Press Release - Speech of Sen. Loren Legarda at the 2024 Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and partners,

Good morning. It is an honor to address this session on ensuring that no one is left behind in disaster risk reduction, a goal central to the Sendai Framework. In the Asia-Pacific region, disasters disproportionately affect women, girls, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities. Women, who make up 70% of the world's poor, are often the hardest hit. Persons with disabilities are up to four times more likely to die during disasters.

Clearly, inclusivity is not a choice—it is a necessity if we are to build truly resilient societies. Gender-responsive disaster risk governance recognizes that women and girls are not merely victims; they are leaders and agents of change. Globally, one in five girls is married before the age of 18, and girls are nearly twice as likely to miss out on education as boys.

These girls already have a vision for a future where they can thrive. Our role is to ensure they have the resources, education, and leadership opportunities to turn that vision into reality. Beyond inclusion, women, girls, and all marginalized groups must harness their creativity and ingenuity to lead sustainable solutions to our most pressing development challenges. From achieving a just transition to a low-carbon world to building safer, more secure communities, their contributions are essential.

In the Philippines, we have enshrined gender equality in our laws. The Magna Carta for Women and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, laws I championed, ensure the protection and empowerment of women in disaster contexts.

Furthermore, the Climate Change Act of 2009, a law I principally authored and sponsored, mandates that one of the commissioners of the Climate Change Commission—the lead policymaking body on climate change—must be a woman, ensuring gender representation at the highest level of decision-making. At the same time, disability-inclusive governance is equally critical. Persons with disabilities must be included in all stages of disaster risk management—from risk assessment to recovery. We must ensure that early warning systems, evacuation procedures, and recovery plans are