Group wants 'child-centered' disaster reduction programs

MANILA, Philippines - A global non-government organization advocating children's welfare and protection on Wednesday partnered with national government agencies to make their disaster risk reduction programs "child-centered and child-led."

During simple ceremonies at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City, Save The Children signed a memorandum  of agreement with representatives of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Education for the adoption of the program which seek to encourage participation of the youth.

Under the four-year Project Encore, funded by Australian Aid, local government units will be empowered to engage children and communities  in participatory processes to identify risks, and risk reduction activities feasible in their respective areas.

The project also aims to promote the uptake of sustainable solid waste management activities which will contribute to the reduction of disaster risk in urban areas.

Encore project manager Lourdes Pambid said it is high time for children to be included in the planning of risk reduction activities since they are the ones who have become vulnerable during disasters.

"It is time to integrate child centered and child led DRR and CCA (climate change adaptation )activities. Kasi ngayon nagiging passive na lang ang participation nila. With this project, sila na mismo magpa-participate," Pambid said.

Pambid said they have already started the first phase of the project in six pilot barangays in Calumpit and Hagonoy, Bulacan which was hardest hit by typhooon Pedring in 2011.

She said normally, one-third of the whole population of a certain area, based on statistics, are children.

"So these children are the ones affected or become casualties of such disasters," Pambid said.

For the second phase of the project, Pambid said the whole province of Bulacan and Muntinlupa City will be included.