The City Government of Valenzuela, led by Mayor WES Gatchalian, welcomed an international delegation from the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), as part of the delegation’s site visit to Disiplina Village Bignay, October 18, 2024.

Disiplina Village Bignay, the largest in-city housing relocation project in the Philippines, has been a model of urban resilience, ensuring that vulnerable communities are provided with both secure housing and sustainable livelihoods. Recognizing the city’s efforts in integrating sustainable urban development with disaster resilience strategies. The visit highlighted Valenzuela’s proactive approach to implementing community-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures, while ensuring the well-being of relocated families through innovative community programs. 

As part of the visit, delegates participated in activities such as seedling transplanting and releasing fingerlings, part of the village’s Integrated Community Food Production program. This initiative not only strengthens the community’s food security but also promotes environmental stewardship, a critical component of disaster risk mitigation.

Valenzuela City has continuously prioritized disaster preparedness across its various sectors. Programs like VAlert, an advanced emergency notification system, is just one of the city’s innovations aimed at enhancing public safety. 

The APMCDRR, running from October 14-18, 2024, focuses on building regional collaboration to strengthen DRR strategies in the Asia-Pacific, with an emphasis on inclusive governance, climate adaptation, and financial mechanisms. The visit to Valenzuela underscores how local-level solutions, such as those pioneered in Disiplina Village Bignay, are vital in achieving the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

By showcasing these initiatives, Valenzuela City continues to set an example for other local governments in integrating sustainable development with disaster risk management, proving that resilience can be built from the ground up.

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