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.
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.
——————————————————————–
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.
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.
The Moving Urban Poor Communities in Mindanao towards Resilience Project (MOVE UP Mindanao) is an urban resilience project which aims to contribute to the resilience building of urban poor populations to withstand and manage the impact of disasters. It aims to strengthen urban disaster preparedness, response, and management capacity of the national, sub-national, and local government units (LGUs), and other stakeholders through the adaption and/or replication of tested urban resilience strategies.
MOVE UP- Mindanao project advocates, among others, the strengthening of shock responsive social protection mechanisms to help reduce vulnerability and support timely recovery in the event of shocks and stresses.
In partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government – Local Government Academy, the project aims to share its lessons learned, good practices, and innovations gathered and tested from its experience in working with urban poor communities to contribute to the large-scale resilience-building effort.
MOVE UP- Mindanao is implemented by a consortium of international non-government organizations which includes Plan International Philippines, Action Against Hunger, and CARE Philippines with its local partner ACCORD Inc. Funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the project is currently implementing in 9 LGUs in Mindanao.
BACKGROUND OF THE SESSION
Effective social protection is critical to reduce vulnerability and support timely recovery. However, to date, national systems have been too underdeveloped or not flexible enough to allow them to expand before or during emergencies.
This webinar will discuss the basic concepts of shock-responsive social protection and the MOVE UP projects strategies in its goal to help LGUs strengthen their social protection mechanisms to respond to and recover from shocks and stresses.
This webinar will also share some good practices at the local level in implementing anticipatory action strategies in the context of disaster risk reduction and management.
This session was aimed at the following objectives:
1. Provide an overview on the basic concepts of shock-responsive social protection; and
2. Share good practices in implementing Disaster Risk Reduction and Management strategies in the context of social protection from local experiences.
These presentations used during this learning session are as follows:
- The Urban Resilience Model and Basic Concepts of Shock-Responsive Social Protection
by Mr. Roger Cabiles, Head of Project and Consortium Manager, MOVE UP-Mindanao Project, Action Against Hunger Philippines
This presentation describes the MOVE UP project’s Urban Resiliennce Model, its tried and tested model for disaster resilience developed through years of working with urban poor communities and local government units. It also explores the basic concepts of shock-responsive social protection, its difference to social protection, basic social services, disaster response, and the legal bases and frameworks which support its implementation. Moreover, the interconnectedness of these two strategies is also explored.To access a copy of this presentation, please click this link. - BREADY Project Presentation
by Mayor Melchor Llego Mergal, Municipal Mayor, Salcedo, Eastern SamarThis presentation shares the inspiring and good practice of Salcedo, Eastern Samar in the implementation of its pre-emptive cash transfer program with the help of the BREADY Project by Oxfam and Plan International Philippines. Mayor Melchor Mergal shares the processes they’ve undergone to implement the program, including their realizations and challenges.To access a copy of this presentation, please click this link.
- SRSP Synthesis
by Mr. Arnel Sanchez, Social Protection Specialist, MOVE UP – Mindanao Project, Plan International PhilippinesThis presentation summarizes the points raised during the webinar and highlighted certain challenges in the implementation of shock-responsive social protection projects in the Philippines.To access a copy of this presentation, please click this link.
To learn more about the MOVE UP Project, you can also check out www.rilhub.org/move-up/ .
The Moving Urban Poor Communities in Mindanao towards Resilience Project (MOVE UP-Mindanao) is an urban resilience project aimed at contributing to the resilience building of urban poor populations to withstand and manage the impact of disasters. It seeks to strengthen the urban disaster preparedness, response, and management capacity of the national, sub-national, and local government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders through the adaption and replication of tested urban resilience strategies.
In partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Local Government Academy (DILG-LGA), the project intends to share its lessons learned, good practices, and innovations gathered and tested from its experience working with urban poor communities, municipalities, and provinces to contribute to the large-scale resilience-building effort.
MOVE UP Mindanao is implemented by a consortium of international non-government organizations which includes Plan International Philippines, Action Against Hunger, and CARE Philippines with its local partner ACCORD Inc. Funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the project is currently being implemented in nine (9) local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao.
The Resilience Knowledge Exchange Series (RKES) Session covering this topic was held on May 27, 2021 which aimed to :
- Share the experience of CARE and ACCORD regarding their IRM mainstreaming work;
- Provide guidance on how to implement mainstreaming using the recently-published Mainstreaming Integrated Risk Management: An Accompanying Guide to Planning; and
- Serve as an introductory session and a preparation for more detailed, comprehensive IRM mainstreaming sessions in the future.
This presentation on Mainstreaming Integrated Risk Management in the Local Government Units’ Planning System was created and presented by Ms. Ma. Stella Dulce, IRM Specialist.
To access a soft copy of this material, please click here.
Looking for a presentation from the same event and can’t find it?
Kindly note that if there are unavailable presentations at the moment, they are still being finalized and will be uploaded as soon as available to the RILHUB team.
by Rya Ducusin and Leigh Fuentes
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of lives in various ways. Globally, there are more than 90 million confirmed cases and 2 million deaths. Among these are half a million Filipinos that are confirmed cases and nearly ten thousand deaths. Apart from the health crisis it brought, COVID-19 has also disrupted livelihoods, social services, government programs, among others.
Almost a year after the COVID-19 lockdowns began in the Philippines, scientists and experts from different parts of the world have come up with a vaccine to slow down the spread of the virus – shedding light on possibilities of returning to normal. The Philippine government developed the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for an efficient and effective vaccine deployment and delivery to the Filipino people.
While the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is more of an overview of the steps of the national government, there is an urgent need to localize these plans and be adapted at the LGU level.
A new strain has also been recently discovered and severe side effects from the vaccine have been reported globally, causing panic and fear among communities. The government is also taking extra steps to address these doubts through various information dissemination activities and education campaigns.
Having said this, last March 4, the Resilience and Innovation Learning Hub (RILHUB) conducted the first Resilience Knowledge Exchanges Series (RKES) of this year. Launched June last year, RKES is a monthly or bi-monthly webinar series that invites key actors and various community members to learn, reflect, and share best practices in relation to timely and resilience-related events and programs.
During this implementation, RILHUB was joined by selected guest speakers to share their expertise, experiences, and for the representatives from local government units, their best practices in relation to planning their COVID-19 Vaccination plan.
Ms. Ma. Arlene Arbas, Division Chief of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Media and External Relations Division, presented the agency’s National Vaccination Plan as well as the timeline or estimated rollout of vaccines. Through her presentation, some foreseen and commonly asked questions were directly addressed even before the open forum portion of the program.
Local Government Units (LGUs) with approved local COVID-19 Vaccination Plans were also invited to share their experiences and best practices in planning and approval. For the local government of Pasig City, Mr. Joseph Emilie Juico, Co-Chair of the Quezon City Task Force Vax to Normal, presented the city’s plans while Dr. Angelo Saquitan, Rural Health Physician presented the plans of the City of Pasig.
After all presentations, the floor was opened for questions during the open forum portion of the program. This provided a good opportunity for all attendees and stakeholders, which were comprised of both private, public, and civil service organizations, to raise any concerns, clarifications, and inquiries. A majority of questions were answered live, while a select few were answered through Zoom’s Q&A feature.
Check out the recorded Facebook live stream of the session here.
View the Department of Health’s presentation here.
View the City of Pasig’s presentation here.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of lives in various ways. Globally, there are more than 90 million confirmed cases and 2 million deaths. Among these are half a million Filipinos that are confirmed cases and nearly ten thousand deaths. Apart from the health crisis it brought, COVID-19 has also disrupted livelihoods, social services, government programs, among others.
Almost a year after the COVID-19 lockdowns began in the Philippines, scientists and experts from different parts of the world have come up with a vaccine to slow down the spread of the virus – shedding light on possibilities of returning to normal. The Philippine government developed the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for an efficient and effective vaccine deployment and delivery to the Filipino people.
While the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is more of an overview of the steps of the national government, there is an urgent need to localize these plans and be adapted at the LGU level.
A new strain has also been recently discovered and severe side effects from the vaccine have been reported globally, causing panic and fear among communities. The government is also taking extra steps to address these doubts through various information dissemination activities and education campaigns.
The Resilience Knowledge Exchange Series Session covering this topic was entitled, “How Local Government Unit’s Prepare Their COVID-19 Vaccination Plans”, and was held last March 04, 2021 and was co-implemented by CARE, ACCORD, the MOVE UP Project, and the START Network.
This presentation on the national COVID-19 vaccine program was made by the Department of Health and presented by Ms. Ma. Arlene Arbas, Division Chief, Media & External Relations Division, Department of Health
To access a soft copy of this material, please click here.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of lives in various ways. Globally, there are more than 90 million confirmed cases and 2 million deaths. Among these are half a million Filipinos that are confirmed cases and nearly ten thousand deaths. Apart from the health crisis it brought, COVID-19 has also disrupted livelihoods, social services, government programs, among others.
Almost a year after the COVID-19 lockdowns began in the Philippines, scientists and experts from different parts of the world have come up with a vaccine to slow down the spread of the virus – shedding light on possibilities of returning to normal. The Philippine government developed the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for an efficient and effective vaccine deployment and delivery to the Filipino people.
While the National COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is more of an overview of the steps of the national government, there is an urgent need to localize these plans and be adapted at the LGU level.
A new strain has also been recently discovered and severe side effects from the vaccine have been reported globally, causing panic and fear among communities. The government is also taking extra steps to address these doubts through various information dissemination activities and education campaigns.
The Resilience Knowledge Exchange Series Session covering this topic was entitled, “How Local Government Unit’s Prepare Their COVID-19 Vaccination Plans”, and was held last March 04, 2021 and was co-implemented by CARE, ACCORD, the MOVE UP Project, and the START Network.
This presentation on the development of Pasig City’s localized COVID-19 vaccination program presented by Dr. Angelo Saquitan, Rural Health Physician, Local Government of Pasig City.
To access a soft copy of this material, please click here.
The 2020 Alternative Temporary Shelter (ATS) Manual is an initiative of the Moving Urban Poor Communities in the Philippines toward Resilience (MOVE UP) Project. This manual is intended for new and experienced users with zero to advanced ATS System and shelter response knowledge. This manual aims to describe the importance and practical applications of ATS and offer step-by-step guidance on properly adopting and implementing select ATS solutions as a form of shelter response and early action during emergencies. This manual provides guidance to local government units, civil society organizations, community members, and other stakeholders on addressing the immediate shelter needs of internally displaced populations (IDPs) within a 24- hour to 36-hour period after a disaster and even for long-term displacements while conforming with universally accepted humanitarian principles and standards. This manual is a working document and shall be updated from time to time.
Target Users
This manual is principally intended for local government units (LGUs) and communities to augment their shelter response and early action capacities during emergencies. The manual also targets the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), humanitarian organizations, and other actors working closely with communities to build their resilience.