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Women International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction Philippines Chapter (WINDRR PH) was launched on April 26, 2023 in Directors Club 2, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
Senator Loren Legarda, a staunch environmentalist and disaster risk reduction global advocate, gave the Keynote Address. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Mami Mizutori delivered a special address from Geneva, Switzerland.
SRSG Mizutori lauded the organizing committee for the great accomplishment of launching WINDRR PH. She also made mention of SM Prime’s Hans Sy for his continued leadership and support for disaster risk reduction. “SM Prime’s contribution are a shining example of how Public – Private Partnership can strengthen whole of society engagement so that no one is left behind. One group that continues to be left behind and suffers disproportionately from the impacts of disaster is women. This is why we establish WINDRR with the support of Australia to promote women’s leadership in DRR” stated Ms. Mizutori. Further, she said she looks forward to more participation of the Philippines in the 2023 WINDRR Excellence Awards.
For her part, Senator Loren Legarda, a UNDRR Global Champion on Resilience and founding member of WINDRR PH reinforced her commitment for DRR by declaring “I will be available, I will make time, I will give whatever I can not only in lawmaking but in urgent concrete actions to spread the word and translate these words and policies in to actions that can impact on lives for the better.” After her Keynote Address, she made a huddle with the women leaders present and discussed the importance of recognizing and giving award to the best practices of climate change and DRR especially for those who work in the frontlines and who are not given much recognition and those who may not realize that their work is part of DRR.
WINDRR is a flagship program of the UNDRR on women’s leadership on disaster risk reduction in Asia- Pacific and is supported by the Australian Government. In the Philippines, WINDRR PH is powered by SM Prime through its SM CARES Program for Women and the Asia Pacific College. WINDRR PH founding members are Dr. Tata Pastor Medado, Engr. Liza Silerio, Atty. Pearl Turley, Atty. Violeta Seva, Dr. Marqueza Reyes, Dr. Ronilda Co, Ms. Johanna Laddaran, Ms. Minet Aguisanda Jerusalem and Dr. Angela Zafra.
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