A senior official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) emphasized the need for a robust investment in anticipatory action as well as science and technology for disaster risk reduction.

Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao made this statement during one of the panel discussions at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City last October 16.

“Investments in anticipatory action in the Philippines have been considered using the social protection system. Recognizing anticipatory action as crucial for providing protection and mitigation, the Philippines, through the DSWD, worked with various partners to introduce anticipatory action in disaster risk reduction,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, told the APMCDRR delegates.

The DSWD, in partnership with the United Nations-Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), implements the Building on Social Protection for Anticipatory Action and Response in Emergencies and Disasters (B-SPARED) program that uses technology for risk information, impact-based forecasting, and early warning systems as trigger mechanisms.

“In its pilot implementation, the B-SPARED program aimed to address the impact of floods, typhoons, and drought through social safety nets and capacity-building activities,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.

According to the DSWD spokesperson, the same strategy was used in the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Anticipatory Action(AA), where anticipatory cash assistance was provided to children residing in typhoon-prone provinces before the impact of a tropical cyclone. The CERF-AA is a program of the DSWD and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

During the panel discussion, Asst. Secretary Dumlao also presented the Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished), which leverages on climate data to combat water scarcity and food insecurity, particularly during extreme dry spells.

The DSWD spokesperson stressed that a reliable social registry plays a crucial role in identifying the most vulnerable households, ensuring targeted interventions are effectively implemented.

“In fact, the Philippines, through the DSWD, utilizes the Listahanan or the National Targeting System for Poverty Reduction as a targeting tool to identify households most vulnerable to massive flooding, frequently visited by typhoons, and severely affected by drought for the implementation of B-SPARED, CERF, and LAWA and BINHI,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

The DRMG official also recognized multi-sectoral collaboration as essential for the success of anticipatory action initiatives of the Department.

“Science-based forecasting and a reliable social registry fueled by multi-sector collaboration have worked well in implementing anticipatory action initiatives. These mechanisms have instigated meaningful collaborations to advance policy and funding support for scale-up opportunities,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao explained.

This year’s APMCDRR was hosted by the Philippines from October 14 to 17 that brought together government agencies; intergovernmental, international, national civil society organizations; the private sector; science; academia; and stakeholder groups to provide a platform for regional collaboration in disaster risk reduction and resilience building. #