CCC Vice Chairperson Robert E.A. Borje addresses the Children and Youth Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, where over 50 representatives from child- and youth-led organizations, government, and civil society convened for national consultation.

MANILA, 16 October 2024— The Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the important role of youth in advancing disaster risk reduction and climate resilience during the recent Children and Youth Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje highlighted that the involvement of young people is crucial in the national development agenda to achieve long-term sustainability and resilience.

In his address, Borje emphasized the concept of intergenerational responsibility, wherein the judiciary recognizes the need to protect both the environment and the systems and processes that empower the youth. “We must ensure that they have the opportunity and capability to occupy positions of responsibility in the future,” he stated.

Borje also acknowledged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for prioritizing the climate change agenda from the outset of his administration, recalling his statement during the first State of the Nation Address that emphasized, "The preservation of the environment is the preservation of life. Without mitigating climate change, all our plans for the economy and our future will be for naught."

He also highlighted the integration of climate resilience in key national plans, including the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP). “For the first time, the PDP includes a specific chapter on climate and disaster resilience. These plans, developed in consultation with the private sector, civil society organizations, and the youth, will chart our path to sustainability.”

Addressing the challenges and opportunities ahead, Borje called on the youth to take an active role in disaster preparedness.

“In the context of DRRM, you should be ready at the frontlines. You are a significant part of our population and will be called upon during emergencies. Your lifeline will be what’s in your head and heart,” Borje stated.

He further highlighted the need for a culture of preparedness rooted in science, and readiness of the youth to the localization of the NAP next year. “The best currency right now is science, and the most effective disaster risk reduction strategy is prevention. I commend the youth for their growing knowledge of DRRM. This knowledge should not just be practiced but nurtured into a culture of preparedness.”

Recognizing the unique potential of the younger generation, Borje emphasized their capacity to effect change in ways that previous generations could not. He noted that the government now offers opportunities for youth to engage in meaningful initiatives that will build them individually and professionally while building their communities and countries.

Particularly, he highlighted the CCC's mechanisms for engaging the youth and expressed hope for enhanced collaborations with organizational partners, including UNICEF, World Vision, Plan International Philippines, Save the Children, and the Makati LGU, as well as with international partners.

Borje concluded by emphasizing the need to develop a community of champions—climate champions and disaster readiness champions—comprising Filipinos with strong minds and resilient hearts, ready to prepare the nation for any and all disasters.

“Don’t think of yourselves as just drops in the ocean. Think of yourselves as having an ocean within you, waiting to be unlocked. This is a collective fight, not one person’s fight,” he said.

The National Consultation with Children and Youth on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) convened over 50 representatives from child- and youth-led organizations, government, and civil society to push for urgent action against the climate crisis. Statements from this consultation will be presented to key decision-makers during the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), taking place from October 14-17 in Manila.

For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.