This article entitled “Philippines Star Pupil in Disaster Lessons” which was published on the Dominion Post on 07 January 2015 and written by former Prime Minister of New Zealand and current Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Helen Clark, is deeply appreciated. It puts the spotlight on the Philippines’ sustained and enhanced efforts and highly important policies, priorities and programs on Disaster Preparedness, Response, Mitigation and Adaptation. In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, emphasis is placed on the Build Back Better, Faster and Safer principle of the Philippine Government, which serves as the guiding framework for the planning and implementation of recovery and reconstruction programs, projects and activities in the affected areas under the Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP) program. The Philippine Government in close collaboration with partner countries, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector, civil societies and other stakeholders continue to forge forward in building greater resilience for its people through strengthened individual and collective preparedness and responses in times of natural disasters and emergencies.

Furthermore, as cited by the Chief of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Philippines, “the typhoon survivors are picking themselves up, lifted by a nation with a unique weapon—the spirit of bayanihan that is imprinted in the Filipino gene”. Bayanihan is a Filipino term for the spirit of volunteerism, coming together to help, demonstrating cooperative effort and unity to achieve community and national goals and objectives.