ARISE Philippines Holds First Annual General Meeting, Setting The Stage For A Resilient 2030

 

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) Philippines, a leading resilience network in the country, held its first annual general meeting for 2025 on January 27 at the ARISE Secretariat headquarters in MOA Square, Mall of Asia Complex. With a growing membership of 156 private sector companies, civil society groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academic institutions, ARISE Philippines is poised to significantly impact disaster resilience efforts nationwide.

Under the theme “Catalyzing Progress for a Resilient and Sustainable Future towards ARISE 2030,” the meeting was grounded in the words “Innovate, Integrate, and Elevate,” urging members to embrace new approaches, collaborate across sectors, and raise the bar for disaster resilience standards. 

The Co-Chair representing the private sector, Engr. Liza Silerio, welcomed the collective and expressed her gratitude for the network’s role in promoting community resilience and sustainable progress. For the public sector, Office of Civil Defense Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno emphasized the importance of engineering solutions in disaster preparedness and highlighted the critical role of committed private sector leaders in building a more resilient nation. 

Chief of Office UNDRR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Marco Toscano-Rivalta, in a video message, commended ARISE Philippines for its outstanding contributions to disaster risk reduction. “I extend my profound gratitude for ARISE Philippines’ exemplary leadership and contributions,” he stated. He referenced the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction held in Manila last October 2024, saying, “Your efforts were instrumental to the event’s success. ARISE has showcased the power of public-private partnerships and set the benchmark for other regions to follow.”