MEDIA COVERAGE

The Philippine Preparedness Partnership (PhilPrep), through the Asian Preparedness Partnership program, was able to influence change in various national entities, local partners, and at-risk communities. It is very important that these experiences are not lost with time and are properly accounted for in hopes of using the knowledge accumulated for stronger and more meaningful programming in the future. The video documents and evaluates the gains and learnings throughout the two implementation phases of PhilPrep’s five-year journey with those it served.

The Philippines can be appreciated as a destination country for studies, research, and visits by virtue of its plethora of knowledge, good practices, and lessons learned forged through its extensive experience and resilience in facing disasters. In order to foster good partnership and collective resilience with other neighboring countries, the Philippine Preparedness Partnership (PhilPrep) aims to offer study visits with APP program countries to draw valuable insights and experiences that can be applied to the Philippines. The vast collection of experience and knowledge from APP program countries can also be shared and exchanged with other existing networks in Asia such as the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR) and the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN). Their existing CBDRRM hubs could allow PhilPrep’s community-level actors to partake in the cross-country platforms. As such, efforts to promote South-South learning were made through the development of PhilPrep learning package booklets on (a) Governance, featuring why and how “good DRR is good governance”; (b) Partnerships, which presents various case studies of public, private, and CSO partnerships whether intra- or inter-sectoral in nature; (c) CBDRRM in the Philippines, highlighting to the visitors a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of DRRM in the Philippines; and (d) Pandemic experience and preparation in the Philippines. Download the booklets here: https://www.cdp.org.ph/product-page/philprep-learning-package-booklets

Witness how our communities get actively involved in a flood simulation exercise simultaneously performed in barangays Lower Usogan, New Village and San Jose in Municipality of Tambulig. The Center for Disaster Preparedness implemented the Project PROSPER Phase 2 (Participation in Resilience Building and Organizing Safe and Progressive communities for Empowerment, Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction) in the Zamboanga Peninsula region through the support of USAID.

It was a week full of fun learning and skills development for the sponsored children of チャイルド・ファンド・ジャパン (ChildFund Japan) from 11 centers nationwide in public awareness and child-centered disaster risk reduction and management. The team from Center for Disaster Preparedness would like to thank all the participants for actively participating in the Youth Convergence 2018, the center staff who helped guide the participants, ChildFund Japan - Philippine Office for the partnership, the artist-mentors from Bacolod, our video and photo documentors, and everyone who made this all possible. Together, we're one step closer to our goal of enabling the children and youth become active actors in reducing their risks by harnessing their creativity and empowering them to become forefronts of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation/mitigation at varying levels—at the barangay, municipal and provincial levels.

The Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) Foundation, Inc. took proactive stand in capacitating communities to take preventive measures in times of disaster by holding recently a mock flood drill in barangays Lower Usogan, New Village and San Jose in Tambulig town. The activity was done in cooperation with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC). The CDP is currently implementing Project PROSPER Phase 2 (Participation in Resilience Building and Organizing Safe and Progressive communities for Empowerment, Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction) in the Zamboanga Peninsula region through the support of USAID. The project hopes to contribute in transforming the lives of the people in the region towards a holistic and inclusive resilience building, empowerment and development so they are more resilient in times of flooding and drought. Source of video description: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1028273

Zamboanga Del Sur’s abundance in Agri-fishery such as rice, corn, and aqua-marine products serves as the main sources of income of the province. Despite abundance in these products, the effect of climate change in agriculture affects crop production and food security. Significant results coming from initial consultations and risk assessment with affected municipalities in the province shows estimated around 70% Agri-fishery livelihoods are widely affected by flooding. Having this situation, communities face difficulties in restoring and sustaining their economic activities and thus, the urgency to establish Early Warning mechanisms and Agro-met monitoring to protect livelihoods which is necessary for climate-resilient agricultural development. In relation to the actual situation, Local Government Units (LGUs) need to enhance Inter-Municipality Disaster Risk and Climate governance by establishing climate-field school and end-to-end Warning System to address adverse effects of hazards and complement existing initiatives in ecosystem-based management and adaptation towards resilient, inclusive and sustainable development. CDP holds several coordination and partnership meetings with agencies and organizations in the province to gather support on trainings and farming inputs, all necessary for the project operation. Recent meetings conducted are with the Regional Department of Agriculture, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) and the Diocesan of Pagadian. DA’s regional director Rad Donn Cedeño offers to provide agricultural inputs and assistance to trainings. Same positive feedbacks were also gathered with other concerned agencies. With the Go signals from the local chief executives of Tambulig and Ramon Magsaysay in Zamboanga Del Sur, CDP undertake its baseline data gathering for the farming communities of Lower Tiparak, Tambulig and Barangay Switch, Ramon Magsaysay through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). The activity aims to understand local farming initiatives, methodologies and technologies used by farmers including farming issues and challenges. At least twenty-five (25) women and thirty (30) men from Lower Tiparak; and twenty-one (21) women and sixteen (16) men in Switch joined the activity. The PRA revealed significant highlights on the status of agricultural interventions, risks and systems. Being located at the lowland with high exposure to river systems, both areas are at high risk to flooding. Despite noticeable impact of climate change and due to lack of climate related capacity building, both areas still practicing conventional farming, which uses synthetic chemicals for soil nourishment and pest control. Meanwhile, the unavailability of community seed banking for both areas, including capacity buildings on the matter, are key factors to their current external seed dependency. As per MGCQ Guidelines, Social Distancing measures have been followed in the conduct of the activities. Personal Protective Equipments such as masks and sanitary materials were provided to the attendees. Adherence to the social gathering guidelines which is 50% of total venue capacity, were observed. Coordination and preparation for the season long training will be on October 2020. Calendar setting and CRFS enrollment were undertaken for both of the areas. Currently there are twenty-one (21) women and twenty-six (26) men enrolled for the CRFS from Barangay Lower Tiparak; and sixteen (16) women and thirteen (13) men enrolled in Barangay Switch. CRFS modules prepared by Rice Watch Action Network (R1) are already available. Demo Farms The farming association of Lower Tiparak already identified and established a five thousand (5000) square meters demo farm for the Season Long Training. Additionally, local farmers also committed to share a portion of their land as demo farm extension for the Systems of Rice Intensification trial. Demo farms will serve as learning sites for the sustainable and climate-friendly agriculture initiative of the project. Due to the on-going Enhance Community Quarantine restrictions raised by the provincial government of Zamboanga Del Sur, coordination for the Season Long training and demo farm at Barangay Switch has been postponed. CDP is currently preparing organic fertilizers in preparation to the upcoming cropping season.

The neophyte mayor of Quinapondan, Atty. Raffy Asebias, underscores the importance of disaster preparedness in a community's development in this short documentary. Like most communities in the Philippines, the municipality of Quinapondan is high risk to various natural hazards, adversely affecting its economy hence the need for effective community-based disaster risk reduction and management. This video features one of three municipalities covered by the partnership project between CDP and Oxfam - the Municipality of Quinapondan in Eastern Samar - and tackles disaster risk reduction as the cornerstone of resilience and development. The project outcomes focus on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through ensuring that government plans are responsive to gender-specific needs and capacities and address risks in the locality through assessments, advocacy and campaigns, comprehensive DRR plans, policies, and capacity building. This engagement is under Oxfam's THRIVE Program or Transformation of Haiyan-Affected Regions through Innovation and Economic Empowerment. -- Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation Promoting the Communities' Rights to Safe, Resilient, & Sustainable Future Telefax: (02) 361-2243; Tel: (02) 361-2191 B31 L19 A. Bonifacio St., New Capitol Estates I Batasan Hills, Quezon City