CRS Philippines

This National Disaster Resilience Month, USAID and CRS Philippines stand united with 🇵🇭 to champion disaster preparedness and climate resilience! 🌍 Together, we empower cities to scale up innovative strategies in conserving, restoring, and sustainably managing the environment amidst the challenges of climate change. 🌱

On July 18–19, the Bicol Resilience in Coastal Communities (BRICC) project, led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in the Philippines in collaboration with Caritas Virac Justice and Peace Inc. (CVJPI), presented the results of community risk assessment and barangay disaster risk reduction and management plans for 2025–2027 to the municipal governments of Bagamanoc, Pandan, and Caramoran in Catanduanes. For several months, the team engaged community stakeholders from 12 barangays to update risk maps, analyze risks, discuss challenges, and propose projects, plans, and activities (PPA).

The series of presentations were attended by department heads of municipal governments, Bagamanoc Mayor Odilon F. Pascua, Pandan Mayor Raul E. Tabirara, Vice Mayor Eric T. Rodriguez, and CVJPI Executive Director Fr. Renato de la Rosa.

This quote reminds us that faith and hard work should always go hand in hand. Trust in the process, and let your relentless effort drive you on your way to success.

On July 10, 2024, the members of the Tigum-Aganan Watershed Management Board (TAWMB) convened with the support of the Iloilo Water Resilience Initiative (IWARI) Project to discuss the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2021–41, an updated guideline from DENR relevant to the creation of watershed management councils. The DAO 2021–41 discussion was led by the DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), followed by a presentation on the organizational structure of watershed management councils by the Iloilo Provincial Government Environmental and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), and a brief history of TAWMB from the former Technical Working Group (TWG) chairperson.

An open forum discussion was conducted with the participation of the General Manager of Metro Iloilo Water District, the Executive Director of Kahublagan Sang Panimalay Foundation, Inc., representatives of people’s organizations in attendance, and LGU officials from Alimodian, Cabatuan, Leon, Maasin, Pavia, San Miguel, and Sta. Barbara, and Iloilo City ENRO. Representatives from regional offices of the National Irrigation Administration, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Philippine Information Agency, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and the Department of Agriculture were also present at the event.

Follow-up discussions were arranged by the IWARI project with TAWMB pertaining to membership expansion and management plans.

IWARI is a three-year project funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, implemented by CRS in the Philippines, and with oversight by the USAID - US Agency for International Development through the Climate Resilient Cities project.

Photos by Jerilee Camena/IWARI Consultant

On July 5, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in the Philippines, through the Iloilo Water Resilience Initiative (IWARI) Project, presented the results of the recently concluded Training Needs Assessment (TNA), facilitated by its technical consultants. The goal of the TNA is to identify areas that need further input or capacity-building interventions to strengthen the watershed governance of concerned bodies, including local government units (LGUs), people’s organizations, local communities, and the private sector.

The event was attended by the General Manager of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), representatives from the Iloilo Provincial Government Environmental and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), and municipal environment and agriculture officers from the LGUs of Maasin, Leon, Cabatuan, and Oton, among others. Several people’s organizations from the same LGUs also participated actively in the activity. The session was closed with the prioritization and scheduling of the capacity-building activities lined up from August to September.

IWARI is a three-year project funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, implemented by CRS in the Philippines, and with oversight by the USAID - US Agency for International Development through the Climate Resilient Cities project. Its goal is to enhance water availability from the Tigum-Aganan Watershed and Iloilo-Batiano River for the sustained benefit of upstream and downstream communities, including Iloilo City.

Photos by Jerilee Camena/IWARI Consultant

USAID Philippines and CRS' Project, with Conservation International Philippines and Batangas City ENRO, conducted the second Basic Environmental Law Enforcement (ELE) Training equipping barangay leaders, representatives, and City ENRO officials knowledge on laws, procedural skills, and case handling. The participants of the training were recently deputized as ELE officers by the Batangas City Mayor Beverley Dimacuha, ensuring strong local governance and sustainable management of natural resources of Batangas City.

On June 21, 2024, CRS in the Philippines facilitated an Anticipatory Action (AA) learning event to enhance the implementation of Strengthening Typhoon Anticipatory Action Response of Tagbilaran (STAART) Project. The event centered around assessing project activities, including project participant selection processes, awareness and orientation initiatives for preparedness, and dissemination of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and strategies to enhance the effectiveness of AA implementation through increased stakeholder participation and support.

This National Disaster Resilience Month, USAID Philippines and CRS Philippines proudly join the nation in promoting disaster preparedness and climate resilience. USAID and CRS Philippines' project enable cities to implement or upscale innovative measures to conserve, restore or sustainably manage the environment under the lens of climate change adaptation or mitigation.

In our lives, simple gestures can create powerful effects. Let’s embrace the opportunity to spread kindness in our own small but meaningful ways.

Disasters often underscore the persistent challenges arising from resource gaps, infrastructure disparities, and inadequate support systems within communities. These disparities ultimately jeopardize lives and livelihoods. During National Disaster Resilience Month, let us prioritize human rights as the cornerstone of resilience building. In times of adversity, no one should be left behind.

Discover how CRS, with support and funding from USAID/BHA, developed a comprehensive Toolkit through the Preparing to Enhance Protection in Disasters (PrEPD) project by scanning the QR code below. This Toolkit assists local disaster risk reduction (DRR) actors and humanitarian workers in integrating safe and dignified programming principles and standards into their work.

On June 18, 2024, CRS in the Philippines, in collaboration with the Tagbilaran City Government Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), facilitated the review of Barangay Manga’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (BDRRM) under the Strengthening Typhoon Anticipatory Action Response of Tagbilaran (STAART) Project.

The review assessed the plans and programs based on what has been implemented, the challenges faced, and areas for improvement in program implementation and community participation. The activity identified strategic interventions, additional programs, expected results, budgetary needs, timelines, and strengthened participatory approaches to gain buy-in from vulnerable communities.

USAID Philippines Welcome to the USAID Philippines official page.

With the global population exceeding 8 billion, climate change impacts everyone. This , let's raise awareness about how environmental challenges affect us all.

USAID Philippines and CRS Philippines' Project collaborates with vulnerable population to climate change impacts including women and farmers in Cotabato City to enhance their adaptive capacity. They are actively involved in climate change adaptation programs such as climate-smart farmer field school, community awareness campaigns, and environmental law enforcement training, among others, ensuring a resilient future for all.

National Disaster Resilience Month is observed in the country to raise awareness about disaster preparedness, promote risk reduction, and enhance climate resilience. USAID Philippines and CRS Philippines' Project help cities in the Philippines adapt to, mitigate, and endure the impacts of climate change by increasing their access to climate financing and tools to build resilience.

USAID Philippines and CRS Philippines' project, in partnership with ICLEI – Local Government for Sustainability Southeast Asia, continues to support the City Government of Batangas in updating their Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA). Updating of CDRA is crucial to enhance understanding of current vulnerabilities, improve preparedness, and develop effective mitigation strategies in response to evolving climate and disaster risks.

USAID Philippines & CRS Philippines join the nationwide observance of the in promoting climate & disaster resilience. USAID & CRS' Project recently conducted a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (LDRRMP) Updating Workshop with the City of Borongan. The LDRRMP is the strategic roadmap integrating detailed information on the city's assessment of hazards, exposure, vulnerabilities, capacities & actions for building a safer, more resilient Borongan against disasters.

📣 Catholic Relief Services in the Philippines invites all interested buyers in the Public Auction for five (5) units of used vehicles.

Interested buyers shall submit the requirements thru sealed envelopes or email with password to [email protected]

Visit https://bit.ly/CRS_Auction or scan the QR code for more details.

📣Pursue a meaningful and purposive career in the humanitarian sector with Catholic Relief Services in the Philippines! We are currently hiring for:

📌CRC TA II Climate Finance (Manila-based, hybrid arrangement): https://bit.ly/CRCTAClimateFinance

✉️Send your application through the links above on or before July 13, 2024. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted to proceed with our recruitment.

: Catholic Relief Services Philippines (CRS Philippines) presented CRS resilience framework and discussed its partnership with USAID Philippines and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in strengthening the adaptive capacity of six Philippine cities to climate change impacts through the Climate Resilient Cities Project (USAID CRC Project) at the 2024 Project TRANSFORM Colloquium held at SMX Convention Center, last June 20, 2024. This comes after the USAID entered a memorandum of understanding with the DENR to implement the USAID CRC project, in collaboration with CRS. CRS highlights its multistakeholder approach in promoting and implementing climate data, climate finance, and nature-based solutions to strengthen community resilience.

The event brought together various organizations involved in climate action, aiming for collaboration for more effective, efficient, and sustainable impacts at the local level and at significant scale.

Asia Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum 2024 Program Agenda Survey Introduction: Thank you for taking the time to complete this short survey, which will take around 5 - 10 minutes. The purpose of this short survey is to provide an opportunity for those who will be joining the Asia Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum 2024 to give their inputs and preferences on ho...

Let these reassuring words of Jesus remind us that we are never alone. Whether in moments of despair or happiness, His presence surrounds us always.

CPN Meeting for Women's Peacebuilding Leadership From May 31-June 2, in Plymouth, Michigan, the Catholic Peacebuilding Network gathered a working group of women peacebuilders to discuss ways to advance...

SAVE THE DATE! 📅

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the Ministry of Human Settlements and Development - BARMM (MHSD) together with the Shelter Cluster, Catholic Relief Services CRS Philippines, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Philippine Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity — International and Philippines, IOM - UN Migration, Build Change, Save The Children, Caritas Philippines, United Architects of the Philippines Resilience Architects is proud to announce the Philippine hosting of the Asia Pacific Shelter & Settlements Forum 2024 this October 21-23, 2024.

The first Asia Shelter Forum (ASF) was started by shelter practitioners in 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand followed by a second ASF in Bangkok, Thailand in 2018 and the third ASF in Indonesia in 2019. The fourth and fifth ASF were hosted by Nepal in 2020 and 2021. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the 2020 ASF was conducted virtually while the 2021 ASF allows face-to-face engagement. In 2022, it was hosted by the Bangladesh government, and it was during the Bangladesh ASF that the structure of this event was discussed and unanimously voted with a new name which is the Asia Pacific Shelter and Settlement Forum ( ).

The Asia-Pacific Shelter and Settlements Forum provides an effective platform for Shelter and Settlements Practitioners to meet and share lessons and experiences of Shelter and Settlements response in the region. The forum explores best practices in communities that have safe, adequate, and dignified shelters and settlements.

Stay tuned for updates! 🏘️

Arbor Day in the Philippines is a nationwide celebration that serves as a reminder of the significance of tree planting and environmental preservation, emphasizing the crucial role trees play in climate change adaptation & mitigation, & preserving biodiversity.

USAID Philippines & CRS' Project collaborates with Borongan City to support the protection, conservation, and management of their mangrove nursery and mangrove sites.

Discover the latest updates in the CRS Philippines Newsletter for May 2024. Don't miss out on the inspiring stories and impactful work from last month. https://mailchi.mp/philippines/may2024

Our actions, no matter how little, must please the Lord.