Industry groups on Monday called for efficient disaster response and preparedness following the recent typhoons that affected thousands of Filipinos.

In a statement, several industry groups stressed the need for better disaster preparedness after parts of Luzon were devastated by Super Typhoon “Rolly” and Typhoon “Ulysses,” displacing many Filipinos and causing damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

“We express serious concern about the state of our country’s disaster preparedness that could have minimized the untimely deaths of our countrymen, and avoided massive damage and destruction of property,” they said.

The groups also urged strengthened public-private partnerships to properly equip local government units (LGUs) and make them less vulnerable to disasters.

They also highlighted the need to face environment and climate change issues, claiming the latter have “the frequency of disasters, including destructive earthquakes, devastating typhoons, massive floods, catastrophic volcanic eruptions, and ravaging landslides.”

”We encourage our member-companies to continue and enhance their ongoing disaster relief operations, and at the same time urge our LGUs to fully support these private sector initiatives bereft of any political agenda and opportunism,” the groups added.

The groups that made the calls are: the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Bankers Association of the Philippines, Cebu Business Club, Cebu Leads Foundation, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Fintech Alliance, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, Institute of Corporate Directors, Investment House Association of the Philippines, IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines Inc., Judicial Reform Initiative, Management Association of the Philippines, People Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc., Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, UP School of Economics Alumni Association, and Women’s Business Council Philippines.

By Lisbet K. Esmael
Source: Manila Times