MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of an inter-agency committee tasked to oversee preparatory and organizing activities for the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) that will be held in the Philippines next year.

A four-page Administrative Order No. 09 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on September 26 stated that the Philippines has accepted the hosting of the 10th session of the APMCDRR in 2024.

The order will take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette, or a newspaper of general circulation.

“To ensure the successful preparation and hosting of the 2024 APMCDRR, an inter-agency committee shall be constituted to oversee preparatory and organizing activities,” the AO stated.

The order also underscored that the successful conduct of the 2024 APMCDRR requires the involvement, coordination and support of concerned government agencies and local government units (LGUs).

Under the administrative order, the inter-agency committee (IAC) on the preparations for the APMCDRR will be responsible for formulating and implementing plans, programs and activities, and organizing and managing the requirements for the hosting of the 2024 APMCDRR.

The IAC is also tasked to submit periodic reports to the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, regarding developments of its preparations, and perform other functions necessary for the success of the 2024 APMCDRR.

The IAC may establish working committees, which may include other government agencies, with representatives not lower than an Assistant Secretary, and alternative representatives not lower than a Director.

A designated committee chair of each working committee shall assign a secretariat assisted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The administrative order directed all government agencies, departments, bureaus, and offices, including GOCCs and government financial institutions, to assist and cooperate with the IAC to effectively carry out its mandate.

The APMCDRR is the main regional platform for promoting the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Asia-Pacific Region.

It also facilitates exchanges of experiences, sharing of good practices, and identification of challenges and opportunities in disaster risk reduction, as well as promoting political commitment, cooperation, and knowledge-sharing to reduce disaster risk and build resilience in the Asia-Pacific Region. (PND)