29 December 2011: The UN International Strategy or Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation in the Asia Pacific, Loren Legarda, has urged governments to be proactive in this “era of climate change,” and to not rely on post-disaster relief and rehabilitation alone.

Legarda made the call after the Philippines’ Government received increasing complaints from the public about lack of guidance on disaster risk management. Legarda, also the Chair of the Philippine Senate Committee on Climate Change, committed to holding regional workshops to explain the country’s DRR and management law, known as Republic Act 10121, with the assistance of UN/ISDR. She underscored the need for establishing a “clear and effective warning system,” citing the red flag system used in Bangladesh. [UN/ISDR Press Release]