Ilocos Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos underscored the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change being mostly an agricultural country, adding that this could drag down the investment grade of the Philippines and suggested that measures to strengthen national disaster management must be implemented.

During her radio program over DWIZ, Governor Marcos said, “Our ‘Stable’ outlook from Moody’s, parang report card iyon – it’s a notch above minimum investment. Masama iyon, kasi hindi mag-i-invest sa atin ‘pag sinabi mong ganyan.”

The Philippines was recently ranked by Moody’s Corporation as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, primarily due to high reliance on agriculture and exposure to disasters.

Approximately 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility every year, with an average of 10 being typhoons and five of them being destructive. In 2013, TIME Magazine called the Philippines “the most exposed country in the world to tropical storms.”

Governor Marcos pointed out the need for year-round disaster management: “Hindi dapat na yung coordinating body, saka lang magkukumpol kapag may typhoon signal na; saka lang magtatawagan.

“Dapat all year long, pinaghahandaan yung rainy season at panahon ng bagyo. Kahit papaano, dapat mayroon tayong parang federal emergency management agency na iyon lang talaga ang trabaho – may sariling pera at tao at hindi yung hila-hila, katulad ng ginagawa natin ngayon.”

Citing national, regional, and local disaster risk reduction and management councils as examples, the governor urged the establishment of a permanent department for disaster preparedness and management all throughout the year for more efficient response, upgraded security for Filipinos, and a better investment climate overall.

Governor Marcos can be heard over DWIZ 882 on Mondays and Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:00a.m., together with Former Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.