THE United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) has named Makati City a ‘Role Model City’ in its global campaign to make cities resilient to disasters, including those brought about by climate change.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay said the recognition came as a ‘pleasant surprise’ to the city government since it was their duty as public servants to exhaust all possible means to minimize the impact of disasters on the lives and properties of city residents and other stakeholders.

“We have been enthusiastic in creating and implementing resiliency measures to soften the impact of disasters on the lives and properties of our people, and all stakeholders of the city, simply because it is the right thing to do,” the mayor said in his acceptance speech delivered by City Councilor Arnold Magpantay.

The awarding ceremony was part of the 50th founding anniversary of Plan International Inc., a partner of UNISDR in its resilient cities campaign also engaged in humanitarian efforts to promote children’s rights.

Binay also said it seemed providential that Makati has received such distinction as it was about to host the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Refresher Course last May 16, until May 20.

The city government is hosting the UNDAC Refresher Course, the first to be held in the country, in partnership with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva..

Binay welcome over 60 local and foreign participants and 13 OCHA facilitators and presenters led by Terje Skavdal, secretary of Field Coordination Support Section (FCSS) of OCHA, and Arjun Kartoch, head of the Emergency Services Branch.

The Refresher Course aims to update UNDAC regional teams on the latest methodologies on team deployment and mobilizations, developments in humanitarian response system, as well as enhance the practical skills in the use of UNDAC mission kit. 

This includes software applications, GPS and satellite phones, and team building among UNDAC members.

The workshop topics for May 17 include Disaster Management in Makati, UNDAC’s role in Initial and Rapid Assessments: An Introduction to NATP Methodology and Tools, and UNDAC Mission Statement.