by Ashley Venerable, INCREASE Project

Early Warning Systems (EWS) equipment were officially turned over to the community members and barangay officials of Natonin and Barlig, Mt. Province last September 8 and 9, 2021. 

EWS equipment includes basic emergency and first aid equipment such as generators, spine boards with strap, two-way radios, amplifiers, public awareness devices, bells, rope, sets of BP apparatus, first aid kits, among others. All of which were identified by community members who were actively engaged in community risk assessments and contingency planning workshops conducted as part of the INCREASE: Increasing the Resilience to Natural Hazards project. Along with the equipment, household-level flyers about the specific hazards in their community and the evacuation plan, and EWS signage containing warning signals and actions for community members were also handed over during the turnover ceremony.

In Barlig, barangay officials and representatives from INCREASE covered barangays, Kaleo, Chupac, Lunas, and Ogo-og, and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative were present during the turn-over ceremony. Female household heads who were the main participants of the Resilient Livelihood activities of INCREASE, also attended the ceremony and offered a song of appreciation to CARE Philippines and Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services representatives. In Natonin, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Officer along with Barangay Balangao and Alonugan officials and female household heads received the equipment and IEC materials. 

People-Centered EWS

EWS is an adaptive measure for climate change, using integrated communication systems to help communities prepare for hazardous climate-related events. This means that through EWS, community members receive relevant and timely information in a systematic way prior to a disaster in order to make informed decisions and take action. A successful EWS can save lives and livelihood. To be effective, EWS needs to actively involve the communities at risk, facilitate public education and awareness of risks, effectively disseminate messages and warnings and ensure there is a constant state of preparedness. 

During INCREASE workshops, risk information and the necessary equipment to relay warning signals were identified. This information was identified by the community members and barangay officials and was documented and translated into IEC materials to make sure that warnings are understandable by all members of the community. 

The Need for EWS Equipment

Typhoon Rosita hit our area, we thought it was the end. The experience awakened our community. We exhausted every means to prepare for the next disaster. Thanks to INCREASE Project, we were able to identify early warning devices needed in our area to better respond to natural hazards,” shared Brgy. Balangao Chairperson Conrado Limangan, upon receiving the EWS equipment. 

Recalling the worst typhoon in their memory, community members mentioned that since they had no equipment back then, members of the Barangay DRRM Council would only be shouting to instruct community members to evacuate their homes. Power and communication lines were interrupted then, hence they identified a generator as one of the main EWS equipment needed in their area. Natonin Municipal DRRM Officer Soledad Nasudman recognizes this and shared, “Thank you for bringing the project nearer to us. Even if the BDRRMC officials are capacitated, if equipment is not available, response and preparedness would not be as effective.”

nowledge that they need to find a funding source for the purchase and installment of EWS. Barangay Chupac Chairperson, Benedicto Nabunat shared, “We express our deepest appreciation to the INCREASE team for the equipment because we know that our barangay’s budget can’t afford to provide these. We are thankful because it’s rare that a project reaches an isolated area like ours.” In addition to these equipment, risk maps plotting the community facilities, houses, forests, and farmlands, their level of susceptibility to several hazards that can affect them will be put up. To test the early actions and preparedness capacities of the officials and community members, a drill will also be conducted as part of the INCREASE Project.

Natonin and Barlig are both prone to typhoons and landslides. During their community risk assessments and contingency planning workshops, community members shared that they experience at least 3 to 4 typhoons in a year. One barangay was also named as the “Home of Rain” since rain is nonstop in the area for almost the whole year. While community members recognize the need for EWS equipment and IEC materials, they also ack

INCREASE aims to increase the resilience of 45,000 women and men small-scale farmers and fishers, including 720 extremely poor female-headed households, to natural hazards and the effects of climate change. It is present in 4 provinces, 8 municipalities, and 33 barangays. CARE Philippines and CorDis RDS lead its implementation in Mt. Province. 

Recent record-high reports on new active COVID-19 cases show that the pandemic is far from over. Even the slight decrease in transmission in Metro Manila offers little comfort, as other regions brace and prepare for a possible surge.

In Mindanao, for example, local governments have expressed fatigue and dwindling resources to respond effectively to the pandemic, on top of other emergencies such as natural hazards, protracted conflict, and climate risks.

As hospital beds run out, people are lining up in makeshift tents with some of them dying while waiting for their turn to be admitted. Overwhelmed health workers, insufficient space for treatment and isolation, and financial difficulty call for alternative and cost-efficient solutions.

From Alternative Temporary Shelters to Community Quarantine Facilities 

At the onset of the pandemic, local government partners of the Moving Urban Poor Communities in the Philippines toward Resilience (MOVE UP) Project were aware that the rising cases and lack of medical resources and spatial capacity could pose grave consequences in densely populated cities.

In an effort to complement government response, the MOVE UP project along with partners such as the Czech Republic Humanitarian Aid and United Architects of the Philippines – Emergency Architects worked together to adapt Alternative Temporary Shelters (ATS) into quarantine facilities.

Despite mobility constraints and other health measures, the first Community Quarantine Facility adapted from ATS models was turned over in Malabon City on 18 June 2020, and received DOH certification in the same week.  The experience in opening the 38-bed-capacity of the amphitheater still in operation has provided valuable lessons in replication of the strategy in other areas in Malabon and also in Mindanao.

Following the same strategy, community quarantine facilities were also set up by the local governments of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, Tandag City, and Surigao del Sur with support from MOVE UP and REACH projects.

Read the full story by accessing the file in this link.

The Moving Urban Poor Communities Toward Resilience (MOVE UP) Project is funded by EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid – ECHO and is implemented by ACCORD Incorporated, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, and Plan International Philippines.

Women and men farmers in INCREASE areas were capacitated to build communal and household-level resilient livelihoods. Among these livelihoods is swine production. This manual was created in particular, as a supplementary to the training sessions held in the communities to further boost the knowledge, skills, and attitude of the participants in organic agriculture production in accordance with the industry standards. The manual contains useful tips in the designing of pigpens, preparation of organic feeds, fermentation of feeds, beddings, and silage for raising organic hogs.

To access a soft copy of this manual, please click here. 

Please make sure that pop-ups are enabled in your browser to allow the link to the file to open. 

INCREASE or  “Philippines – Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards” aims to increase the resilience of 45,00 women and men small scale farmers and fishers, including 720 extremely poor female-headed households, to natural hazards and the effect of climate change. The project will run from 2019-2021 in different parts of the Philippines, namely 36 barangays across 8 municipalities in the provinces of Cagayan, Mt. Province, Northern Samar, and Surigao del Sur. Its project components and activities include early warning systems, alternative livelihood, and climate and disaster governance.

The INCREASE Project has committed to holding four (4) learning exchanges engaging local implementing partners and partner communities across provinces to share DRR CCA / IRM good practices, ideas for sustainability and upscaling, innovations, and evidence from which these are based.

Similarly, the project has also committed to producing four (4) research briefs/communication materials, or case stories, from DRR CCA / IRM good practices and innovations documented to be published through RILHUB.

This partner-level learning exchange is the second part of the INCREASE Cross-Learning Platform for Resilience-Building Session 2. The learning questions raised to partners are the following:

1. What risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures have the FHH/farmers adopted during the project period?
2. What are the indigenous and modern farming practices that you have adopted throughout the years, and which among these do you plan to continue?
3. How does livelihood diversification help individuals and communities reduce risks and reduce negative coping mechanisms?
4. What factors drive women and men farmers’ and fishers’ adoption of climate-informed practice, and resilient livelihood strategies?
5. What encourages incentivises them to be flexible to change, and become more open to becoming part of forward-looking assessments?

To access a soft copy of this presentation deck, please click here.

INCREASE or  “Philippines – Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards” aims to aims to increase the resilience of 45,00 women and men small scale farmers and fishers, including 720 extremely poor female-headed households, to natural hazards and the effect of climate change. The project will run from 2019-2021 in different parts of the Philippines, namely 36 barangays across 8 municipalities in the provinces of Cagayan, Mt. Province, Northern Samar, and Surigao del Sur. Its project components and activities include early warning systems, alternative livelihood, and climate and disaster governance.

Last July 28, the MOVE UP 4 Project Consortium (formed among Plan International, Action Against Hunger, CARE Philippines, and ACCORD Inc. ) and the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Local Government Academy (LGA) officially agreed on the formal partnership for collaborations to enhance climate change adaptation efforts and disaster risk reduction and management.

The cooperation between the capacity and development arm of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and MOVE UP includes the review of various L!STO Operations Manual and the implementation of capacity building and development efforts for local chief executives and other relevant stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) activities.

The primary signatories for the agreement were Suresanathan Murugesu represented by Juan Blenn Huelgas of Action Against Hunger (AAH), Ana Maria Locsin represented by Chrisnobel Cruz of Plan International, David Gazashvili of CARE International, Sindhy Obias of Assistance and Cooperation for Resilience and Development Inc. (ACCORD), and Executive Director Thelma Vecina of the LGA.

During the event, participants also shared their thoughts on the partnership stating that they are looking forward to it as they see it as a venue for learning, increased engagement, collaboration, uninterrupted service delivery, and knowledge- and resource-sharing among key actors in development and governance.

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You may watch the recorded Facebook Livestream of this event here.

You may also read the full story from the DILG LGA

Learn more about the MOVE UP Project here.

The Natural Farming System Guidebook promotes reducing dependence on off-form inputs to women and men farmers in INCREASE areas. It offers practical guide to make bio-organic inputs that have much potential in terms of food production and environmental conservation. Moreover, food security is increased and additional incomes are generated.

An excerpt from the material:

Ang patuloy na tumataas na gastos ng hindi organikong pataba ay hindi mapipigil sa mga darating na taon ng produksyon. Tinitingnan ang pananaw na ito na ang magsasaka ay kailangang maghanap ng isang alternatibong hakbang upang mapanatili ang kanyang pagsasaka na may kakayahang kumita.

Ang likas na pagsasaka (natural farming) ay mas mura, mas epektibo, at mas ligtas. Wala ng hihigit pang ligaya sa pamilya na ang pagkaing pinagsasaluhan ay tunay na makapagbibigay lakas at nakakapagpahaba ng buhay. Isang alternatibong pamamaraan sa pagsasaka na makakabawas sa gastusin ng magsasaka. Isang alternatibong paraan na epektibo at maka “kalikasan”. Higit sa lahat, isang alternatibong pamaraan na walang maidudulot na kapahamakan sa kalusugan at sa kapaligiran.

INCREASE or  “Philippines – Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards” aims to increase the resilience of 45,00 women and men small scale farmers and fishers, including 720 extremely poor female-headed households, to natural hazards and the effect of climate change. The project will run from 2019-2021 in different parts of the Philippines, namely 36 barangays across 8 municipalities in the provinces of Cagayan, Mt. Province, Northern Samar, and Surigao del Sur. Its project components and activities include early warning systems, alternative livelihood, and climate and disaster governance

The first week of July marked the implementation of the first session of the INCREASE Cross-Learning Platform for Resilience-Building, an initiative that aims to bridge the gap among INCREASE partners and knowledge-sharing, particularly because of the restrictions brought about by the pandemic.

Climate change and ecosystem degradation place new demands on disaster risk reduction approaches. Philippines: Increasing the Resilience to Natural Hazards (INCREASE) Project, leveraging on the decade-worth of learnings from the PfR programme and other projects implemented by CARE and partners, advocates to mainstream Integrated Risk Management (IRM) as an enhanced, holistic approach to increase community resilience by integrating disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and ecosystem management and restoration.

Following INCREASE’s commitment to place at-risk and vulnerable communities at the center of resilience building, we aim to engage our partner communities not only in the design and development of early warning systems, early action protocols, and emergency procedures in the process of developing their contingency plans, but more importantly, in working with their local DRR committee members, as they jointly test these actions and systems through community drills, among other simulation exercises.

Conducting community drills have been proven effective in testing whether community members are able to interpret early warning information correctly and duly execute operational procedures for evacuation and protection of their households and livelihoods. Further, DRR committee members are also tested whether they are able to work closely with community members, provide timely information, evacuate and rescue affected persons, and consider targeted support for vulnerable persons, following different scenarios (e.g. worst case, amid a pandemic, etc.)

However, the feasibility of conducting community drills amid a public health emergency where social distancing protocols are enforced, as well as in conflict-affected areas with mobilisation restrictions, still remain to be seen and are presently put on hold in many areas.

Thus, considering alternative approaches to conducting drills through mixed modalities (i.e. virtual, face-to-face, or a hybrid of both), and how effectiveness can be strengthened with other activities (i.e. household- and community-level IEC campaigns) is a forward-looking approach DRR practitioners can look into.

This session was aimed at achieving the following objectives:

• Reviewing key characteristics of an effective tabletop exercise (conducted in lieu / or in support to community drills);
• Going through the three main phases conducting remote tabletop exercises, referring back to main steps discussed in Part 1
• Conducting a sample simulation exercise testing the capacity of INCREASE barangay / municipal DRR committee partner participants
• Demonstrating participants’ familiarity of a contingency plan (based on the sample CP) and how it translates to actual actions
• Gathering feedback on participants’ experience from the simulation exercise, and identifying areas that need further localization and adoption
• Sharing key learnings on community inclusion and participation in DRR activities

With over 90 participants from Cagayan, Mt. Province, Surigao del Sur, and Northern Samar, INCREASE conducted the first virtual, Remote [Mock] Tabletop Exercise or RTTX which is an adaptive measure to ensuring the continuation of resilience- and capacity-building for DRRM in lieu of face-to-face community drills. Some attending partners participated in the session through mixed modalities, facilitators virtually present while the participatns from the same local government attended as a group.

The Cross-Learning Platform for Resilience-Building is set for three more sessions until October.

To learn more about INCREASE, click here.

This resource is a communications guide for community-based healthcare workers, frontliners, and other social mobilizers to help them accurately talk about the COVID-19 vaccine in the community.

Rendered in Filipino, the guide contains information on frequently asked questions about COVID-19, how to address common questions and concerns, and how to address inaccurate information or fake news that may be present in communities.

An excerpt from the document:

Patuloy na kumakalat ang COVID-19 sa Pilipinas. Upang mapabagal ang pagkalat nito, inilunsad ang Resbakuna, isang nasyunal na kampanya na naglalayong mabigyan ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19 ang lahat ng eligible na Pilipino.

Mahalagang sundin ang tinalagang prioritization sa ating layunin na mabakunahan ang lahat ng kabilang sa eligible population.

Ang gabay na ito ay ginawa para sa mga community health workers, vaccination teams, volunteers, at social mobilizers para magkaroon ng positibong ugnayan sa komunidad at mapataas ang kumpiyansa ng mga tao sa pagpapabakuna kontra COVID-19. Inaasahang makapagbibigay ito ng mga panuntunan at halimbawa para maipaliwanag ang kahalagahan ng pagpapabakuna; tugunan ang mga tanong, agam-agam, o pagtanggi sa bakuna; at maiwasan ang pagkalat ng mga maling impormasyon.

Upang makita ang kabuuan ng materyal na ito, mangyaring puntahan ang link na ito.

To view the full document and to access a digital copy of this resource, please click here.

There is an urgent need to prioritize the elderly given the limited supply of vaccines available to us. Data tells us that while 7 out of 10 COVID-19 deaths are from the senior citizen population, only 3 out of 10 of them have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

As vaccination among senior citizens as of July 12, 2021 remains only at a little over 30%, RILHUB supports seeking urgent action from valued health partners to help increase and accelerate COVID-19 vaccination uptake among our senior citizens.

This resource was reuploaded with permission from the World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines. 

In the time of the COVID-19 Pandemic, many of the resilience- and capacity-building efforts of different organizations and programs have been hampered by existing and constantly changing logistical restrictions and health protocols such as travel and face-to-face meeting prohibitions.

In lieu of earthquake drills, in what other ways can we simulate unprecedented risks in our community? In what ways can we continue incapacitating our local governments, our leaders, and our community members to be able to efficiently and aptly respond to emerging risks and disasters?

Tabletop exercises are one way that CARE and ACCORD  projects have been training their stakeholders. To learn more about how to conduct this exercise remotely as an adaptive measure to the pandemic, you may check out the Remote Mock Tabletop Exercises brief introduction below.

To access a soft copy of the said material, please click this link.