26 July 2010: The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) has announced that three new mayors from the Philippines have become part of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready.

The mayors from the Philippines join 60 other mayors from around the world already committed to the campaign. The aim of the campaign is to enlist over 1,000 local government leaders to invest more in disaster risk reduction (DRR), including by: improving urban planning, infrastructure and building safety; reinforcing drainage systems to reduce flood, storm and health threats; installing early warning systems; conducting public preparedness drills; and taking measures to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.

The new signatories from the Philippines include: the Municipality of Dumangas, a coastal town in the province of Iloilo, which has implemented the Climate Field School for Farmers as an innovative DDR and climate adaptation strategy for agriculture; Southern Leyte, recipient of the Gawad Kalasag Award, an annual Philippine Presidential award for the best contingency plan for disaster preparedness and DRR programme; and the Municipality of San Francisco, an area facing increasing threats to its coastal mangrove forests, seagrass belts and corals, including increasing storm surges, sea level rise, coral bleaching, overfishing and coastal encroachments.

The signing ceremony was held during the Southeast Asia Regional Consultation Workshop on Strengthening Climate Resilience, which convened from 22-23 July 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand, and was organized by Plan International, the Institute of Development Studies and Christian Aid. [UN/ISDR Press Release]