United Nation Disaster Risk Reduction Senior Advisor Karen Sudmeier –Rieux discusses to the attendees their global program initiative in upscaling Eco-DRR. Andrea De Bono of UNEP- Global Risk Identification Program (GRIP) talks about their undertakings in improving the evidence base for risk management decision-making in high risk countries. Kalahi CIDSS DRPM Gerardo Peneda and DSWD OIC Regional Director extended their enthusiasm on the UNEP partnership. The second day of the UN Environment Mission was a site visitation wherein the UNEP and VSU partners listened to how the community was involved from identification and prioritization of the Reforestation sub—projects .
The United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) recently partnered with DSWD Kalahi CIDSS and Visayas State University (VISCA) and other members of the academe as well as some government agencies in the upscaling of the Eco- Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) in the Philippines.
In the first day of the UN Environment Mission was a consultative meeting which focused on the up-scaling of Community-Resilience through Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction. This was held June 15, 2019 at VISCA.
DSWD OIC Regional Director says that DSWD is positive and eager about the partnership with the UNEP. She asserted by saying, “In behalf of the DSWD and Kalahi CIDSS program, we cohere to the partnership in addressing the needs of the marginalized communities. We will always say yes to you.”
On the other hand, Kalahi CIDSS Deputy Regional Project Manager Gerardo Peneda is positive about the idea of recognizing the role of ecosystems and nature to reduce disaster risks. He added that Kalahi CIDSS program is not all about infrastructures insofar as preventing and reducing impacts of disasters on vulnerable communities is concerned.
The Kalahi CIDSS has been the partner of the VSU in the community-identified Reforestation sub-project by which the latter gave technical assistance relative to the survey of the area, analysis of the soil, recommendation as to what plants are suitable in the area , training of Community Volunteers about the biodiversity assessment, land preparation, rain forestation establishment training, and maintenance of the rain forestation.
Prof. Efren Saz of VSU pronounced support to the CDD approach in sub-project implementation. He said that he wants the strategy wherein the community itself identifies the intervention to address the most pressing needs of their community.
The consultative meeting was aimed to gather ideas and lessons in the Kalahi CIDSS – funded rain reforestation sub-project in Cabucgyan Biliran that uses Community-Driven Development approach to possibly integrate in upscaling Eco- DRR in the Philippines.
The second day of the UN Environment Mission was a site visitation wherein the UNEP and VSU partners listened to how the community was involved from identification and prioritization of the Reforestation sub—projects. Eight community-identified sub-projects were focused on environmental management through forest rehabilitation or reforestation.
The Php8.3 M Kalahi CIDSS-funded reforestation sub-projects hopes to mitigate future landslides and soil erosion as a result of the forest degradation.
The mission was led by the United Nation Disaster Risk Reduction Senior Advisor Karen Sudmeier –Rieux, Andrea De Bono of UNEP- Global Risk Identification Program (GRIP), and UN Environment Consultant Dolores Nuvas.
Kalahi CIDSS program uses a Community-Driven Development strategy by which the community itself is involved in identifying, planning and implementing their identified project which will solve their most pressing needs.