00:00The country's disaster response policy can be summed up in a few words,
00:04all hands on deck or a whole of government approach.
00:07Last week, United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Chief Kamal Kishore
00:12lauded the Philippine government for its people-centered approach
00:14toward effective risk reduction efforts and disaster response,
00:18one that focuses in saving lives and protecting the more vulnerable sectors
00:23over property and material assets.
00:25If only Tropical Storm Christine hit the country a week earlier,
00:29Kishore and all the dozens of international delegates would have had a forefront role
00:33or ringside seat to effective, positive and proactive disaster and risk mitigation
00:38responses and efforts.
00:40What they would have seen was a dynamic, concerted and multi-sectoral effort
00:44to heed warnings and comply with government orders,
00:47and an even more collective response to provide relief and aid
00:51to those left marginalized by calamities.
00:53Such as law enforcement joining hands to fiscally evacuate children,
00:57women and the elderly to safer spaces,
01:00and religious and cost-oriented groups packing relief supplies
01:03for distribution in warehouses.
01:05And all well-coordinated and in-step with local and national government
01:09leading the way, like the president and his disaster response teams
01:13assessing the status and location of a moving calamity
01:16and the areas affected by its passage.
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