NAGA CITY, July 18–  Citizens’ Disaster Response Network (CDRN) Chairperson Jazmin A. Jerusalem expressed her warm congratulations to the men and women behind the launching of the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Preparedness (A-PAD) Bicol Regional Platform held Friday, July 13 at the Avenue Plaza Hotel, here.

Jerusalem drove all the way from Tacloban City to personally witness the first leg of the six (6) regional platform launch that A-PAD Philippines is going to form in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in a year’s span.

This is part of A-PAD Philippines’ campaign to promote partnerships and linkages amongst various individuals, public and private organizations, civil society organizations and other groups under the framework of collaboration and cooperation. These groups are expected to assist in pooling the much needed resources and share it with the affected communities during the most trying times.

“I would like to congratulate A-PAD Bicol for being the trailblazer in the regional platforms. We hope to do the same, with the example of A-PAD Bicol in the other regions as well, to be able to serve the poorest and most vulnerable sectors,” Jerusalem said.

Jerusalem emphasized the importance of developing A-PAD regional platforms, citing among others the need for a strong alliance of various institutions dedicated to understand disaster management and preparedness and provide timely and relevant disaster preparedness and response.

“These organizations or institutions, they form part of the social fabric that has an ultimate goal and tasks, also responsibilities, in shaping and securing the public good and discourse on public management,” Jerusalem added.

“The A-PAD Regional Platform is a collective expression of the organizations’ readiness to respond appropriately in times of disaster, deliver timely and relevant relief operations and assist and mediate the long term needs of disaster survivors,” – Citizens’ Disaster Response Network (CDRN) Chairperson Jazmin A. Jerusalem

A-PAD Bicol as a platform for enhancing cooperation and coordination among the government, private sector, and civil society organizations in the Bicol Region aims to deliver a more effective disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation, emergency response, relief, rehabilitation and recovery services to the community.

It is committed to help strengthen each member’s capacity in terms of disaster risk reduction and management. It also serves a regional-level focal point that promotes mutual assistance among A-PAD Regional Platforms in the Philippines.

Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), Inc. President Ferdinand Sia took the regional launching of A-PAD Bicol regional launch as the fruit of all the hard work and endeavours that A-PAD Metro Naga has pioneered.

“While we take our original membership as our core group, we are extending our arms farther by resolving to transform A-PAD Metro Naga to A-PAD Bicol. We are not merely changing our name, but providing ourselves with a regional perspective and scope in meeting the challenges that may come upon us,” Sia conveyed.

He added that the original group shall welcome and be augmented by new members coming from outside the Metro Naga area. A-PAD Metro Naga will now serve as the Interim Board.

“A-PAD Metro Naga now acting as the Interim board, shall start our course towards the seas of bigger challenges and commitment.”

Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) President Rene “Butch” Meily also raised his hat to A-PAD Philippines for another pioneering effort to convene stakeholders coming from the government and private sector in an effort to promote disaster resilience in all communities throughout the country. ###