Roseline Jimenez holds up a seaweed line she just checked for diseases. A good harvest for their livelihood group, economic security for their family in the coming months. Photo: Kathleen Limayo for ACCORD
Story by Detsy Uy/ACCORD; Photos by Kathleen Limayo/ACCORD
While many see Palawan in the Philippines as a tropical paradise of pristine beaches, lush forests, and abundant seas, for locals like Roseline Jimenez and Rovelyn Espinoza, it is more than a destination – it is home. It is where they earn a living, sustain their families, and help produce food that reaches communities far beyond its shores.
One of these is seaweed, farmed in coastal waters and central to local livelihoods. Once a lucrative source of income, seaweed cultivation has been impacted by strong typhoons and a changing climate, making it difficult to ensure a good, healthy yield.
Seaweed farming under pressure
Like many in their community, Roseline and her husband have experienced the highs and lows of farming seaweed. Rovelyn, who has been cultivating seaweed for 14 years, has faced the same uncertainties, having to find ways to earn during periods of low production – from taking on additional work such as tying seedlings for replanting to selling homemade rice delicacies.
Rising water temperatures leave seaweed vulnerable to “ice-ice” and “siring-siring,” conditions that turn it white, brittle, and unfit for harvest. A good season once meant stability even during lean months. In recent years, incomes have become less predictable, while the cost of living continues to rise.
Rovelyn Espinoza tying seaweed lines, a vital step in cultivation that ensures healthy growth and sustainable harvests for her family and community. Photo: Kathleen Limayo for ACCORD
Finding new income sources, support through the Farmer Field and Business School
Roseline was among the first women to join the Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) for Fisheries Program – implemented by ACCORD and CARE Philippines in Palawan – which helps small-scale fisherfolk, especially women, through hands-on learning, climate-resilient practices, and basic business skills. Alongside fellow fisherfolk like Rovelyn, she attended training diligently, sharing her experiences and struggles to find ways to strengthen and protect their livelihoods.
One strategy her group developed was forming a collective to help each other diversify their income sources. Now, apart from improving their seaweed farming practices, the women are exploring other income-earning activities such as aquaculture.
Roseline Jimenez (left) and an FFBS staff member check a seaweed line on their farm. Regular monitoring helps detect and address crop issues early, improving overall yield. Photo: Kathleen Limayo for ACCORD
Moving towards collective action
They’ve also shifted how they work: instead of each family managing their own farm alone, they now share both the burdens and the rewards of their co-managed farms.
This shift toward collective action has strengthened not only their livelihoods but also their relationships within the community. As Rovelyn shared, “Before the seaweed demo farm, we worked individually. Now, we have an association where we work together for our livelihood. Before, we didn’t really pay attention to our neighbors. Now, we know who needs help.”
Growing in confidence and leadership
Once shy and hesitant to participate, Rovelyn is now an active member, gaining confidence and renewed motivation to improve her family’s income.
Roseline has become one of the group’s leaders. Through practical knowledge, a deeper understanding of environmental degradation and climate change, and a new appreciation for collective action, she and the other women feel more confident and secure – ready to sustain their families and communities despite uncertain seasons ahead.
On March 25, 2026, representatives from government, civil society, and humanitarian organizations gathered to discuss how to better support communities facing overlapping risks.
Photos by Cindy Aquino for CARE Philippines
The Philippines faces increasingly frequent, overlapping, complex risks, even as aid budgets tighten globally. To keep up, humanitarians need to move faster and work more closely with each other and the people they serve.
Against this backdrop, the Nexus Forum 2026 gathered more than 150 representatives from government, civil society, humanitarian networks and coordination bodies, technical experts, and the academe to discuss how the country’s humanitarian system can adapt.
Convened by the organizations behind the EU-funded ACCESS and BRIDGE Projects, together with the Philippine Inclusive NGO Network (PINGON), the March 25, 2026 event featured plenary presentations, panel discussions, the launch of a data analytics platform, and an interactive exhibit space.
Reiza Dejito, CARE Philippines Country Director, opened the forum with a candid reflection: “The Nexus Forum is not a celebration or a showcase. It is a reckoning. It is a deliberate, honest, overdue conversation about whether the way we work is good enough for people depending on it. And if we are being honest, the answer is ‘not yet.’”
Reiza Dejito, CARE Philippines Country Director, delivers the opening remarks at Nexus Forum 2026.
Global shifts, local impacts
Following a message of solidarity from Théo Prestavoine of EU Humanitarian Aid, Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Emerito Junie Castillo set the stage with a Philippine humanitarian situationer, highlighting how climate extremes and global disruptions make local communities more vulnerable, and why humanitarian response needs to be more locally led and focused on resilience, not just reaction.
Théo Prestavoine, Desk Officer for Bangladesh and the Philippines, EU Humanitarian Aid
Office of Civil Defense Spokesperson Emerito Junie Castillo
This set the tone for a panel discussion on the future of humanitarian aid, which explored global and regional trends shaping local contexts.
Moderated by DRRM Specialist Juan Blenn Huelgas, the session drew insights from Director Christopher Mathay (Disaster Response Management Bureau – Department of Social Welfare and Development), Arnaud Peral (United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines), Pascal Arthaud (PINGON and People in Need), and Noemi Cabaddu (St. Paul University Philippines – Community Development Center Foundation).
The speakers emphasized three priorities: communities must lead, preparedness needs greater investment, and coordination across actors must improve.
Christopher Mathay, Director III, Disaster Response Management Bureau, DSWD
Juan Blenn Huelgas, DRRM Specialist, Nexus Forum 2026 moderator
Pascal Arthaud, Country Director of People in Need and Vice-Chairperson of the Philippine Inclusive NGO Network (PINGON)
Noemi Cabaddu, Executive Director, St. Paul University Philippines – Community Development Center Foundation
Arnaud Peral, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines
Lessons in coordination, anticipatory action, and peacebuilding
Panel discussions on key topics centered around gaps, challenges, and ways forward.
On coordination and information management, Hannes Goegele (World Food Programme), Jeonoah Kali Fornoles (UNICEF), Francisco Vassalo Monteiro (IFRC), Jennifer Furigay (ACCORD), and Ma. Lourdes Eudela (Monday.com Foundation) examined how organizations and systems are adapting to changing risks and coordination mechanisms.
A separate discussion on anticipatory action, with Ruth Honculada-Georget (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Criselda Longga (Philippine Red Cross), Arvin Caro (Start Network), and Erica Chester Bucog (CARE Philippines), focused on the realities of turning forecasts into early action, including challenges in data, financing, and coordination.
In a session on peacebuilding, Noraida Abo (United Youth of the Philippines – Women), Betcheba Ellorico Prochina (Department of Education, Agusan del Sur), Maricar Tiban (South Upi National High School), and Mai Lagman (Oxfam Pilipinas) shared how indigenous and Bangsamoro communities navigate conflict and natural hazards, and how women, youth, and culture can bridge humanitarian, development, and peace efforts.
Strengthening existing systems
Across all discussions, common challenges emerged:
Systems struggle to keep pace with increasingly complex and overlapping risks, with data often fragmented and difficult to share and use to make timely decisions
Preparedness is widely recognized as essential, but remains unevenly resourced and not consistently institutionalized
Local actors already lead response and recovery efforts, but are not always adequately supported by coordination, financing, and decision-making structures
These point less to a need for new systems, and more to making existing ones work better through stronger coordination, sustained investment in preparedness, and decisions grounded closer to communities.
Launch: Nexus Tracker
The forum also marked the introduction of the Nexus Tracker, a platform that uses data analytics to understand hazards – such as typhoons, flooding, and conflict – and displacement across the country.
Originally built for use within ACCESS, with ACCORD leading its development, the tool is being shared with the wider humanitarian community to support shared situational awareness and timelier, coordinated interventions.
Jennifer Furigay, Program Quality Lead at ACCORD, presents the Nexus Tracker
Learning and exchange at the Nexus Space exhibit hall
At the exhibit area, forum participants tested the Nexus Tracker at a hands-on booth, set up alongside exhibits from Action Against Hunger Philippines featuring the EU-funded EARTH Project and other initiatives, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) highlighting the “rights of nature” movement, CARE Philippines featuring the Emergency CARE Package, PINGON, Plan International Pilipinas, and Start Network/Humanity & Inclusion Philippines.
‘A checkpoint, not an endpoint’
Reflecting on what comes next, Mark Brayn Yaung, CARE Philippines Humanitarian, Disaster Resilience, and Peacebuilding Coordinator, emphasized that the work continues beyond the forum: “This is not an endpoint but a checkpoint for all of us. Communities cannot wait for perfect systems, and we can never be perfect. But we can always practice so we come in with progress.”
Mark Brayn Yaung, Humanitarian, Disaster Resilience, and Peacebuilding Coordinator, CARE Philippines
Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children Philippines
To close the event, Atty. Alberto Muyot, CEO of Save the Children Philippines, called on fellow humanitarians to move forward with purpose: “Let us continue to build a humanitarian system that acts earlier, learns continuously, and is firmly anchored in the needs and strengths of the communities we serve.”
ACCESSis multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by 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).
BRIDGE
The BRIDGE Project is funded by the European Commission and implemented by ACCORD Incorporated, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity, and Oxfam Pilipinas.
PINGON
PINGON serves as a venue to coordinate the provision and delivery of humanitarian aid by international, national, and local NGOs in times of major disasters and emergencies in the Philippines, ensuring that basic humanitarian principles are firmly upheld.
Blog, Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Women and Girls, Women and Girls
Before the sun rises over the busy streets of Antipolo, the aroma of sautéed garlic and fresh ginger begins to waft from a small, brightly painted storefront. For Emelyn Dije and her three close friends, this scent is more than just the promise of a good meal; it is the smell of a hard-won independence that once felt out of reach.
Emelyn spent 16 years working as a restaurant cook in Quezon City before she stopped to raise her six children in Antipolo City. To keep her family afloat, she balanced an exhausting schedule of selling balut (fertilized duck eggs) at night and taking on laundry and ironing jobs during the day. Her story was mirrored by her friends Sheena, Sherine, and Cristhaline. All of them struggled to make a tight weekly budget last, often worrying if they could provide the basic needs of their families, especially, their children.
“It’s difficult because odd jobs are not sustainable,” Emelyn shared. “Sometimes, people are not buying balut. Washing and ironing just happens when the client needs you.”
The turning point came through the Households Economic Resilience Strengthening (HERS) project by CARE. This project helps women and youth across Rizal province build better livelihoods by providing training in how to manage their finances and run a small businesses. Equipped with new skills and a cash grant, the women saw an opportunity in a vacant space at the front of Emelyn’s house.
They transformed the empty space into “Momshies Hapag Kainan,” a vibrant eatery that opened its doors in September 2025. The grant allowed them to repair the leaking roof, apply a fresh coat of paint, and install a professional cooking counter.
Located near a tricycle terminal and the local gym, the shop quickly became a favorite spot in the neighborhood. “I am happy because I can use my cooking skills to earn money,” Emelyn said.
The change in their workspace was only the beginning of a deeper shift in their lives. The team now starts their day at 3 a.m. to buy the freshest ingredients, ensuring they are ready to serve breakfast by 6 a.m. to workers starting their day. Because the meals are both nutritious and affordable, they consistently sell out by noon. This schedule provides them with a steady income while still leaving them time to care for their families in the afternoon.
Emelyn cooks chicken while Sheena attends to customers buying food at their eatery. Photos: @2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE
By the end of 2025, the group had doubled their original savings. This success led to a Christmas celebration unlike any they had experienced before.
The profits turned into real milestones: Emelyn and Cristhaline bought laptops for their families, Sherine made a down payment for a motorcycle to help her husband earn more, and Sheena bought a washing machine to save time on chores.
Sheena loads laundry to her new washing machine while Cristhaline checks her online shop on her laptop. Photos: @2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE
For these women, the success of Momshies Hapag Kainan is measured in more than just money. Sherine feels a profound sense of relief, noting that “everyday meals are no longer a problem.” Emelyn no longer fears the days her husband is out of work, explaining, “I no longer need to borrow money when my husband loses work, because I now have my own source of income.”
They have built a bond of trust and a safety net that gives them the freedom to make their own choices, even when it comes to simple joys.
“We can eat in restaurants, and go to the mall together without asking our husbands for money,” Sheena shared.
What began as a small eatery has become proof of what is possible when women have the tools to lead. Together, they are cooking up a future that sustains their entire community.
The HERS project is implemented by CARE Philippines in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with support from the Tijori Foundation.
Nina Rica Calapati, a 25-year-old mother from Agoncillo, Batangas, wakes up every day with one goal: to build a secure future for her daughter. Growing up in a home where money was scarce, she learned early to work hard to help her family thrive.
Before joining CARE Philippines’ EMPOWER Project, Nina’s income was unpredictable. She sold vegetables door-to-door and worked as a laborer on a mango plantation, but the money was rarely enough. Her husband’s seasonal construction work offered little stability, and their small fruit-vending business often stalled when their motorcycle broke down or monsoon rains kept customers away.
“I wanted to build something more stable—something that would help my daughter grow up with fewer struggles than I had,” Nina says.
New Skills, New Opportunities
When her sister told her about the EMPOWER Project, Nina saw it as a major opportunity to improve her business. She joined the project and immediately appreciated how it supports women’s participation in the local economy.
Through hands-on training, Nina learned how to manage money, plan for the future, and build a resilient business. She realized these were the same areas she had struggled with before. These new skills gave her the tools and confidence to turn her small shop into a lasting livelihood that can support her family.
Growth and Leadership
Nina’s husband Joseph paints the new motorcycle sidecar they procured from their New Year’s sales. Photo: Mary Therese Norbe/CARENina sells a customer fruits at her new mobile fruit-vending shop. Photo: Mary Therese Norbe/CARE
Using a cash grant from the project, Nina improved her “Fruit on Wheels” business. She and her husband, Joseph, turned their motorcycle into a mobile shop to reach customers in nearby areas, selling fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, and fish. They also set up a stall twice a week at the local market to help their sales grow even more.
Last year, they earned a 10,000.00 profit during the New Year celebration. They used this income to improve their mobile shop, buy a sow that has already produced piglets for sale, and cement their kitchen floor. Beyond running her business, Nina has taken on a leadership role as the chairperson of her local Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) group. She now encourages fellow members to practice financial discipline, build savings, and support one another.
A Vision for Tomorrow
Nina cleans the pigpen where the sow they bought from their sales are with her piglets. Photo: Mary Therese Norbe/CARE
Today, Nina’s business does more than just cover daily needs—it has opened doors once thought closed. She has already achieved a major goal: sending her child to a better school.
Looking ahead, she is focused on protecting her home. Because they live near Mt. Taal, falling ash often damages their roof; she plans to use her future earnings to replace it with more durable materials. With her growing piggery and the success of her mobile shop, she is no longer just working to get by—she is building a legacy of strength and independence for the next generation.
This Women’s Month, we celebrate Nina—and all women who keep rising, rebuilding, and leading with strength and hope.
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The Empower and Mobilize Potential Opportunities for Work, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience (EMPOWER the Youth Project) is an initiative by CARE Philippines, in partnership with the Tijori Foundation, dedicated to strengthening the livelihoods and resilience of young people in Batangas.
The Department of Health (DOH) and CARE Philippines recently held a round table discussion to study if the HEAL Hub app can become an official learning platform for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) across the country.
The meeting brought together key representatives from DOH offices, including the Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service (KMITS), the Bureau of Local Health Systems Development (BLHSD), the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) Cancer Division, and CHD CALABARZON, and the PhilHealth.
The discussion focused on the viability of the DOH adapting the app to provide standardized training on critical health issues, including new modules on cancer awareness. Unlike traditional information systems, the HEAL Hub is a digital learning tool that allows BHWs to watch educational videos and complete lessons at their own pace, even in areas with limited internet.
Key highlights from the discussion:
Scaling through Partnership: CARE Philippines shared plans to transfer the HEAL Hub to the DOH through a deed of donation. This ensures the government can manage and update the app to reach more health workers.
Support for Frontline Workers: Representatives from the participating bureaus explored how the app’s animated lessons and offline features make learning more engaging and accessible for BHWs.
National Alignment: The group discussed how to align the app’s content with the BHW Reference Manual and national health goals, ensuring every community receives accurate and consistent health advice.
By exploring this digital partnership, the DOH and CARE Philippines aim to provide community health workers with the best tools to further enhance their capacity. These tools will help BHWs increase their confidence and knowledge, allowing them to provide quality health care and accurate health information to the wider community.
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Scaling through Partnership: CARE Philippines shared plans to transfer the HEAL Hub to the DOH through a deed of donation. This ensures the government can manage and update the app to reach more health workers.
Support for Frontline Workers: Representatives from the participating bureaus explored how the app’s animated lessons and offline features make learning more engaging and accessible for BHWs.
Blog, Featured Stories, Humanitarian, Latest News & Stories, Women and Girls
For Gina Billones, 53, life along the Bago River in Murcia, Negros Occidental, is shared with her two children, ages 24 and 17. They are one of several families settled in a community along the riverside.
Recent flooding in the area caused by the heavy rains by Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) significantly damaged Gina’s house, forcing the family to evacuate. Since the disaster, they have been relying on food packs distributed by the social welfare office to meet their basic needs.
Access to safe and reliable water remains a pressing concern. The flood overflow contaminated the household’s shallow well, which they typically use for daily needs, making it unsafe. The family must now source their drinking water from a refilling station, at a cost of PHP 135 ($2) per container.
The flood has also interrupted the family’s income. Gina works in the nearby sugarcane fields, but the flooding temporarily halted all work on the plantation. This sudden stop in work affects multiple households in the riverside community, many of whom share a similar dependence on plantation-based labor.
Gina shares her story to CARE Philippines Country Director and her team during their assessment in the community on November 9, 2025.
“We have no income but we have to buy what we need”, she shared.
At present, the family’s priority needs include continued food support, safe drinking water, and materials for shelter repair. The early resumption of their livelihood, or alternative options for earning an income, is essential for them to sustain their daily living and begin recovery.
CARE Philippines is currently assessing the needs of affected communities like Gina’s. The organization is preparing to provide support, focusing on delivering essential items and assistance to help families meet their immediate needs and cope with the effects of the flooding.
Blog, Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release
CARE, Manila, Philippines, November 3, 2025 – CARE Philippines is mobilizing in anticipation of Typhoon Tino, which has intensified and is expected to make landfall tonight in Eastern Samar. The storm, combined with the intensified Eastern shear line, is expected to bring destructive winds and heavy rainfall, posing a high risk of widespread flooding and landslides, particularly for communities along the eastern seaboard and those with existing flood hazards.
The state weather bureau PAGASA reported that “Tino” now has maximum sustained winds of 120 kph with gusts up to 150 kph. It is forecast to make its initial landfall at or near its peak intensity of up to 165 kph.
“We are working with our local partners across the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP), Start Ready, and the ACCESS Consortium to ensure that critical support reaches the most at-risk communities, fast and effectively,” said Reiza S. Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines.
In Eastern Samar, CARE is initiating early response actions through its Start Ready project, supported by the Start Network. This includes coordination with local authorities, the pre-positioning of essential supplies, and ensuring the readiness of response teams.
Photo: CARE staff hands a shelter Non-Food Item (NFI) kit and a solar lamp to a community member in Medellin, Cebu on October 30, as part of its Cebu Earthquake Emergency Response.
Dejito also emphasized that CARE is closely monitoring the situation in areas still recovering from previous disasters, such as northern Cebu which was hit by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on September 30 and now lies in the typhoon’s projected path. “Our teams are coordinating with local partners to assess risks, communicate early warnings, and prepare for potential compound impacts,” she said.
“We know that those already coping with disaster impacts—especially women, girls, and people with disabilities—face heightened risks when storms hit. That’s why we take early action, reinforce local capacities, and focus on delivering timely, targeted support before the worst conditions arrive.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mary Therese L. Norbe
Communications Specialist
marytherese.norbe@care.org
Notes to the editor:
CARE’s initial response priorities include food, clean water, shelter support, and hygiene kits.
This mobilization for Typhoon Tino comes as CARE Philippines continues its response to other recent disasters, including Tropical Cyclone Opong, and the earthquakes in Cebu and Davao.
CARE Philippines has a long history of responding to typhoons, including Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) in 2021 and Super Typhoon Nando (2025).
For Ronie and Zeny, the sound of water was the sound of home. For ten years, their house in the village of Dilam stood meters from the shore, and the rhythm of the waves was a constant presence. However, after Super Typhoon Nando swept their life away, the sound of rain became a source of nightly dread.
Their home was gone, replaced by a ruin of wood and debris. Refusing to surrender, they salvaged what they could to build a shelter for their two sons. They gathered scraps of wood and assembled a frame and walls. But they faced a challenge: the cogon grass used for roofing had been destroyed by the typhoon. Their new roof was only half-complete, a shield that could not protect them.
The nightly vigil began. When the frequent rains fell, the family would huddle in the one dry corner of the shelter. They would sit in the damp darkness and wait for the downpour to stop so they could sleep again.
Relief arrived in the form of the Emergency CARE Package (ECP). The 22-kilogram package contained 39 essential items, but for the couple, one stood out: a wide, fire-retardant tarpaulin sheet. It was the answer to their problem.
They worked to stretch the sheet over the gap in their roof and secure it against the wind. That night, as rain began to fall, the sound was different. It was the patter on a secure roof. For the first time since the typhoon, the family did not have to move. They remained on their mats, warm and dry. Their nightly vigil against the rain was over.
“We were worried that if our roof was not completed, our children would get sick, especially, our eldest who is already ill”, Ronie shared.
With their fear conquered, they could look to the future. The tarpaulin provided a crucial, temporary fix; using cash assistance from the government, they now plan to buy galvanized iron (GI) sheets to build a more permanent roof. The vigil had ended, allowing them to shift their focus from surviving the night to rebuilding their days.
The ECP also provided a solar lamp, a cooking stove, and hygiene items. Zeny knew the lamp was vital. “It means our children can still sit down and study their lessons at night,” she said. The vigil had ended, allowing the family to move from surviving the night to rebuilding their days.
Ronie and Zeny’s family was one of 250 households to receive this support. CARE provided the Emergency CARE Packages to Dilam, one of the most affected communities on the island. These items help families reinforce their living spaces and meet their immediate needs, restoring a sense of safety and dignity.
CARE’s work in the wider municipality of Calayan demonstrates a commitment to stand with the hardest-to-reach communities as they begin to rebuild. As we scale up our emergency response to assist multiple communities in crisis, Emergency CARE Packages were also provided to another 250 families in last-mile communities in Cebu affected by the recent 6.9 magnitude earthquake.
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).
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)
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
ACCESSis 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).
