A2D Project participated in the recently concluded 7^th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in New Delhi, India last November 3-5, 2016.  With the theme “Risk Sensitive Development for Community Resilience”, AMCDRR 2016 focused on collaboration among Asian countries for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) towards making the Asia-Pacific Region more resilient to disasters. Aloysius Canete, Executive Director of A2D Project, shared lessons and recommendations to increase collaboration of persons with disabilities/ Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) with government in local risk sensitive development organized by the Disability-inclusive DRR Network (DiDRRN).

In his presentation, Canete highlighted the challenges encountered in working with government, civil society organizations, and disabled people’s organizations towards mainstreaming disability perspectives in disaster risk management and how A2D Project is exploring ways to address these challenges.  “Persons with disabilities are often overlooked in disaster risk management (DRM) programs of the government. It is then very important to create an enabling environment through which government, civil society, and disabled people’s organizations can work together.”  With this, Canete showcased the establishment of the Cebu Disability-inclusive DRR Network (Cebu DiDRRN) as a platform for such collaboration, facilitating partnership and dialogue among different stakeholders in the province of Cebu, in Central Philippines.

The Cebu DiDRRN, as a multistakeholder advocacy coalition participated actively by disabled people’s organizations, has produced promising practices in how to work with government and various DRM actors in the promotion of DiDRR.  Since the launching of the network early in 2015, the Cebu DiDRRN has accomplished the following:

• Held the 1^st Cebu Summit and Learning Event on Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction;
• Organized DRR Info-fair Exhibition;
• Participated in the Sunset review of RA 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010;
• Conducted Training of Trainers on “Lahat Handa” Manual for Disability-inclusive DRR for the Province of Cebu and;
• Conducted roadshows in commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR).

“From this experience, we have shown how working collaboratively and partnering with government at different levels is a crucial component for advancing disability inclusion in DRR. Through this collaboration, for example, we have advocated for the integration of disability inclusion in developing local DRM budgets as well as for greater participation of persons with disabilities in DRM processes,” Canete added.

It is hoped that the lessons from A2D Project’s initiatives in DiDRR can contribute to strengthening the ongoing advocacy for strengthening disability inclusion in DRR programming in the country and in the region.

Over 3,000 participants attended the AMCDRR 2016 including ministers and senior government officials, bilateral and multilateral organizations, community-based organizations, technical experts, and private organizations from more than 40 countries. The major outcomes of the AMCDRR were the Asia Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, New Delhi declaration for strengthening political commitment in the region in DRR, as well as a series of action statements from various partners promoting an ‘all-of-society approach’ to building disaster resilience.  A2D Project’s participation in the AMCDRR 2016 was supported by Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), a German relief and social welfare organization engaged in a widerange of social service provision in Germany and abroad.  Apart from Canete, the A2D Project delegation to the AMCDRR 2016 also included Ms. Marivic Codinera and Mr. Marvelous Jorda of Blind Association of Lapulapu City.

The Cebu Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Network (CDiDRRN) conducted a five-day training-of-trainers (TOT) on Lahat Handa (Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction) in partnership with A2D Project—Research Group for Alternatives to Development Inc., Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Cebu Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) on April 18-22, 2016.The training is organized through A2D’s ENABLED Project aimed at building the capacity of its members and partners towards disability-inclusion in disaster risk reduction in the Province of Cebu. A2D’s initiative is funded by Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB).

The participants will form the first pool of trainers who will in turn train DRR stakeholders in local government units (LGUs) of Cebu province on inclusive DRR and disaster preparedness. The TOT was participated by more than 30 stakeholders or representatives from the civil society organizations, local government units and disabled people’s organizations (DPOs).

Facilitated by representatives of Handicap International, CBM, National Council of Disability Affairs (NCDA) and Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy (AKAP Pinoy), the participants were trained using the Manual on Inclusive DRR called Lahat Handadeveloped by a Technical Working Group consisting of the Philippine Office of Civil Defense, NCDA, Handicap International and Center for Disaster Preparedness among others. The manual is a supplementary module to the Office of Civil Defense’s Basic Instructor’s Guide. This manual contains guidelines on inclusive early warning systems, tip sheets for persons with disabilities, and accessible evacuation centers, among others.

Acknowledging the importance of accommodating the specific needs of persons most at risk to disaster, the first day established the link between disasters and the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities, older persons, women and children. The legal bases of the community-based disaster management and inclusive community risk assessments were likewise revisited.  These lectures are contained in the first module of the Lahat Handa Manual.

The second and third modules were discussed on the second day.  Participants drew up disability-inclusive plans and reviewed the roles and responsibilities of barangay (village) disaster management plans during the workshops that followed.  Games were also used as a methodology in developing family preparedness plans, evacuation planning and prevention and prevention and mitigation procedures.

In addition to this, participants were asked to review the accessibility of the training venue.  Essential feedback and recommendations were given by persons with disability in attendance.  Mark Joseph Signe of Deaf Disaster Assistance Team-Disaster Risk Reduction (DDAT-DRR) noted that blinking lights should be installed inside hotel rooms since loud knocks and telephone rings would not suffice for deaf persons in cases of emergency. Additional comments include trip and slip hazards for persons on wheelchair and those with physical difficulty on the shiny floors of the cafeteria. The facilitators assured that the feedback would be informed to the hotel to address.

The fifth and final day of the training centered on Module 4 consisting of basic concepts of first aid, proper handling of human corpse and basic survival tips. To cap the training workshop, individual participants were tested on their platform skills. Using the Lahat Handa manual they were each asked to choose a topic and simulate an inclusive facilitation; then, their performance were reviewed by the resource speakers.

Marvelous Jordan of the Blind Association of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu welcomed increasing efforts of civil society groups and the government institutions to mainstream disability inclusion in disaster management through institutionalization of the manual. “This training is an effective means to ensure disability inclusion in DRR. It helps remove barriers for at risk persons by providing information on how what to do during emergencies.”

Cebu City, Philippines – In line with its advocacy of promoting disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in vulnerable communities, A2D Project – Research Group for Alternatives to Development Inc. recently launched a project funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) entitled “Strengthening Capacities for a Child-centered Disaster Risk Reduction in the Municipalities of Bantayan and Daanbantayan in the Aftermath of Haiyan” or S3CDRRM.

S3CDRRM is a community-based initiative that recognizes the important role of children in the furtherance of risk reduction efforts. In particular, the project seeks to capacitate children and other community and municipal DRRM actors in advancing child-centered disaster risk reduction and management (CC-DRRM) at the municipal and barangay levels. In 12 months, S3CDRRM will undertake institutional capacity development on Child-Centered DRRM for the Local Government Units of Bantayan and Daanbantayan, two of the hardest hit municipalities during the onslaught of super typhoon Haiyan. In addition, In order to establish good practices in community-based child-centered DRRM, the project operates in two pilot barangays namely, Barangay Patao in Bantayan and Barangay Poblacion in Daan Bantayan. Other activities include the advocacy for the promotion of safer schools and the mobilization of informal community structures particularly youth volunteers for disaster risk reduction.

Since the project’s commencement in September 2014, the project has not only engaged different stakeholders in conducting trainings and planning, it has also facilitated building relationships with other international and local NGOs who are also working in these Haiyan-affected areas. From municipal planning workshops to basic DRR trainings to children’s dialogues to school safety audits done by children, the project hopes to slowly contribute to the dream of achieving disaster resilience.

This initiative is undertaken in partnership with Young Heroes for Cebu and Bisdak Pride.