Albay, UNDP ink program for disaster resilience

LEGAZPI CITY --- The provincial government of Albay and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) formalized their collaboration for safe and resilient communities against the hazard of climate change and disasters, through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, May 3.

“With the goal as big as this, we need partnership and collaboration. We cannot do this alone,” Albay Governor Edcel Lagman said.

Under the MOU, the aim to build institutional and community resilience to climate change and natural hazards will be carried out through the implementation of the six-year Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD), a program supported by the government of Australia.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding.

“We will localize all the programs funded by foreign countries like the Australia through the UNDP to make it more effective for our local needs.”

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Edwine Carrie said the province of Albay was selected for this partnership due to the exposure of its location to disasters, not to mention its institutional expertise and knowledge on disaster management.

“We are very impressed by the zero casualty local plan of Albay. This is something that our colleagues will want to learn. Through the SHIELD, we will facilitate learning and exchange of knowledge and expertise,” Carrie said.

Albay is one of the three LGUs in the Philippines chosen for the SHIELD program, along with Agusan del Sur and Northern Samar.

Through the SHIELD program, the Australian government has invested $18 million AUD to support the Philippines in building institutional and community resilience to natural hazards and climate change. The SHIELD Program is implemented by the Consortium led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), National Resilience Council (NRC), Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat). (PIA5/Albay)