PASIG CITY – To mark a significant milestone in Albay Province’s recovery following the Mayon Volcano unrest in 2023 and underscore the importance of multistakeholder partnerships and resource mobilization in accelerating recovery efforts, a Partners' Dialogue was held by the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Programme, a project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines supported by the Australian Government.

In 2023, the SHIELD Programme supported the province’s development of a recovery plan called the Mayon Resilient, Recovery, and Rehabilitation Plan (M3RP). This initiative, co-led by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) and the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Service Office (APSEMO), alongside other provincial sectors, aims to address the urgent needs of families and communities within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone surrounding Mayon Volcano. This year, efforts are concentrated on building partnerships and bridging resources for the implementation and sustainability of these initiatives, with UNDP Philippines playing an important role in strengthening multistakeholder partnerships.

UNDP Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran hailed the Dialogue as a crucial platform for collaboration. "As we embark on the journey of realizing this plan and the actions that it will entail, we must recognize the imperative of forging strong, inclusive partnerships. The challenges ahead are multifaceted and complex, spanning across sectors and jurisdictions. No single actor can hope to address them in isolation,” he stated. 

Representatives from various international and local organizations, including the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, United Nations agencies such as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), World Food Programme (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), as well as the national government agencies: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Climate Change Commission (CCC), and non-government organization: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), together with SHIELD’s consortium partners: UN-Habitat, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), and National Resilience Council (NRC), attended this dialogue.

Meanwhile, Albay Provincial Governor Edcel Greco Lagman expressed his appreciation for the support. "We are fortunate to have the United Nations Development Programme Philippines facilitating this forum. Their global experience and local commitment provide us with the guidance and support necessary to ensure the success of our initiatives. I extend my deepest gratitude to the UNDP for their unwavering partnership,” he said.

The discussions enabled the stakeholders to share innovative strategies, existing initiatives, and recommendations in resilience building, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation, integrating these approaches into Albay's recovery program to foster resilient communities. Among others, DILG expressed its commitment to support the policy and regulatory requirements of the relocation program for its sustainability. DHSUD will support Albay in facilitating the approval of its Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan at the Regional Land Use Committee, which is vital to the implementation of the M3RP. As SHIELD continues to support Albay's path to recovery, the dialogue has successfully opened opportunities for further collaboration and resource mobilization, aligning with the province's Zero Casualty Strategy and recovery goals. #

About SHIELD

SHIELD is a multi-year partnership covering 11 provinces and two regions in the Philippines that are among the most vulnerable to disasters and climate change impacts. It is implemented by the UNDP Philippines, the consortium partners: Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), National Resilience Council (NRC), Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), together with government partners: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), with generous support from the Australian Government.  

The Programme aims to equip the Philippines with robust disaster risk reduction and management systems. By strengthening the country's ability to anticipate, plan, respond to, and recover from disasters and the adverse effects of climate change, the impact on communities can be mitigated, protecting lives and livelihoods.