Adopt-a-Municipality Project - Tiwi Albay
Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group and AP Renewables Inc., partnered with the National Resilience Council and the Municipality of Tiwi, to develop a comprehensive, science-based approach to community disaster and climate change adaptation.
Description
The Aboitiz Group recognizes the complex and dynamic nature of risk and the Philippines’ unique patterns of development that require trans-disciplinary approaches and the proactive participation of different stakeholders. The critical gaps between science, policy, and practice are addressed by employing a whole-of-society approach involving the national and local government, private sector, scientific institutions, academe, and civil society.
The Adopt-a-Municipality program is a three-year, two-track capacity-building program consisting of parallel modules for Leadership & Governance and Science & Technology. The program features milestones in knowledge development on disaster risk through science and technology, the formation and enhancement of leadership and governance skills, and competencies to reduce risks. A specific set of competencies will be transferred to the LGUs in order to graduate from this three-year program. The program is implemented in partnership with scientists and technical experts, local academic institutions, and multi-stakeholder networks that include the communities themselves. The Adopt-A-Municipality program represents an innovative pathway for corporations to collaborate directly with local governments, academic partners, and communities ー instead of the usual dole-outs ー to reduce the community’s exposure and vulnerability and transform climate and disaster risk landscapes.
The Municipality of Tiwi has been identified as the pilot and priority area for this program implementation. Accordingly, NRC’s Resilient Local Government Unit Program and Resilience Scorecard will also be piloted in this area.
Did the Sendai Framework change or contribute to changes in your activities/organization? If so, how?
The project aims to advance the attainment of international commitments and agreements such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development Goals, and Paris Climate Agreement; as well as, various plans and programs such as but not limited to the Philippine Development Plan, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan.
This project is also one of the good practices gathered by ARISE, the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies, which raises awareness, shares knowledge, influences, and implements in relation to disaster risk reduction.
What led you to make this commitment/initiative?
What was your position before making this Voluntary Commitment / prior to the Sendai Framework?
The Municipality of Tiwi in Albay is one of the communities frequently visited by strong typhoons that bring tremendous devastations to agriculture, economy, infrastructure, and the environment. The Adopt-A-Municipality program represents an innovative pathway for corporations to collaborate directly with local governments, academic partners, and communities ー instead of the usual dole-outs ー to reduce the community’s exposure and vulnerability and transform climate and disaster risk landscapes.
Partnerships are at the core of the Aboitiz Foundation’s work. Adopt-A-Municipality is the first municipality-specific partnership model responding to the Philippines’ commitments under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Deliverables and Progress report
Deliverables
Deliverables are the end-products of the initiative/commitment, which can include issuance of publications or knowledge products, outcomes of workshops, training programs, videos, links, photographs, etc.
Refurbishing and repair of barangay health centers as well as provision of medicines, medical equipment, personal protective equipment and furniture to the LGU
Provision of sewing machines and fishing boats as well as livelihood restarter kits for women to help them recover from the economic losses brought by the pandemic
Increase awareness of barangay officials in addressing disaster risk reduction management, particularly delving into Risk and Resilience concepts including coaching and mentoring
Provisions of needed interventions such as flood early warning systems and CCTV cameras, among others