PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan (PIA) -- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) turned over P2M worth of construction materials to Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as assistance to barangays within the park who were affected by typhoon Odette back in 2021.
UNDP’s assistance to PPUR is part of its Climate Action Program, wherein areas affected by the impacts of changing climate such as typhoons are supported. It is one of the three main programs along with institutional strengthening and governance.
It was the third part of support provided by UNDP for the affected barangays in PPUR park under climate action initiative, starting in November 2022. Team Leader Floradema Eleazar said UNDP’s goal is not limited to assisting communities but it also aims to help them to be more resilient.
"Ang layunin ng UNDP sa pagtulong sa mga komunidad ay para maiwasan ang masamang epekto sa kanila. Kami ay umaasa na kahit may mga dumating na mga bagyo ay hindi na mauulit yung nawala lahat ang ating mga pangkabuhayan at mas matatag ang ating pamumuhay," she said.
UNDP Climate Action Program Team Leader Floradema Eleazar explains the purpose of the assistance given by the UNDP to the communities affected by Typhoon Odette. (Photo by Rachel Ganancial)
The beneficiaries of the assistance are the Community Park Warden Association (CAPWA) Jungle Trail, Kayasan/Cabayugan Tribal Hall, and Marufinas Banana Chips Production House and Materials.
The UNDP provided P1M worth of agriculture and fisheries support in November 2022, followed by livelihood support in January 2023, amounting to P2M.
The assistance received by the park management provided hope for the recovery of banana chips production in Marufinas and the construction of their processing facility.
Boosting their livelihood in banana chips will help their group earn while waiting for the recovery of other sources like ratan and almaciga, according to Leonida Calibuso.
"Malaking halaga ang naitulong nila sa samahan ng mga kababaihan at mga katutubo—Ang tulong ng UNDP na yari sa semento ay taon namin magagamit, kahit mga anak namin ay pwede makinabang," she said.
The city government, represented by City Tourism Officer Demetrio Alvior, said the support of UNDP will help the livelihood of community-based sustainable tourism (CBST) sites, which cannot immediately be reached by the government’s interventions.
PPUR Park Superintendent Elzabeth Maclang accepts the challenge of UNDP to be resilient to the impacts of possible typhoons in the future. (Photo by Rachel Ganancial)
According to him, even though a highly urbanized city like Puerto Princesa has funds, it cannot support the needs of communities alone.
"Kailangang-kailangan talaga ng Puerto Princesa ang tulong ng mga NGO—talagang hindi kakayanin, matatagalan ang serbisyong maibibigay sa laki ng Puerto Princesa," Alvior said.
Park Superintendent (PaSu) Elizabeth Maclang, on the other hand, welcomed the challenge of UNDP for communities inside the national park to be resilient to lessen the damages and impacts of unfortunate events.
"Nakatatak na sa amin si Odette dahil 90 percent ng mga nakikita niyo dito, mga bahay at bangkang tumatakbo ay damaged," she said. (RPG/PIA MIMAROPA - Palawan)
