DSWD, FAO launch innovative anticipatory action and social protection programme
Called B-SPARED, the collaborative initiative between the Philippine government, through DSWD, and FAO endeavors at preparing communities ahead of a typhoon through multi-purpose cash and livelihood protection of poor and vulnerable households. The initiative is supported by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
The Philippine government's Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and FAO launched today the "Building on Social Protection for Anticipatory Action and Response in Emergencies and Disasters" (B-SPARED) programme, in Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, 29 August 2023.
To be piloted in the municipality of Bacuag for the region, B-SPARED is an innovative initiative that endeavors at preparing communities ahead of a typhoon through multi-purpose cash and livelihood protection of poor and vulnerable households.
This pioneering project seeks to enhance the social protection systems and disaster management approaches in the region, with a focus on poor and vulnerable households based on Listahanan 3 households that are most susceptible to the impacts of typhoons.
At the launch event, DSWD and FAO inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the provincial local government unit of Surigao del Norte and the municipal local government unit of Bacuag.
Present at the MOU signing were Dir. Michael Christopher Mathay (Disaster Response Management Bureau - DSWD Central Office), Dir. Mari-Flor Dollaga (DSWD Field Office Caraga), Hon. Felicisimo Cebedo (Mayor - Bacuag, SdN), Ms Ruth Honculada-Georget (Social Policy and Program Coordinator of FAO Philippines), and Ms Fe Saumat (Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer - Surigao del Norte).
B-SPARED is a collaborative effort between the DSWD, FAO, and the various participating local and provincial governments in the Philippines. The initiative is generously supported by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).