APEC members must focus on building resilient communities

Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) must focus on building resilient communities to sustain economic growth, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Arsenio Balisacan said.

In his speech during the opening of the two-day APEC-Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City, Balisacan said APEC member economies cannot underestimate the importance of building sustainable and resilient communities to maintain growth.

"The Philippines is particularly prone to natural hazards and this very meeting is taking place amidst another very strong tropical cyclone to ever make landfall this year," he told delegates to the APEC-ISOM.

"The other economies in the region have, in varying degrees, their own share of risks to natural hazards."

As the Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change has shown, the occurrence of these hazards is actually becoming more frequent and more violent, Balisacan noted.

"For this reason, we are constantly challenged to instigate effective measures for disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM)," he said.

The NEDA chief called on the APEC to tackle interventions to mitigate the effects of climate change and push for enhanced DRRM, by discussing how to ensure food security, support livelihood resilience, and promote green technology and environmental protection.

These are important so that future generations would enjoy a more prosperous life and a cleaner and greener environment, he said.

Last year, the Philippines was struck by Typhoon ‘Yolanda’, resulting in more than 7,000 fatalities and missing individuals, and causing massive damage to properties and installations, immersing more poor people deeper into poverty.

Aside from disaster risk mitigation, Balisacan said three other priority areas need to be discussed: enhancing regional integration, mainstreaming small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in global and regional markets, and investing in human capital development.

President Benigno S. Aquino III last week launched the country's hosting of APEC 2015, which carries the theme, “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” (PCOO News Release)