The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) underscored the importance of leveraging on a cross-agency collaboration toward a more comprehensive national disaster response at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) held from October 14 to 17 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

“Integrated efforts are essential in addressing complex challenges and mitigating the impacts of crises. The role of social welfare and national disaster authorities is crucial in fostering resilience, ensuring that communities are better prepared and more capable of recovery,” DSWD Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera said during the session titled “Leveraging a Whole of Government Approach,” held during Day 3 of the APMCDRR on October 16.

Undersecretary Cabrera said the Philippine government has taken significant steps in upscaling a whole-of-government approach as agencies collectively tap on their respective expertise and mandates to roll out complementary preparations and interventions in addressing various disasters and crises.

The DSWD has been the oversight on these efforts, as the Department is responsible for activating the Disaster Response Pillar during disaster response operations to monitor and provide immediate action for disaster-affected population.

Undersecretary Cabrera stressed that the agency does not stop improving its social protection services during disaster preparation, response and recovery phases, citing commitment in implementing the ASEAN guidance on the role of social service workforce in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.

“Following the successful finalization of the ASEAN Regional Guidance on the Role of Social Workers and the Wider Social Service Workforce in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Resilience, we now face the critical task of implementing and rolling out the regional guidance in ASEAN Member States,” the DSWD official said.

The regional guideline was among the outcomes of the ASEAN Dialogue hosted by the Philippines through the DSWD last May, which aimed at strengthening the delivery of social services in response to disasters and the ever-pressing issue of climate change.

Undersecretary Cabrera raised the guideline during the APMCDDR session as she called for robust partnerships between social welfare and disaster management agencies to deliver effective, timely, and coordinated responses during crises.

“The discussions showcased the significance of strong partnerships between social welfare services and disaster management agencies, where collaboration is the key to delivering  effective, timely, and well-coordinated crisis responses. These efforts collectively aim to enhance the region’s ability to respond to disasters while working toward shared goals of safety, stability, and resilience,” Undersecretary Cabrera pointed out.

This year’s APMCDRR brought together government agencies; intergovernmental, international, national civil society organizations; the private sector; science; academia; and stakeholder groups to provide a platform for regional collaboration in disaster risk reduction and resilience building. #

Tagalog Version

Tulungan ng mga ahensya, susi sa episyenteng disaster management

Binigyang diin ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang kahalagahan ng cross-agency collaboration o pagtutulungan ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan upang magkaroon ng komprehensibong pagtugon sa panahon ng kalamidad.

Ito ang naging pagtalakay sa ginanap na Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) na ginanap nitong October 14 hanggang October 17 sa Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Sinabi ni DSWD Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera sa session ng “Leveraging a Whole of Government Approach”, sa ginanap na APMCDRR “integrated efforts are essential in addressing complex challenges and mitigating the impacts of crises. The role of social welfare and national disaster authorities is crucial in fostering resilience, ensuring that communities are better prepared and more capable of recovery.”

Ayon kay Undersecretary Cabrera, pinapalakas ng pamahalaan ang pagtutulungan ng bawat government agency o whole-of-government approach, kung saan nagagamit dito ang expertise ng bawat ahensya para sa paghahanda at interbensyon na kailangan bilang pagtugon sa panahon ng krisis at kalamidad.

Ang DSWD ang responsable sa implementasyon ng Disaster Response Pillar sa panahon ng disaster response operations. Ang ahensya ang nagmo-monitor at nagbibigay ng agarang aksyon sa mga disaster-affected population.

Ayon kay Undersecretary Cabrera, hindi aniya humihinto ang ahensya sa pagsasaayos at pagpapalakas ng social protective services nito para sa disaster preparation, response and recovery phases, bilang commitment sa implementation ng ASEAN guidance on the role of social service workforce para sa disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.

“Following the successful finalization of the ASEAN Regional Guidance on the Role of Social Workers and the Wider Social Service Workforce in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Resilience, we now face the critical task of implementing and rolling out the regional guidance in ASEAN Member States,” sabi pa ng DSWD official.

Ang regional guideline ay kabilang sa napagkasunduang ASEAN Dialogue nitong nakaraang Mayo, na naglalayong palakasin ang delivery of social services bilang pagtugon sa kalamidad at isyu ng pagbabagong klima.

“The discussions showcased the significance of strong partnerships between social welfareservices and disaster management agencies, where collaboration is the key to delivering effective, timely, and well-coordinated crisis responses. These efforts collectively aim to enhance the region’s ability to respond to disasters while working toward shared goals of safety, stability, and resilience,” dagdag pa ni Undersecretary Cabrera.

Ang APMCDRR na ginanap ngayong taon, ay nagbuklod sa government agencies; intergovernmental, international, national civil society organizations; private sector; science; academia; at stakeholder groups upang makabuo ng platform para sa regional collaboration in disaster risk reduction and resilience building. #