Following the successful launch of Project TRANSFORM (Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilient and Sustainable Communities) in Ormoc City, Leyte last January 18, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) continued the project in three municipalities of Surigao del Norte during the agency’s Multistakeholder Forum in Mindanao on February 4.
DENR rolled out Project TRANSFORM in Malimono, San Francisco, and Burgos, the three most impacted municipalities in Surigao del Norte by typhoon Odette in 2021.
In a January 2022 report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 2,552,312 families across 38 provinces in Caraga were affected just within hours of typhoon Odette’s impact.
The municipalities, as recorded by NDRRMC, incurred massive damages in infrastructure, houses, and livelihoods, and suffered severe and long-term effects. They are vulnerable to multi-hazard shocks, and high poverty magnitude.
In this regard, guided by the directive of Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga to engage the whole of society, the DENR collaborated with the local government units (LGUs), the National Resilience Council, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Peace and Equity Foundation, Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), and Energy Development Corporation to undertake Project TRANSFORM.
Speaking on behalf of the partners, ZFF Executive Director Austere Panadero explained that Project TRANSFORM will help the LGUs create resilient systems to avert socio-economic disasters due to climate and disaster risks and poor environmental conditions.
“Ultimately, Project TRANSFORM will support continuous improvement of critical ecosystems as mentioned by Secretary Loyzaga, and support development continuity and inclusive economic growth,” said Panadero.
He added that the partners will work closely together in improving policy implementation and governance, and in formulating an ecosystem-based management approach among the LGUs in Surigao del Norte.
To signify their cooperation toward the achievement of resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable municipalities in Surigao del Norte, the DENR and its multi-sectoral partners signed a Pledge of Partnership at the stakeholder forum on February 4 as well.
“In behalf of the municipality of San Francisco and our leaders, we are very proud and very grateful na ‘yung municipality namin ang napili na pilot municipality for Project TRANSFORM,” said San Francisco, Surigao del Norte representative Norman Gordonas.
“Your concern and generosity will bring hope in materializing our dreams of being a resilient and environmentally sustainable community,” added Malimono, Surigao del Norte Councilor Marianna Marina Escano.
To start rolling out the program in the municipalities, the partners will now work on identifying and finalizing cost centers for funding, organizing a joint technical working group composed of a pool of experts, and having an operations planning and strategy for engagement.
Putting together the best practices from both government and private sector, Project TRANSFORM will support the DENR’s new Environment and Natural Resources Resiliency Framework to further deliver environmental, social and economic gains for LGUs nationwide. ###
