UNDP, DILG REINFORCE LOCAL, COMMUNITY-LEVEL DISASTER, CLIMATE RESILIENCE

THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) marked an important milestone in their partnership with an initiative to strengthen the disaster and climate resilience of targeted local governments in the next six years.

Former DILG chief Eduardo Año and Undp-philippines Officer-in-charge Edwine Carrié signed in June a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Programme, which is designed to accelerate resiliencebuilding efforts at the local level by tying up with multiple stakeholders to unlock financing and implement risk-informed, inclusive resilience actions.

The program is being implemented in partnership with DILG, Undp-philippines and partners composed of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, National Resilience Council, Philippine Business for Social Progress, and Un-habitat.

Through SHIELD, the Australian government has invested AUS$18 million to support its Philippine counterpart in building institutional and community resilience to natural hazards and climate change. It enables local governments to pursue and invest in resilient development.

Lauding the initiative, Año noted: “There are [local government units having] difficulties in accessing funds due to program viability and project-management readiness. SHIELD seeks to address these by providing other disaster-financing options for our LGUS, enabling them to implement more risk-informed measures.”

As lead government partner, DILG will provide oversight and strategic direction to facilitate achievement of SHIELD’S outcomes.

The initiative will also work with Philippine scientific agencies to produce tailored and accessible information to aid disaster-risk reduction (DRR) and resilience-building.

While the country has made significant progress in DRR and climate action, more work remains to strengthen resilience. The cost of disasters to the country is significantly high, with LGUS and communities bearing the brunt.

“SHIELD recognizes the vital role of local governments not just in responding to [emergencies], but also in driving transformative resilience actions that would ultimately benefit the communities,” said Carrié during the MOU signing. “[The program] aims to strengthen capacities at the LGU and community-level, as they are usually the first responders in times of crises.”

Located along the typhoon belt, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons yearly. Last December Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) struck the country, made nine landfalls in seven provinces, and affected more than 8 million Filipinos. According to national records, the agriculture sector incurred damages worth almost P16 billion, while those to infrastructure topped P17 billion.

The six-year program will be implemented in 11 of the country’s most vulnerable provinces to help them counter disaster and climate-change impacts. Among target provinces are Albay, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Cagayan, Cebu, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Pampanga, Pangasinan, and Quezon. It will also cover Metro Manila, given its vulnerability to earthquakes and its economic significance, along with the Bangsamoro Region, with the increasing disaster and climate vulnerability of conflict-affected areas.

Apart from DILG, the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Science and Technology will also be jointly leading SHIELD components. The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government of the Bangsamoro will be the region’s lead focal.