US ambassador kicks off DRR program in Baguio

From the Manila Bulletin (Jul 13): US ambassador kicks off DRR program in Baguio

United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. announced here the other day that America remains committed to supporting the Philippines in preparing for and improving response to natural disasters as a result of climate change.

Thomas, the outgoing US ambassador, visited this city for the start of the third phase of the U.S. Government’s Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) program in Benguet.

“We are pleased to work with communities in Benguet and throughout the Philippines to improve their capacity to deal with the effects of natural calamities. Our efforts recognize that disasters could easily wipe out the assets that our families have worked hard to gain,” said the ambassador.

Accompanying him were U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gloria D. Steele and representatives from the World Food Program (WFP), and the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc.

They were welcomed by several officials from the local government, led by Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan and representatives from the University of the Philippines-Baguio (UP-Baguio).

The USAID’s DRR program in Benguet, implemented in partnership with the WFP, began in 2011 and initially covered the municipalities of Tublay, Atok, Kibungan and Kapangan.

Among the activities under the program are a tree planting, development of early warning systems, and preparation of disaster contingency plans for each municipality.

Thomas noted that with the third phase of the DDR, the program is being expanded to cover six municipalities, including the municipality of Buguias and this so-called City of Pines.

The program will provide P17.6 million (US$ 420,000) to support the DRR implementation of practical and high-impact projects at the local level to help communities prepare for disasters.

The DRR program also includes the creation of a Knowledge and Training Resource Center in partnership with the University of the Philippines-Baguio.

Another partner in this activity is the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, which will provide training and information campaigns on effective disaster planning and response for local leaders and community members.

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