THE Philippines assumed the leadership role in a United Nations meeting on disaster risk reduction held in Bangkok, Thailand, and attended by 31 member states of the Asia-Pacific region.

At the opening of the 8th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission of the Asia Pacific (Escap) Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction on Tuesday, July 25, Chief of Staff and Supervising Undersecretary for Strategic Communications of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines Marilou Erni was elected chairman of the Committee Session.