31 August 2010, Banaba, San Mateo — The successful launching of Banaba Disaster Risk Reduction Project of Buklod Tao – Center for Disaster Preparedness tandem as funded by Christian Aid was undertaken in a stakeholders’ consultation held at Ciudad Christia Resort in Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal. In attendance were various representatives / officials from government, homeowners’ association, non government organizations, and peoples’ organizations. Daphne Villanueva, Christian Aid Country Manager sent a message that was read by Allan Vera also from Christian Aid. The Executive Director of Rizal Province Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office graced the entire stakeholders’ consultation and delivered at the start his timely exhortation. Noli Abinales, Founder-Advisor of Buklod Tao, presented to the floor the result of the recently conducted Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment (PCVA) held at the gazebo of Buklod Tao last 01 May 2010. Malu Felizar also of CDP facilitated a workshop where the participants were grouped in five and explored answers to the following questions: 1.What are the perceived problems?; 2. What are the solutions to the perceived problems? 3. Which organization/agency could give resolution to the perceived
problems?; and 4. What specific assistance would that organization/agency commit as concrete solution? Group work results were presented at the plenary.
sue a culture of safety in Banaba; we take cognizance of the need for emergency sanitation in evacuation centers and hygience promotion among informal settlers; prevention of
youth, Buklod ng Kabataan, in particular Buklod ng Kabataan, are already partners in disaster risk reduction via their showcase performances with s about love of mother nature and expo-
Mayfourth Luneta of CDP and Project Manager of this undertaking, presented the various components of the project : Capability Building, Advocacy and Livelihoods/poverty alleviation. Jocel Pangilinan of Christian Aid provided in depth explanations about important concerns of the project, while Allan Vera presented a colorful graph summarizing the topics discussed and enhanced commitments. Mr. Ricardo Gomez,Municipal Administrator of San Mateo, elucidated some points to questions raised in behalf of the local LGU. Unities forged were : all those present recognized the varying problems relative to disaster risks and commit to reduce the risk themselves; the government, both at the provincial, municipal, and barangay levels, recognized the need for counterparting especially on land accessability and acquisition; continuity of efforts to identify land(s) for evacuation/relocation at affordable prices to jump start the infrastructure funder(s) initiative, who considers infrastructure for evacuation and relocation as equally important as capability building efforts; evacuation centers relocation sites are primordial need of high risk families if we were to pur-
On-site visit: Christian DRR Officer Aid Allan Vera, Country Manager Daphne Villanueva, CDP Program Manager and Mayfourth Luneta discuss Buklod Tao’s livelihood programs such as A-riser and compost. soil erosion at riverbanks :rip rapping (by government) is still in the wish list, while gabion boxes installation is an on-going initiative via Buklod Tao – De LaSalle Univ ersity-Manila TRED2 ,CWTS students community service; enlisted were the numerous problems, issues and concerns relative to disaster risk reduction, but advocacy also is seen as a complimentary initiative to attain our goals; in
sure f Banaba constituents to disaster risks; there is a need to mainstream poverty alleviation in our community as one approach to vulnerability reduction at the periphery and Buklod Tao’s Social Enterprise Capital Augmentation Program (SECAP) is one good tool to look into.
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