Philippines: LGUs underscore role of women as powerful agents of change, particularly in disaster risk reduction
Tacloban City, Leyte - The local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas are set to highlight activities that will underscore the role of women as powerful agents of change in disaster risk reduction as they celebrate Women’s Month this March.
DILG Region 8 Director Pedro Noval Jr. said that this is pursuant to DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo's memorandum to all governors, city and municipal mayors and punong barangays, saying that it is high time that women’s involvement in disaster preparedness, risk reduction, recovery and rehabilitation, is accentuated.
In his directive, Secretary Robredo said that this year's theme, “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility,” underscores the role of women as powerful agents of change in disaster risk reduction, Noval added.
The directive also urged local chief executives to undertake activities that will help contribute to the building of gender-responsive, resilient, and accountable communities prepared for any disaster that may come their way.
Such activities include kick-off parade and tree-planting activity; local school board policy formulation prescribing each student to plant and nurture a tree; community information caravan on the Magna Carta of Women; Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Other suggested activities are convocation on the role of women in disaster preparedness, risk reduction, recovery, rehabilitation and climate change adaptation; and recognition of women or women organizations or associations and their significant contributions during disasters and typhoons.
Director Noval said that the directive also exhorted the local chief executives to focus their activities on sustaining the national and local advocacy on the implementation of RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women and the Millennium Development Goals focusing on MDG7 which ensures environmental sustainability.
For greater community awareness and participation, LGUs are also encouraged to display streamers in public places and post their program of activities in conspicuous places.
(PIA 8)