PROJECT i-SAfE
PCDR’s new project for 14 project areas
PCDR successfully kickstarted a new project last September 22-24, 2023, attended by community members, member organizations of its local network, and by the Johanniter International Assistance and Aktion Deutschland Hilft at Iloilo City, Philippines.
ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES – Last September 22-24, 2024, Panay Center for Disaster Response, Inc. officially started the implementation of a new project. Named as Project i-SAfE (Integrated Approach to Strengthening Community Action for Effective Disaster Response), this will serve as a direct continuation of its Mainstreaming CBDM Project and the Project EnPREP, all supported by Johanniter International Assistance and Aktion Deutschland Hilft.
For the first day of the 3-day kick-off event, PCDR gathered representatives from its old project areas wherein they participated in workshops that assessed the impact of the first two project phases and community members themselves recognized that there is still work that needs to be done in their respective community. The community members were given the time to report on the community’s situation.
Aside from the workshops, community members were also oriented with an updated Philippine Disaster Situation, a discussion that brought to light the 2024 World Risk Report that declared the Philippines as the most at-risk country for the 14th year. It is with that context that PCDR introduced the implementation of Project i-SAfE which integrated themes of Emergency Response and Preparedness, Physical and Mental Health, and Livelihood Vocational Skills. The integration of these is seen by PCDR as an important step in addressing the communities’ vulnerabilities and capacitating them.
The next two days were attended by PCDR’s local network organization. The Network for Disaster Response – Panay (NDRP) convened to update the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP). PCDR introduced the concept of Anticipatory Action in Disaster Response during the session. The body agreed to integrate Anticipatory Action to its EPRP and discussed the possible implementation of this as the country enters the ber-months and rainy season.
Organization members were also given the time to report their past activities, initiatives, and programs since the body convened last 2022. PCDR’s network members since its convention have responded to both man-made disasters and disasters caused by natural hazards. Through it, PCDR is proud to say that its local network continues to be an effective mechanism in its line of DRR work in the Region.
Attending JUH staff during the event acknowledged the work PCDR is doing and shared how they gained a deeper understanding of its work along with its local Disaster Preparedness Committees and networks organizations.#
