the NDRRM Framework 2020-2030 shown by ASec. Monilla of which outlined three key result areas – disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and build back better.
Dr. Aldaba mentioned that in order to manage our risks we need to have improved DRRM especially at the local level, a working universal health care system, adaptive social protection system, better governance (curbing corruption in the social sectors), higher trust and social capital. Department of Finance ASec. Alvarez also added that sustainable financing can somewhat help the business sector transition and become more climate resilient.
Mr. Teufers in his remarks emphasized the help of the private sector in driving the transformation of DRR processes. Mr. Pascual agreed to this since the continuing impact of climate change driven disasters means a growing cost therefore executives must realize that managing disaster risk is a critical component of running profitable businesses. Ms. Limjoco, on the other hand, appealed on the need for localized program approach especially for MSMEs capability building on DRR which includes promoting financial literacy provision of grants and soft loans incentives on business continuity planning (BCP). Mr. Guerrero cited that MSMEs employ 62% of the labor force therefore planning employment recovery is important to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable economic and social development by preparing the labor force by skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling and to reintroduce the green shift in the Philippines.
For more information about the forum and ARISE-Philippines please visit www.arise.ph or send an email to secretariat@arise.ph.