2 August 2019 – The recently conducted Andam Lahar Evaluation in Legazpi City, Albay is a culmination activity of the 3-month implementation of the project. Andam Lahar is a 3-month consortium project led by Christian Aid together with CARE Philippines, Humanity and Inclusion (HI), CDRC, Tarabang Para sa Bicol (TABI), Simon of Cyrene Community Rehabilitation and Development Foundation, Inc., and Coalition for Bicol Development funded by START Network and in partnership with Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office and Local Government Units of Sto. Domingo, Daraga and Camalig.
The consortium conducts the said activity to assess the progress and outcomes of the implementation with the inputs from the different International and local NGO partners, as well as key persons in the project areas. As a partner, CDRC takes part in the daylong activities where WGQ (Washington Group of Questions) training and mobile data collection, municipal and barangay training, simulation drill, distribution of rain gauge and IEC materials are assessed during its implementation.
The project evaluation helps realize several lessons which were drawn from the project areas and the partner organizations and so as to continue the DRRM initiatives, ways forward from the concerned government agencies are laid;
Lessons:
- Establishment of partnership and good relationship with communities especially in preparing Contingency Plans for Lahar
- Increased disaster awareness particularly on Lahar risks
- Importance of prioritizing the PWDs, elderly and children during evacuation
- Provision of IEC materials to the project areas
- Collaborative efforts of local NGOs to share skills, expertise, and resources during implementation of the activities
- Brief timeline to implement a number of activities
- Should have sustainability activities
- 3-month implementation was insufficient
- Engagement with the academe, faith-based organizations, and community members should be done in case of project replication
- Consider local experts to provide practical information in the communities on raising disaster-awareness and provide directory of these experts for swift coordination
Meanwhile, APSEMO Chief Cedric Daep, extends his gratitude to Andam Lahar Team in behalf of the Province of Albay. According to him, they will continue to provide effort in making Albay a resilient and a zero-casualty province.
Local NGOs, CDRC-TABI, CBD and Simon of Cyrene, also thank the international NGOs for choosing them as partners in implementing this one of its kind projects. Through Andam Lahar, local NGOs are able to build partnership and good rapport in a short span which may help them in future endeavors particularly in building resilient communities.
Before the activity ends, IEC materials and rain gauge are distributed and turned-over to the three project areas.####