In a landmark decision, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental officially adopted the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) program during the Provincial Development Council Meeting on June 21, 2023, in Mati City. The province is set to implement the program in a six-year term until 2028, with the aim of accelerating resilience-building efforts at the local level.
The SHIELD program’s focus is to assist local communities in becoming more resilient to natural catastrophes and the impacts of climate change by promoting cooperation among various stakeholders, opening up opportunities for financing, and putting forward risk-informed and inclusive resilience measures. Davao Oriental’s adoption of the SHIELD program is a key step toward creating a province that is more resilient and sustainable. With this, the province hopes to lessen the vulnerability of its communities, safeguard its natural resources, and foster chances for sustainable development by utilizing the expertise and support of the SHIELD initiative.
Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, in a previous meeting with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) personnel last month, has shown a warm welcome for the program and expressed her desire to focus on tailored-fit actions focused on the agriculture and tourism sectors. These two sectors are considered priority programs of her administration, aimed at reducing poverty incidence in the province.
Governor Malanyaon hopes to boost the province’s readiness and resilience to potential hazards, such as extreme weather events and the negative effects of climate change, by integrating the SHIELD program with the agricultural and tourism sectors of the province.
With the implementation of the program involving a multi-stakeholder approach, with active involvement from governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities, SHIELD is regarded as an essential initiative for aiding communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change. The program will be implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental co-designing the resilience actions in data governance, capacity development, multi-stakeholder partnership, and economic resilience. The project coordination and execution will be in collaboration with SHIELD consortium partners, including UN-Habitat, Philippine Business for Social Progress, and National Resilience Council.
The adoption of the SHIELD program by the Provincial Development Council reflects Davao Oriental’s proactive approach toward addressing the urgent concerns of disasters and climate change. With the help of the program’s endeavors, the province hopes to increase the local communities’ overall well-being while also fostering sustainable growth and resilience.
With the adoption of the SHIELD program, Davao Oriental stands at the forefront of resilience-building efforts in the region making it the first province in the Davao Region and the third in the whole of Mindanao to implement the said project in partnership with UNDP. By Francis Jay Butulan | Photos by Mark Oliver Alvite
