ILIGAN CITY (PIA) -- Highlighting the need to have effective, responsive, and inclusive social protection for communities, the Plan International aims to build resiliency among disaster victims here through the Moving Urban Poor Communities Towards Resilience (MOVE UP) 4 Mindanao project.

MOVE UP 4 Mindanao project manager John Tamayo said under the project, the Shock Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) program is being implemented in partnership with CSWDO and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office which aims to tweak social programs being implemented to address emergencies.

“Halimbawa ang Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS), ang ginawa natin tinweak natin ginawa para maging isang shock responsive o tumutugon sa emergency katulad ng sunog. Hindi na individual assistance na yung individual ang mag-apply kundi inaactivate na siya kung merong emergency para tugunan o matulungan ang affected individual sa crisis situation,” said Tamayo.

[For example, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), what we did was we tweaked it to be a shock responsive or responding to an emergency like fire. It is no longer individual assistance wherein the individual will apply but it is activated when there is an emergency to address or help the affected individual in a crisis situation.]

Tamayo also said that the MOVE UP 4 project has been implemented in the City since 2019. Other programs implemented were capacity building for barangays in creating alternative temporary shelters, resilient livelihood, and social safety net.

Under the MOVE UP 4 program, Plan International also conducted capacity building and training for various agencies of the city government and communities to be resilient. Community savings groups were established in barangays Tambacan and Tubod where the members save funds together which can be used during emergencies.

“We hope ang beneficiary, katuwang ang LGU, ay unti-unti mabuild ang kanilang resiliency na kapag merong emergency, alam kaagad nila ang gagawin,” Tamayo said.

[We hope the beneficiary, in collaboration with the LGU, will gradually build their resiliency so that when there is an emergency, they will know immediately what to do.]

Tamayo also hopes that another program will be implemented which will focus on strengthening the anticipatory action of the communities.

Under the SRSP program, a total of 10 affected families in Barangay Buruun received food packs while 20 affected families in Barangay Tambacan are set to receive cash assistance. (LELA/PIA Lanao del Norte)