Cebuana Lhuillier to Hold Disaster Resiliency Forum

Do you know that the Philippines is the 2nd most disaster-prone country out of 171 countries in the world? In fact, over the course of two decades, our country has endured a total of 274 natural calamities. These calamities have such a great impact on Filipinos, that it does not only threaten livelihood and lives but also expose impoverished communities to deeper poverty and even despondency. Knowing the need to have more proactive measures in place to address this truth, Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions will hold the 2016 Ready Disaster Resiliency Forum -The Role of Microinsurance in Building Disaster-Resilient Communities.

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2016 Disaster Resiliency Forum

The 2016 Disaster Resiliency Forum as spearheaded by Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions is set to happen on January 27, 2016 at Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Top officials from the Climate Change Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation, Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, Project NOAH, and Habitat for Humanity Philippines, among other organizations, will be present. This was organized in observance of January as Microinsurance Month.

The forum is presented in three parts to cover the most pertinent aspects of disaster preparedness:

1. Ready to Initiate: Why Invest in Building Disaster Resilient Communities?

The first part highlights the value of being prepared for future calamities. It sheds light on new policy direction, programs, and recommendations of the government and partner stakeholders towards ensuring communities’ readiness to face and thrive amid disasters. To discuss the topics are Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman, Vice-Chairperson of the Climate Change Commission, Ms. Lenie D. Alegre, Chief of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service, NDRRMC, and Mr. Ninoy Castro, Assistant Bureau Director of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development). Ms. Rosalina Bactol, Microinsurance Division Chief of the Insurance Commission will moderate the segment.

2. Ready to Collaborate: How Can Businesses Be Partners in Disaster Resilience?

This part of the forum aims to tackle inclusive financial solutions, disaster preparedness programs, and partnership opportunities in strengthening measures to cope with inevitable calamities. President of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Ms. Susan Bautista-Afan, and Chairman of Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association and Chairman of the ASEAN Insurance Council, Mr. Michael F. Rellosa, will each take the stage to talk about the relevance of private enterprises to disaster resilience. Dr. Antonis Malagardis, Program Director of the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) Regulatory Framework Promotion of Pro-Poor Insurance Markets in Asia (GIZ-RFPI Asia), will serve as the moderator.

3. Ready to Innovate:What are the Latest in Building Disaster Resilient Communities?

The last part will focus on innovations that help make dealing with catastrophic events better. To lead the discussion about these unusual, game-changing products, services, and ideas are Dr. Alfredo Mahar A. Lagmay, Executive Director of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) and MGen. (ret) Carlos B. Holganza of the Disaster Response and Risk Reduction Operations and Regional Head of Western Visayas Habitat for Humanity Philippines. General Manager of Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Mr. Jonathan Batangan will moderate the session.

Aside from the speakers, Hon. Emmanuel F. Dooc, Insurance Commissioner of the Philippine Insurance Commission will also address the audience as the forum’s keynote speaker. He will discuss the impact of disasters to different communities, the relevance of micro-finance solutions to such issue, and the importance of collaboration between stakeholders in preparing for disasters.

My Say

This is the perfect time to talk about about preparing ourselves to handle disaster situations better. We will never have full control of natural calamities to stop them but we can always try to minimize its deadly results. Anything less is clear irresponsibility for we all know that calamities will strike whether we like it or not. The 2016 Disaster Resiliency Forum calls to attention the personal responsibility we have to do our part.