Mongolian Deputy PM hails PH disaster risk reduction efforts

Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia Sainbuyan Amarsaikhan (Photo courtesy of OCD)

MANILA, Philippines – Sainbuyan Amarsaikhan, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, has commended the Philippines for its “proactive initiatives” in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).

The Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) hosted Amarsaikhan in a discussion on the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) System last Friday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The Mongolian official said the meeting facilitated the exchange of “important best practices.”

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“We appreciate the government of the Philippines for sharing with us the strategies, operations, experience, and the best methodology to reduce the risk,” Amarsaikhan said, as quoted in an OCD statement released Saturday night.

He described the meeting with OCD as “very valuable,” underscoring it as a testament to the ongoing partnership and commitment to resilience building.

Amarsaikhan also commended National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chair and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga for their significant contributions to future strategies.

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“They added so much value to our ideas and the future strategies, specifically in raising the investment and financing in the reduction of risk, including providing better tools and equipment to the countries where they need tools,” he said.

“The message was very powerful and this powerful message means that the risk is at our gate. So we need to avoid as much as possible by collaborating and cooperating closely.”

Timor-Leste seeks PH help

In a separate visit to the OCD, Marciano Octavio Garcia Da Silva, ambassador Timor-Leste to the Philippines, said his country is seeking the Philippines’ assistance to enhance its DRRM capabilities.

The diplomat said Timor-Leste particularly requested the Philippines and the United Nations for assistance in establishing and improving its early warning systems, the four thematic pillars, detecting, and monitoring capabilities.

“As our country is also prone to them, to the disasters, we would like to learn from the Philippines, what they do that can save lives, what they do that can reduce the risk of the disaster, and what are the means that they have been using that they could help us in Timor Leste,” he said.

The Timorese diplomat and the Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister recently participated in the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), hosted by the Philippines from Oct. 14 to 18, 2024 in Pasay City. With reports from Priam Nepomuceno