As the country marks National Disaster Resilience Month, Senator Loren Legarda urged Filipinos to view disaster preparedness not simply as a government responsibility but as a shared commitment to protecting families, farmers, fisherfolk and communities from the growing threats of climate change.

Anchored on this year’s theme, “Naghahanda at Kumikilos Tungo sa Panatag na Bagong Pilipinas,” Legarda said resilience must move beyond policies and become part of everyday life.

“Preparedness is the key to safety, and it becomes effective when communities work together,” she said. “It should not remain a plan on paper but become a practice in every family and every barangay. Before disasters strike, we must ensure that everyone is ready and protected.”

A longtime advocate of climate action and disaster risk reduction, Legarda authored and sponsored landmark laws that established the country’s disaster governance framework. These include the Climate Change Act of 2009, which created the Climate Change Commission; the People’s Survival Fund Act, which finances local climate adaptation projects; and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

She stressed that preparedness should become part of the nation’s culture.

“It is what keeps lives safe, livelihoods secure, and our environment protected. If we had stronger systems and took better care of nature from the start, families would not have to suffer from the same disasters again and again,” she said.

Legarda cited the Philippines’ ranking as the world’s most disaster-prone country in the 2025 World Risk Index, saying it highlights the urgent need to strengthen measures that protect lives and livelihoods.

She pointed to the People’s Survival Fund as a critical tool for helping local governments finance projects such as early warning systems, climate-resilient agriculture and coastal resource management.

The senator also underscored the value of nature-based solutions in reducing disaster risks. Mangrove forests can soften storm surges, reforested watersheds help prevent landslides, wetlands absorb floodwaters, and coral reefs protect coastal communities while sustaining fisheries.