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Cebu quake survivors rebuild homes with Croatia, EU support through ACCESS

  • Tanya Mariano
  • Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release
Core shelter being constructed in San Remigio, Cebu | © CARE Philippines
Rendering of completed core shelter | © ACCESS
Learning session with San Remigio community with ‘build back safer’ principles |
© Plan International Pilipinas


View hi-res images HERE

Philippines, 13 March 2026 — Families in earthquake-hit northern Cebu will soon move from temporary shelters into safe, durable, dignified homes through new support from the government of Croatia and the European Union (EU) Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project. The initiative supports more than 197 people in San Remigio, one of the areas hardest hit by the September 2025 magnitude 6.9 earthquake, where months later many remain in makeshift shelters, evacuation centers, or damaged homes.

“The Republic of Croatia stands in solidarity with communities affected by the earthquake and is proud to support the EU-funded ACCESS activities as part of the EU and its Member States’ humanitarian response. By helping families rebuild safer homes, this initiative contributes to a dignified recovery while strengthening resilience to future disasters. In times of crisis, international cooperation is essential, and the Republic of Croatia remains committed to working with European and humanitarian partners to support people in need and reduce disaster risks,” said the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

The quake damaged more than 160,000 houses, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Assessments found that many had weak structures and were built with substandard materials. Without technical guidance or financial resources, affected communities struggled to rebuild.

This assistance is delivered by ACCESS consortium members ACCORD Inc., CARE Philippines, and Plan International Pilipinas, and includes construction materials, conditional cash support, and direct technical guidance. Shelter design is participatory, adapting homes to site conditions and household needs. Teams of local carpenters and community facilitators work closely with households to provide hands-on mentoring and quality checks. Engineers and architects also conduct on-site monitoring to ensure that safety standards are met.

“Alongside rebuilding houses, this effort helps communities regain control of their recovery,” said Sindhy Obias, Executive Director of ACCORD. “We build on local skills and leadership by working with local carpenters, training community facilitators, and supporting families to construct safer homes that can serve them well beyond the project.”

Said Reiza Deijto, Country Director of CARE Philippines, which leads ACCESS, “After an earthquake, a safe home is the first step back to normal life. Through core shelter assistance, families in Cebu receive the technical guidance and financial support they need to rebuild stronger, safer houses—designed around their realities and with room to grow as they recover.”

Core shelters are starter homes built with essential structural components that families can expand or improve over time. Immediately after the earthquake, ACCESS provided emergency shelters that offered privacy and protection but were not intended as permanent housing solutions. This new phase of support marks the transition from emergency response to longer-term recovery, helping families move into safer homes designed to withstand future earthquakes.

“In Cebu and other areas, we have seen how families – especially girls, children, young people, and women – continue to bear the weight of repeated disasters long after the headlines and media stories fade,” said Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas. “Shelter recovery is not just about rebuilding homes but also about restoring dignity, strengthening resilience, and giving survivors the confidence and means to move forward and prepare for whatever may come next.”

– END –

About ACCESS:

The Assisting the Most Vulnerable Communities and Schools Affected by Complex Emergencies Access Quality and Timely Humanitarian and Disaster Preparedness Services (ACCESS) Project is a multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid. Since 2023, ACCESS has helped over 350,000 people across the country. The project serves the most affected, underserved, difficult-to-reach communities in the Philippines, where natural hazards, conflict, displacement, and intensifying climate-related risks continue to threaten lives and livelihoods. It is implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women).

Media contact:

Tanya Mariano

Communications Specialist

CARE Philippines

tanya.mariano@care.org | 09178514881

Cebu communities recovering from back-to-back emergencies meet with EU Ambassador to the Philippines

PRESS RELEASE

European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro visited Cebu on 2 December 2025 to reach out to communities affected by the 30 September magnitude 6.9 earthquake and tropical cyclone Tino, which in early November brought unprecedented floods to the province.

“We stand with communities in the Philippines recovering from major back-to-back to emergencies. With our partners in the ACCESS Project, the EU is committed to addressing their needs and supporting their recovery”, said Ambassador Santoro after meeting with survivors and local officials in Cebu.

During his visit, he also witnessed ongoing relief efforts facilitated by the EU Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project, which since 2023 has been providing emergency assistance to the most affected communities across the country.

In the immediate aftermath, ACCESS mobilized rapid, lifesaving assistance, including psychological first aid, clean water, hygiene supplies, essential household items, and protection support.
“We work alongside local communities and stand beside them as partners. Through ACCESS, we work hand in hand with community leaders, volunteers, and civil society groups to ensure that lifesaving assistance reaches the most affected families quickly, safely, and with dignity,” said Reiza Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines, which leads ACCESS.

“Through close coordination with the local and provincial governments and humanitarian coordination platforms, we made sure our inclusive humanitarian interventions filled the most urgent gaps, particularly for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable sectors. These actions complemented the government’s response and helped reach communities with the greatest needs,” said Melanie Ruiz, Country Manager of Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, part of the ACCESS consortium.

In 2025, the EU approved emergency funding totaling € 3.7 million (approximately PHP 252 million) with a significant portion going to the ACCESS Project to provide timely, appropriate, dignified aid to the most affected, at-risk, difficult-to-reach communities across the country.

About the Organizations:   EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid: The European Union and its Member States are among the world’s leading donors of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and human-induced crises. Through the Directorate General for European Civilian Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.  

ACCESS: The Assisting the Most Vulnerable Communities and Schools Affected by Complex Emergencies Access Quality and Timely Humanitarian and Disaster Preparedness Services (ACCESS) Project is a multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid. It serves the most affected, underserved, difficult-to-reach communities in the Philippines, where natural hazards, conflict, recurrent displacement, and intensifying climate-related risks continue to threaten lives and livelihoods. It is implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women).

Media contacts:

Tanya Mariano

Communications Specialist, CARE Philippines

tanya.mariano@care.org | 09178514881

Thelma Gecolea

Public Affairs Officer, EU Delegation to the Philippines

Thelma.gecolea@eeas.europa.eu/09209662066

After back-to-back typhoons and quake, communities rebuild with EU and ACCESS support 

Highlights: 

  • The European Union Humanitarian Aid, through the ACCESS Project, is providing humanitarian assistance to communities affected by multiple tropical cyclones, the southwest monsoon, and the recent earthquake in Cebu. 
  • The most vulnerable families are receiving support on food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, psychosocial support, shelter, protection, and education. 
Psychological first aid for earthquake-affected communities in Cebu. © CARE Philippines
ACCESS assists Typhoon Opong-affected families in the remote villages of Babuyan Claro. © Save the Children Philippines

Manila, Philippines — More than 50,000 of the most affected, at-risk individuals impacted by massive floods in Masbate, Cagayan, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) due to back-to-back tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong and the Southwest Monsoon, as well as by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, have received life-sustaining humanitarian assistance through the European Union Humanitarian Aid–funded ACCESS Project. The support is helping affected populations meet urgent needs in food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, psychosocial support, shelter, protection, and education.  

“A series of emergencies has left the most vulnerable in an even more fragile situation, driving them further into poverty. Through our humanitarian aid, we strive to bring hope and relief to the hardest-hit and hard-to-reach communities, especially persons with disabilities, children, women, and older persons,” said Melanie Ruiz, Country Manager of Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, the organization leading this particular emergency response under ACCESS. 

In September, three closely spaced tropical cyclones – Mirasol, Nando, and Opong – combined with intensified monsoon rains, affected more than 4.6 million people across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, displacing 94,000 individuals and resulting in 42 deaths. On 30 September 2025, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu and nearby provinces, with its epicenter near Bogo City. The quake affected over 750,000 people and displaced 22,000 individuals, resulting in 79 deaths and 559 injuries. At least 107 cities and municipalities declared a state of calamity due to the typhoons, and 53 more following the earthquake, underscoring the scale of humanitarian needs. 

The EU Humanitarian Aid, recognizing this, provided additional funding support to the ACCESS Project, whose wide geographical reach, strong network, and deep local knowledge enable rapid, dignified, first-on-the-ground emergency response. 

Community-led action is central to the ongoing response. “Our collective effort ensures that those who are often hardest to reach are not left behind,” said Edilberto Villaruel, Mindanao Coordinator of Community Organizers Multiversity, part of the ACCESS consortium. “This response embodies solidarity, compassion, and the bayanihan spirit that defines how communities come together in times of crisis.” 

“Our partnership with local communities ensures that aid reaches those most affected, efficiently and equitably,” said Reiza Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines, which leads the ACCESS Project. “Beyond delivering aid, our role is to help restore people’s confidence in their ability to rebuild their lives. When communities lead and partners stand in solidarity, recovery becomes both sustainable and dignified.” 

About ACCESS 

ACCESS is multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid. It is implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women). 

Media contacts 

Sam Liberato 

Communications Officer, Humanity and Inclusion Philippines 

Mc.liberato@hi.org | +639394957415 

Tanya Mariano 

Communications Specialist, CARE Philippines 

mariano.tanya@care.org | +639178514881 

Volunteers Bring Psychological First Aid to Earthquake Survivors

  • Tanya Mariano
  • Blog, Disaster Response, Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories

In the aftermath of disasters, one of the biggest impacts is often invisible: trauma.

Following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit Cebu, Philippines late in the evening of September 30, 2025, life has moved primarily outdoors for fear that aftershocks would topple homes and buildings.

Days later, residents affected by the destructive tremor – one group huddled under a tent, another by the roadside – gathered to tell stories. A child talked about losing a best friend, and the many plans they still had together. “I hope this is over soon,” said another, referring to the aftershocks, now numbering over 10,000. Witnessing the death of neighbors up close, some cried, others laughed nervously, perhaps as a way to cope.

Among those listening to them is Betcheba Ellorico Prochina, an educator by profession, and one of several volunteers – teachers, a social worker, and psychiatrists – who made the journey to Bogo City, Cebu from Agusan del Sur in northeastern Mindanao to provide psychological first aid (PFA) to communities affected by the quake.

A teacher’s calling: traveling miles to bring care, expecting no reward

Betcheba and the rest of the volunteers were trained in PFA in 2023 by an EU Humanitarian Aid-funded project called REACH, implemented by ACCORD, CARE, and partners.

That same year, they put their training into action when a 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Sarangani in November 2023. ACCESS, another EU-funded action also led by ACCORD, CARE, and partners, sent out a call for volunteers to provide PFA to affected families.

The trip from Agusan del Sur to Sarangani was long – more than eight hours by land – and the task was emotionally demanding, but Betcheba had no second thoughts: “Volunteering is good for the heart,” she says. “We’re not psychologists, but through our simple way of delivering PFA, we were able to ease their psychological burden.”

In Cebu, trapped in traffic gridlock for hours, one song kept playing in her head: “Yes, I’m a teacher; I must brave all the roaring waves and the fury of the river and windy seas; I must climb on up the mountains and hills where children there wait for my love and care.”

What is psychological first aid?

“Before, people focused only on first aid for physical wounds and often neglected one of the most important aspects of our lives: our psychological and emotional well-being,” Betcheba explains. “Like a physical wound, if left unattended, it can worsen. For people who have experienced trauma, PFA helps them bounce back and regain a positive outlook.”

The sessions are designed to help participants process their experiences and emotions. Volunteers use games, songs, and simple activity sheets to help participants recognize and express their feelings. With gentle encouragement and non-judgmental listening, conversations begin to flow, and the weight of trauma can start to lift. Participants also learn practical tools such as breathing exercises to manage stress.

The volunteers knew their visit was only the first step, and that ongoing support would be crucial, especially for children and older persons, whose trauma might manifest in subtler ways.

Says Betcheba, “Volunteering is one way of destressing myself by destressing others. I’m glad that, if only for a short while, we helped take their minds off their worries.”

Local capacity building promotes fast, sustainable emergency response

Betcheba and the volunteers’ story is testament to the lasting impact of empowering local actors. Trained under a previous project, they consistently step up to serve other communities during new emergencies, a clear ripple of positive change extending well beyond the project’s timeline.

ACCESS is a multi-year, multi-sectoral project funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid and implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women).

Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes Davao Oriental, Philippines; CARE and partners stand ready to respond 

  • Tanya Mariano
  • Latest News & Stories, Press Release

Manila, Philippines, October 11, 2025 – A powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Davao Oriental, Mindanao, in southern Philippines at 9:43 AM (PST) on October 10, 2025. Authorities issued a tsunami warning and urged precautionary coastal evacuations; the warning was later lifted after minor sea-level changes were recorded. Today’s quake comes just over a week after a destructive tremor near Cebu, a major island in the central Visayas region, and follows two powerful tropical cyclones, Nando (international name: Ragasa) and Opong (Bualoi), which battered parts of the country. These events underscore how frequently hazards strike the country and how quickly communities must pivot from one emergency to the next. 

“When disasters strike in rapid succession, it is always the most vulnerable who struggle to recover—and too often, that means women and girls. Our focus is listening to communities, responding to what they say they need, and standing behind local responders—especially women leaders—who are already protecting and rebuilding lives in last-mile areas. This is how we ensure that humanitarian aid doesn’t just arrive, but reaches those who need it most, safely and with dignity.” — Reiza S. Dejito, Country Director, CARE Philippines. 

According to initial updates from partners, shaking was felt widely across Mindanao. In Tagum City, lights and electric fans reportedly fell at a university as students evacuated. In Maragusan, residents described the ground as “jumping.” Kidapawan City experienced a temporary power interruption. In Tarragona, cracks were observed in some structures, and several coastal villages began evacuations after the tsunami warning. 

With partners in the EU Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project led by CARE, as well as the Humanitarian Partnership Platform, CARE Philippines is launching needs assessments in hard-hit and hard-to-reach areas, coordinating with local authorities to prioritize the efficient delivery of lifesaving assistance. Prepositioned supplies are being mobilized and response plans are underway. 

“Our teams and partners are launching coordinated assessments, working with local disaster risk reduction authorities and community organizations in the most affected areas. We will check damage to water points, shelters, and livelihoods. With aftershocks expected, we are prioritizing protection, clear information, and coordination so aid reaches those most in need as quickly and as safely as possible.” — Jessan Catre, Humanitarian, Disaster Resilience, and Peacebuilding Coordinator, CARE Philippines. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) placed the epicenter offshore Davao Oriental and reported strong shaking across Davao Region and neighboring provinces. A tsunami warning was issued for several coastal provinces and later cancelled after a small sea-level change (~30 cm) was detected at Tandag, Surigao del Sur.  

Note to Editors:  

CARE has provided humanitarian and development support in the Philippines since 1949. As one of the most disaster-prone countries globally, the Philippines faces significant challenges, and CARE remains at the forefront of delivering life-saving support to communities most in need. According to the World Risk Index report, the Philippines has been ranked as the country most at risk for disasters for four consecutive years. This context underscores the critical importance of CARE’s work in humanitarian action, disaster preparedness, and strengthening local capacity.  

Media contacts:  

Mary Therese L. Norbe 

Communications Specialist, CARE Philippines 

marytherese.norbe@care.org | +639199117534 

Tanya Mariano 

Communications Specialist, CARE Philippines 

tanya.mariano@care.org | +639178514881 

ACCESS: Renewed Commitment to Timely, Dignified Humanitarian Aid

  • Tanya Mariano
  • Blog, Disaster Response, Latest News & Stories, Press Release

The European Union Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project is scaling up its humanitarian work in the Philippines through a two-year continuation, building on the lessons and gains from the past two years of delivering lifesaving assistance to families affected by conflict, displacement, and natural or climate-related hazards when they need it most. 

Reaching underserved, last-mile communities across the Philippines 

Since its launch in 2023, ACCESS has reached over 200,000 people with humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness support. This work will continue with ACCESS 2, which aims to reach 350,000 more people by 2027, still prioritizing the most at-risk individuals, including children, older persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and newly displaced families in Mindanao and other crisis-affected areas. 

Speed, Accuracy, and Quality

ACCESS remains committed to speed, accuracy, and quality in humanitarian response. This means acting quickly once it is safe to do so, ensuring aid is well-targeted and relevant to needs, and upholding high technical standards. The project operates across sectors including food security, health, shelter, WASH, protection, education in emergencies, disaster preparedness, anticipatory action, and humanitarian coordination. A rapid response mechanism allows teams to mobilize within 24 to 72 hours once it is safe to reach affected communities. Whether addressing sudden emergencies or chronic crises, the project is guided by the principle that no one should be left behind, especially in hard-to-reach areas. 

“ACCESS delivers immediate humanitarian assistance to families affected and displaced by disasters and crises. With the support of the European Union, this effort ensures that aid reaches the most vulnerable, especially when local resources are not sufficient and needs are greatest.”

– Arlynn Aquino, Programme Officer and Head of Philippine Antenna, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)

Locally Led, Inclusive, Environmentally Responsible

ACCESS 2 brings together 14 international and local humanitarian organizations, many based in Mindanao. This locally led model draws on deep community knowledge and trusted relationships to deliver faster, more relevant assistance. Activities are gender- and age-sensitive and disability-inclusive, ensuring everyone’s needs are considered and assistance is provided without discrimination. The project also integrates environmental safeguards, following ECHO’s Minimum Environmental Requirements and climate-smart practices to reduce the impact of humanitarian activities.  

“ACCESS is about working together—side by side with national and local organizations, government units, and other humanitarian actors—to make sure help gets to the people who need it most. Our partners on the ground know the realities and the needs of their communities. By combining our strengths, we can respond faster, reach farther, and support communities not just to recover, but to be ready for future crises.”

– Reiza Dejito, Country Director of ACCESS consortium lead CARE Philippines

Coordination and Advocacy 

Beyond emergency response, ACCESS 2 invests in disaster preparedness at both community and subnational levels, helping local actors anticipate and mitigate risks. The project also includes a national advocacy component, working to strengthen policies and systems that protect at-risk populations.  To ensure resources are used effectively, ACCESS 2 provides humanitarian coordination support, aligning assistance with other partners and local authorities. 

Bridging Relief, Recovery, and Peace 

ACCESS embraces a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach, linking immediate relief with long-term resilience and conflict sensitivity. This integrated strategy helps address urgent needs while supporting local systems and reducing the risks that drive recurring crises. 

Looking Ahead Together 

At its core, the new two-year continuation of ACCESS reflects a renewed commitment to communities facing the greatest challenges: those living through conflict, displacement, and natural and climate-related hazards. It builds on what has already been achieved, with a focus on delivering timely, inclusive, and principled humanitarian aid, and sustaining efforts to help people recover with dignity and prepare for future crises. By working together, we move closer to a future where communities are safer, stronger, and more resilient. 

About ACCESS 

ACCESS is multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid. It serves the most affected, underserved, difficult-to-reach communities in the Philippines, where natural hazards, conflict, recurrent displacement, and intensifying climate-related risks continue to threaten lives and livelihoods. 

ACCESS 2 is implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women). 

Humanitarian NGOs Welcome New Philippine Imminent Disaster Law

  • Tanya Mariano
  • Advocacy, Disaster Response, Humanitarian, Latest News & Stories, Other Topic, Press Release

The landmark legislation, Republic Act No. 12287, paves the way for proactive government response, protecting people before floods, typhoons, or other hazards hit

In a historic move to save lives and protect at-risk communities, the Philippine government has passed the Imminent Disaster Bill into law, establishing a national framework for anticipatory action – measures taken before a hazard hits or before its worst impacts are felt. The law mandates that government agencies act before impacts peak: to pre-position supplies, organize preemptive evacuation, or release early cash or in-kind support.

“This is a turning point for the Philippines: from reacting after a disaster to protecting people before it strikes. The real test is in implementation, and we stand ready to work with government and communities to make anticipatory action a reality nationwide,” says Reiza Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines, the organization leading the European Union Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project, which implements anticipatory action initiatives.

“With this new law, the government can now officially lead anticipatory actions and utilize state resources to save lives and protect livelihoods. The era of waiting for the most vulnerable to experience the full brunt of a disaster before help arrives is, we hope, coming to an end,” says Lot Felizco, Executive Director of Oxfam Pilipinas, an ACCESS consortium member.

Centering Community Voices

People most affected by typhoons, floods, and other hazards are now covered by a clear legal mandate for early action. Civil society organizations, including ACCESS members, helped ensure the law is grounded in the realities of communities frequently affected by disasters, amplifying local voices to inform policy and keeping the law steadfast to its core purpose: to save lives, protect livelihoods, uphold dignity, and adhere to the ‘do no harm’ principle.

“For the longest time, our communities have been on the frontlines of climate change, waiting for the next storm to take everything from them. This law gives us hope and a fighting chance. It is a testament to what is possible when we work together towards a common goal of resilience,” says Esteban Masagca, Executive Director of People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN).

Adds Sindhy Obias, Executive Director of Assistance and Cooperation for Community Resilience and Development (ACCORD), “More than anticipating disasters, the law recognizes the strength and wisdom of Filipino communities who have long been the first responders. This legal foundation strengthens our collaboration with government, partners, and communities so that preparedness is a guaranteed right for every family at risk.”

‘No One Left Behind’

The law helps broaden support for women, girls, older adults, people with disabilities, and others who often face barriers to aid.

“Disasters affect girls differently and disproportionately,” says Pebbles Sanchez-Ogang, Executive Director of Plan International Pilipinas. “The new law enables earlier action to protect girls and meet their specific needs before disasters strike, helping ensure that every child—especially every girl—is safe, empowered, and resilient in the face of typhoons and other emergencies,” she adds.

Says Melanie Ruiz, Country Manager of Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, “Through this new law, we continue to promote inclusive anticipatory action, enabling meaningful participation of people with disabilities, older adults, women, children, and other marginalized groups in disaster preparedness, to ensure no one is left behind.”

Enabling Proactive Measures

The new law provides a clear legal framework for government agencies at all levels to:

  • Pre-position goods and supplies in areas forecasted to be hit by a hazard
  • Implement pre-emptive evacuations to ensure citizen safety
  • Distribute cash or aid assistance to families so they can meet basic needs without resorting to negative coping strategies
  • Secure assets and livelihoods, such as boats, livestock, and equipment, minimizing economic loss

This proactive approach protects development gains and breaks the cycle of poverty exacerbated by repeated disasters. “This legislation is a milestone that reinforces ongoing efforts to integrate early action, preparedness, and disaster risk reduction into both humanitarian and development programs,” says Suresanathan Murugesu, Country Director of Action Against Hunger Philippines.

Proven Anticipatory Action Activations

Since 2023, ACCESS has been delivering anticipatory action support to the most at-risk, difficult-to-reach communities in Mindanao and across the country, covering hazards such as floods and typhoons, as well as conflict. This meant communities had access to essentials such as food and water, could safeguard personal belongings and livelihood tools, and move to safety before impact.

Consortium advocacy has also strengthened local adoption: In 10 barangays in Basilan and Sulu, barangay councils passed resolutions adopting anticipatory action and rapid response mechanisms introduced under ACCESS through Save the Children Philippines, Nagdilaab Foundation, and Notre Dame of Jolo College. Communities designed the plans to reflect local risks and realities and tested them through a simulation drill, advancing more inclusive, child-sensitive disaster response and preparedness.

During the 2024 El Niño in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), SUPREME BARMM, another EU Humanitarian Aid-supported initiative led by Oxfam Pilipinas, activated the country’s first anticipatory action for drought. Communities in the Special Geographic Areas (SGAs) received critical cash, in-kind, and information assistance before the drought peaked, helping to reduce its impact. The project also activated anticipatory action ahead of severe floods in Cotabato City between 2020 and 2023.

A Call for Collective Action

While the passage of the law is a win, its rollout will require close collaboration between government, civil society, and communities in hazard-prone areas. ACCESS consortium members are committed to ensuring that efforts remain grounded in the lived realities of those most affected.

About ACCESS

ACCESS is multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid. It serves the most affected, underserved, difficult-to-reach communities in the Philippines, where natural hazards, conflict, recurrent displacement, and intensifying climate-related risks continue to threaten lives and livelihoods. Since 2023, the project has helped more than 200,000 people.

ACCESS is implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women).

For media inquiries, please contact:

Tanya Mariano

Communications Specialist – Humanitarian, Disaster Resilience, and Peacebuilding Unit

CARE Philippines

tanya.mariano@care.org

Mindanao in Focus: Resilience in the Margins, Hope at the Center

In Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost island, communities grapple with the compounding effects of conflict, displacement, natural hazards, and climate-induced disasters.

This collection of photos, most recently exhibited at the 2025 European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels, brings into focus stories from across the region: children returning to school after floods, indigenous groups navigating displacement due to conflict, individuals obtaining birth certificates for the first time, and humanitarian aid reaching the most remote communities.

It primarily features moments from the EU-funded ACCESS Project but also showcases other EU-supported initiatives of ACCESS consortium partners, offering a glimpse into the collective, complementary efforts of humanitarians working on the ground, united in their goal of building resilience in the most at-risk, least-served communities.

At its heart, these images celebrate human resilience. Amidst overwhelming challenges, the strength, dignity, and hope of Mindanao’s communities shine through.

As viewers, we are called not only to bear witness to their struggles but also to recognize the necessity of continued support and solidarity with those enduring these crises.

A woman and her husband now rely on dried fish for income, after frequent floods made it impossible to farm their land. Cash assistance helped them buy food, water, and a new fishing net. © Ariel C. Lalisan/Oxfam Pilipinas
To support children affected by flooding and landslides in Davao de Oro, ACCESS distributes back-to-school kits, including raincoats, to help them continue their education. Hazards like flooding frequently disrupt classes and damage essential school items such as books, bags, and uniforms. © Action Against Hunger Philippines
A schoolgirl smiles as she lines up with her classmates during a distribution of school supplies in Agusan del Sur. After nearly two years of disrupted learning due to the pandemic, students were eager to return to school and reunite with friends. © Bernadette Uy/ACCORD
A Moro woman speaks to ACCESS staff as part of the project’s efforts to restore primary healthcare services in crisis-affected communities. ACCESS also offers mental health and psychosocial support through community sessions and individual counseling. © Abdul Alim Talusob/Action Against Hunger Philippines
Teenage girls smile with gratitude after receiving menstrual hygiene kits from ACCESS. © Save the Children Philippines
Women carrying their children and essential items walk through a village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan during a simulation exercise on anticipatory action for armed conflict in 2024. The exercise aimed to strengthen local preparedness and response strategies in the face of potential conflict. © Plan International Pilipinas
Early morning fog envelops a convoy of habal-habal (motorbikes modified with outriggers to carry more goods and people) transporting goods to a conflict-affected area in San Luis, Agusan del Sur. Remote communities, vulnerable to both natural and human-induced hazards, face significant challenges in receiving aid. Despite difficult access, humanitarian efforts strive to reach these last-mile communities where the need is greatest. © ACCORD-CARE Philippines 
An Indigenous woman in Mindanao poses with her newly acquired birth certificate. Indigenous peoples in geographically isolated areas often struggle to access government services due to the lack of essential documents like birth certificates. This gap also increases their vulnerability to abuse and violence, especially in conflict-affected areas where proper identification is crucial for protection. © ACCORD-CARE Philippines
In hard-to-reach areas like Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur, timely support can make all the difference. Through anticipatory action, ACCESS helped families prepare before conflict forced them to leave. © Yasraf Gayao/Action Against Hunger Philippines
Residents of Northern Kabuntalan help each other cross a flooded area. Heavy rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon in July 2024 inundated eight villages in Mindanao, affecting over 3,000 families.
© Plan International Pilipinas
A resident affected by the armed conflict in Northern Kabuntalan receives a live chicken as food aid. Providing live rather than dressed poultry was more practical since most residents do not have refrigerators. © Humanity & Inclusion Philippines-Community Organizers Multiversity
Families in Kilangan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur prepare to evacuate ahead of expected conflict, as part of anticipatory action supported by the ACCESS project. © Yasraf Gayao/Action Against Hunger Philippines

ACCESS gets ₱76 million from EU for Mindanao flood aid

  • Tanya Mariano
  • Disaster Response, Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release

The funding will help bring food, clean water, sanitation facilities, and protection assistance to the hardest-hit, least-served, most remote communities 

Manila, Philippines, 19 August 2024 – The ACCESS consortium – made up of five international and nine local organizations implementing the ACCESS Project – has secured ₱76 million (€1.2 million) in funding from the European Union (EU) to deliver timely, appropriate, life-saving aid to communities in Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte and del Sur, and Sultan Kudarat who were affected by the July 2024 flooding and landslides.  

Said Ansherina Talavera, Humanitarian and Peacebuilding Coordinator of consortium lead CARE Philippines: “As humanitarian workers, we’re committed to addressing human suffering wherever it is found, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable. This funding from the European Union helps us support the hardest-hit communities, who are not only dealing with the aftermath of floods and landslides but are also facing the ongoing challenges of conflict and climate change.” 

Existing organizational presence enabled quick response 

The consortium had been on the ground when floods and landslides hit the region, allowing it to immediately assess the situation, identify urgent needs, and deliver initial relief. This established presence in Mindanao and across the Philippines is made possible by the ACCESS-initiated Equitable Partnership Alliance – a non-formal network of local, national, and international non-government organizations committed to delivering quality humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding programs in the country. 

The funding will help ACCESS provide food assistance, clean water, sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion, and essential services protecting the rights and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of affected families. As with all its emergency response efforts, the consortium will target the hardest hit, least served, difficult-to-reach areas, prioritizing low-income households for whom recovery may be challenging, and including older persons, pregnant and lactating women, persons with disability, female-headed households, and households from indigenous groups. 

From El Nino to floods and landslides 

The massive flooding and landslides – the result of the interaction of multiple, successive weather systems, including the southwest monsoon – came just as families were recovering from the impacts of El Nino. Many had also been grappling with the protracted, decades-long conflict across Mindanao.  

Urgent needs

Among affected and displaced individuals, the consortium found high levels of food insecurity; significant losses in incomes and livelihood assets; poor water supply, sanitation, and hygiene conditions; extensive damages to belongings and the loss of important civil documents; heightened risks of sexual violence and exploitation against women and children; and a need for mental health and psychosocial support. 

Said Talavera, “ACCESS is focused on providing urgent aid and helping families rebuild their lives with resilience and dignity.” 

Photos: © ACCORD Inc., Action Against Hunger Philippines, Save the Children Philippines, Humanity & Inclusion Philippines | 2024

About ACCESS 

ACCESS (Assisting the Most Vulnerable Communities and Schools Affected by Complex Emergencies in Accessing Quality and Timely Humanitarian and Disaster Preparedness Services) is a multi-year, multi-sectoral project funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The ACCESS Mindanao flood emergency response will be implemented by consortium members ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity, Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress, and Save the Children Philippines, together with Oxfam Pilipinas and United Youth of the Philippines-Women. 

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