Philippines: Heifer Intl conducts community-managed DRR training

Sagada, Mt. Province - The Heifer International-Philippines, in partnership with Canadian International Development Agency, is conducting an 11-day training on Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) at Saint Joseph Café in this municipality from December 2 to 12.

According to Lendyll Tagle, Senior Program Officer of Heifer, this activity aims to reduce the risks on climate change and improve the preparedness and resiliency of families in time of disaster. It is also designed to enhance the capacity of project partners to facilitate the CMDRR process.

Tagle said this is the first training to be conducted in Northern Philippines and it is intended for the project partners.

Participants to this activity are support staff of NGO project partners of Heifer like the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP), Igorota Foundation Inc. (IFI), Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc. (JVOFI), Sumya-ann Women's Association, Social Action and Development Center (SADC); Community Facilitators; Self-Helf Group representatives; and representatives from the local government units where Heifer projects are piloted.

According to Tagle, the participants, after the training, are expected to have enhanced the capacity for responsive and appropriate actions during disaster and emergencies, increased awareness and use of knowledge on both practical and developmental approaches and minimized damage.

Selected tools in facilitating participatory disaster risk assessment (hazard, vulnerability and capacity assessment) and participatory planning are demonstrated and practiced by the participants.

The participants also did a day field practicum in barangay Gayang in the municipality of Sabangan to conduct a Participatory Disaster Risk Assessment and planning with community members. Gayang is a beneficiary of the Heifer livelihood project which is at risk to landslide.

Part of the training is the preparation of community contingency and community development plans by the participants.

Facilitators during the training include Rusty Binas, GLOBAL Consultant on CMDRR; Berlie Gatchalian, Program Officer of Heifer International Central Philippines Program; Karla Rodolfo, Project and Monitoring Manager of Heifer International-Philippines; Olowan Dom-oguen, Program Officer of Heifer in Mt. Province; and Marife Lucaney, Community Facilitator of Igorota Foundation, Inc. (PIA-MP)