CATARMAN, NORTHERN SAMAR, PHILIPPINES – The Provincial Government of Northern Samar, in collaboration with the Australian Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines, gathered provincial representatives and stakeholders for the SHIELD Resilience Blitz to highlight and showcase the accomplishments and progress of the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Programme in enhancing resilience in Northern Samar.

The SHIELD Resilience Blitz promoted proactive, rapid, and comprehensive action to strengthen communities against the adverse effects of disasters and climate change and enhance resilience in the province. The event gathered stakeholders from diverse sectors in Northern Samar to come together, share insights, and reaffirm their commitment to empowering communities to withstand and recover from adversity caused by disasters and climate change. The event marked the public unveiling of the SHIELD logo and the launch of the Nortehanon Sambayanihan Commitment Pledge.

Among the participants were Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines Dr. Moya Collett, UNDP Philippines Deputy Resident Representative Edwine Carrié, Governor Edwin Ongchuan, Vice Governor Clarence Dato, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Assistant Regional Director Rey Gozon, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 8 Supervising Science Research Specialist Engr. Anorly Narca, and representatives of the Northern Samar Provincial Development Council. 

In his message, UNDP Philippines Deputy Resident Representative Edwine Carrié expressed the importance of climate resilience in Northern Samar. He highlighted that: “This province is no stranger to the devastating effects of climate change, with frequent typhoons leaving communities struggling to recover. But it's also a place where we see resilience and strength every day, as people come together to rebuild and support each other.” 

Since signing the Memorandum of Understanding in December 2022, SHIELD has been working with Northern Samar to empower the province to develop its provincial development and physical framework plan through a multi-stakeholder approach. Priorities identified under SHIELD's three-year work plan in 2023 reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by the province. 

The province aims to leverage its land use and physical framework plans to improve spatial distribution of growth and reduce poverty, which are necessary conditions for building resilience.

In line with these priorities, Northern Samar, in collaboration with SHIELD, has achieved significant milestones. A comprehensive capacity needs assessment was conducted to evaluate the province's current use of vulnerability and risk assessment tools, leading to the identification of capacity gaps and needs. 

Provincial Climate Risk Diagnostic workshops facilitated by multi-stakeholder participation have resulted in the completion of the province's risk profile, resilience strategy, and a list of programs and projects aimed at enhancing resilience. 

Furthermore, value chain analysis (VCA) and business continuity planning workshops have been completed, producing VCA for priority commodities such as rice and coconut providing valuable insights into enhancing value chain resilience. Through industry-level Business Continuity Plans, Northern Samar is actively working towards strengthening the resilience of its key agricultural sectors, paving the way for sustainable economic growth and development.

Dr. Moya Collett, Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines, expressed the Embassy’s commitment to the cause by stating that, “Building state and community resilience is a major pillar of Australia’s international development policy. As a strategic partner to the Philippines, Australia has supported initiatives to enhance resilience in the region over the years. We remain committed to helping local government partners such as Northern Samar reduce their vulnerability to the effects of disasters and climate change.”

As a symbol of support for continuous capacity development interventions, a drone was handed over to the Northern Samar Provincial Government. This gesture exemplifies the commitment of SHIELD and its partners to equip communities with the tools and resources necessary to mitigate and manage risks effectively. The drone will play a crucial role in enhancing the province's disaster preparedness and response capacity, contributing to more resilient and adaptive communities.

Governor Edwin Ongchuan said in his acceptance speech, “On behalf of the Provincial Government of Northern Samar, I would like to convey my gratitude to the UNDP SHIELD Programme consortium partners and the Australian Government for the donation of this drone. As we all aim to build climate and disaster-resilient communities, I look forward to the usage of modern technologies in the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages of our plans.”

SHIELD is a multi-year partnership covering 11 provinces and two regions in the Philippines that are among the most vulnerable to disasters and climate change impacts. It is implemented by the UNDP Philippines, the consortium partners: Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), National Resilience Council (NRC), Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), together with government partners: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), with generous support from the Australian Government. 

The Programme aims to equip the Philippines with robust disaster risk reduction and management systems. By strengthening the country's ability to anticipate, plan, respond to, and recover from disasters and the adverse effects of climate change, the impact on communities can be mitigated, protecting lives and livelihoods.

####