2012 Women’s Day Celebration highlights women’s role in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), in collaboration with the provincial government of Rizal and the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), leads the 2012 National Women’s Day Celebration today with a seedling preparation activity as part of the Marikina Watershed Initiative and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) actions. The event aims to help rehabilitate the Marikina Watershed and raise consciousness of participants on gender and DRRM and climate change adaptation.
About 300 participants from various national government agencies, volunteers from Antipolo local government units (LGUs), and women with disabilities are expected to join today’s seedling preparation activities at Barangay Calawis and Sitio Sapinit, Barangay San Juan in Antipolo City, Rizal.
After the seedling preparation, a Forum on Gender and Climate Change and Women in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management program to discuss the linkages between gender and climate change and the importance of involving women in planning and strategizing processes will follow at Sitio Sapinit Covered Court, Barangay San Juan, Antipolo City, Rizal.
The 2012 Women’s Month Celebration theme is “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility.”
“This year’s Women’s Month Celebration challenges the common image of women as victims in disaster and focuses on women’s management capacities and skills,” PCW Chairperson Remedios Rikken said. She added that the celebration seeks to generate commitment from local government units (LGUs) to institutionalize measures which help build gender-responsive resilient communities that are responsible, accountable, and prepared for any disaster.
Around 200 participants listen to discussions about gender and climate change and women in disaster risk reduction during the forum after the seedling preparation/“potting session.” Presidential Adviser on Climate Change Secretary Elisea Gozun stresses that the Philippines is vulnerable to disasters due to its location in the Pacific and that “business as usual” attitude will only lead to more adverse climate change scenario. Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Director Edgardo Ollet discusses the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council organization, and highlights the importance of having a Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council in every city and municipality.
DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, a staunch supporter of women’s rights, will grace the occasion and deliver a statement in support of the Women’s Month Celebration and DSWD’s agenda to prepare and respond to disasters. Also gracing the occasion are Rizal Governor Casimiro Ynares III, Presidential Adviser on Climate Change Secretary Elisea Gozun, Office of Civil Defense Director Edgardo Ollet, and Program Director of Marikina Watershed Initiative Mr. Darwin Flores.
The 2012 Women’s Month Celebration is in consonance with the continuing national and local efforts to implement Section 10 (Women Affected by Disasters, Calamities, and Other Crisis Situations) of Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) and the Millennium Development Goal 7 (Ensure Environmental Sustainability). The celebration is in collaboration with the Inter-Agency on Women’s Month Celebration, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Climate Change Commission.