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A recipe for resilience: The women of Momshies’ Hapag Kainan

  • CARE Philippines
  • 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.

A young mother builds a secure future for her family

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/CARE
Nina 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.

—————————————————————–

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.

How a mother of three became the heartbeat of her community’s health

  • Mary Therese Norbe
  • Featured Stories, Healthy Mothers & Children, Latest News & Stories, Women and Girls

Lanie Lacao, a mother of three and longtime community health worker, has become the first person who families call when they need help. She supports 24 households, guiding her community members through urgent and everyday health concerns.

In the quiet community of Brgy. Tubigan Ilaya, Macalelon, Quezon province, people turn instinctively to one person—Lanie, who has become her community’s steady source of care.

She was a homemaker for years, picking up small jobs cleaning houses and doing laundry to earn extra income. Her former partner worked as a tricycle driver, and in emergencies, neighbors would rush to their home to ask him to bring patients to the hospital in town.

“Even in the middle of the night, we would rush patients to the hospital.”

Those late‑night dashes opened her eyes to how often people needed immediate help and how few people they could call. That is when she decided to volunteer as a Community Health Worker (CHW) in 2017.

She worked for several months without pay. She visited households, checked on mothers, and accompanied families through health concerns. In 2018, the Q1K (First 1,000 Days of Life) Program started in their town. It is designed to ensure the health of both the mother and the unborn child – from the baby’s delivery until the child reaches two years old with free medical services. Lanie became the Q1K president in Macalelon, coordinating with fellow community health workers to enroll pregnant women, explain their benefits, and ensure they received prenatal care.

Lanie Lacao assists a young mother during a health check up at their community hall. Photo: @2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE

“I love helping out, especially other women. As a mother myself, I know exactly what it’s like to be pregnant and feel like you aren’t ready for it.”

She remembers how she and her former partner had to save slowly for baby clothes, diapers, and delivery expenses. But many women in her barangay faced far more difficult situations, worried not only about childbirth but how to feed and care for a newborn. These stories strengthened her commitment to help.

Lanie visits a patient who suffered a stroke to monitor her blood pressure level. @2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE

Photos: Lanie visits a patient who suffered a stroke to monitor her blood pressure level. @2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE

In 2021, Lanie became an accredited BHW after an older volunteer retired. Her monthly honoraria of PhP 533.00 (USD 8.80) could barely sustain a family for a day, yet she continued. The Rural Health Unit team, trained her in CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, blood pressure monitoring, and taking vital signs. Over time, she became one of the most relied‑upon CHWs by the RHU team and by her neighbors, who knew they could come to her at any hour.

Her house became an unofficial waiting area.

“They come to me because they know I do my best to make sure they get medical attention,” she says. She would call the RHU ambulance, arrange transportation, and make sure families reached the nearest hospital or facility that could help.

When CARE’s HEAL Hub project arrived in their community to train community health workers, Lanie was curious. She downloaded the app, studied its modules, and quickly realized how many misconceptions she had simply accepted over the years.

Photos: Lanie and fellow CHW reviews the cancer modules at the HEAL Hub app. @2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE

One of her biggest surprises was breastfeeding. She learned she latched her babies incorrectly.

“I thought that what I did before was right,” she says, laughing at herself. “But I was mistaken.”

Now, in her learning session with mothers, she plays the HEAL Hub breastfeeding videos so other mothers can learn proper techniques too.

Today, Lanie is the first point of contact for 24 households in her community. She conducts house‑to‑house visits, checking on pregnant and lactating women and families managing non‑communicable diseases or cancer. One family close to her has a nine‑year‑old boy battling blood cancer.

“He used to play here in my house with the other children,” she recalls softly. “Now I visit their home to reassure his mother that they are doing the right thing by choosing treatment.”

Through HEAL Hub’s cancer module, she learned how to speak with families dealing with fear and uncertainty, and how to encourage them to continue seeking medical help.

The national government has since launched the PhilHealth YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program), an expanded primary care package offering outpatient services, lab tests, cancer screenings, and access to more essential medicines. She helps neighbors understand their benefits and guides them through the registration process so they can get the support they need.

Outside her duties, Lanie makes handcrafted wigs at home. She can finish one in about a week—juggling her health work and household responsibilities—and sells each for around ₱3,000, supplementing her income.

Photo: Lanie works on a wig at her artist’s desk at home. @2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE

Despite her dedication, she hopes for greater recognition for community health workers.

“It’s really a voluntary role, but the amount of work is overwhelming,” she says. “I’m just concerned that when we get older and can no longer serve, no one will take over because it doesn’t pay much.”

Still, Lanie keeps going. Because in her barangay, she is the first call, the steady hand, and the quiet reassurance that help is always close.

Bridging health and harvests: Mayflor’s journey to success in life and business

  • CARE Philippines
  • Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Women and Girls

Starting my business was difficult, but with persistence and the support of my neighbors, friends, and farmers, my agri-shop gradually grew. In the first four months, sales were small, but now they have reached over ₱100,000.00!”

Photo: Mayflor Buena tends to her agri-shop in Pangil, Laguna. Photo: Alren Beronio/CARE

Mayflor Buena was already a trusted leader in her community in Pangil, Laguna, long before she opened her agri-shop. As a Barangay Nutrition Scholar, she worked closely with health workers and local families, monitoring children’s nutrition, advising mothers, and supporting community nutrition programs. But while she helped others, her own life became increasingly difficult.

The pandemic brought heavy challenges. She fought for her life and the survival of her newborn during a complicated childbirth, spending nearly a month in the hospital. Shortly after she recovered, a powerful storm destroyed her family’s crops, their main source of food and income.

During this difficult time, Mayflor joined the Asenso sa Good Agriculture Package Social Enterprise (aGAP SE). She saw an opportunity to change her family’s future and signed up to be an aGAP “Roving Agent,” a role that combines community leadership with business.

Mayflor joins other ARAs in one of their trainings.
Through training in basic bookkeeping, Mayflor records financial transactions at the store.

She learned to run a sustainable agri-shop by building strong relationships with reliable suppliers and creating a local market for crops gathered from nearby farms. This business now supports her family’s income while ensuring her neighbors have easy access to quality supplies and fair prices. By consolidating and selling local produce, she has established a reliable trade hub that benefits the entire community.

By applying Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), she improved her crop yields and grew healthier, more consistent harvests. These vegetables now provide both a steady source of food for her family and an additional source of income.

Mayflor now bridges the gap between health and harvests. Because she has spent years caring for the well-being of local families, farmers trust her agricultural advice. She is a constant presence in the fields, leading training sessions and visiting farms to help neighbors troubleshoot their crops. Women, in particular, find a mentor in her, feeling comfortable asking her for guidance on everything from growing vegetables to starting a small business.

The impact of her leadership is spreading throughout the village. More families are adopting better farming techniques, leading to higher yields and a wider variety of food on their tables. Women who once felt confined to the home now see themselves as leaders and entrepreneurs, often looking to Mayflor for encouragement. For her family, life has stabilized. The income from her agri-shop means they can pay for education and save for future planting seasons with confidence.

Beyond the financial gains, Mayflor has rediscovered hope. By building a network of farmers, suppliers, and partners, she no longer feels like she is facing the future alone. She knows her community is now better prepared to weather whatever storms may come. Today, she balances her roles as a health advocate, a business owner, and a community mentor. Her journey is a testament to the fact that when you invest in one woman’s leadership, you strengthen an entire community.

“Do not rush success. Welcome opportunities, stay positive, and trust that with perseverance and faith, every challenge can be overcome.”

Paula’s story of finding her path, one brave step at a time

  • Mary Therese Norbe
  • Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Women and Girls

“I now have enough money to buy meat, fish, and vegetables to cook for myself, and I can finally send money back home to my family. It is a relief to know that through my work, I can save, provide for my needs, and build the future I’ve always wanted.”

For Maria Paula Jubilo, 20, this simple statement reflects something far bigger than a balanced meal or a small remittance. It marks a moment of stability she once thought she couldn’t reach—proof that her hard work is finally opening doors.

Growing Up in Batangas

She grew up in Alitagtag, Batangas. Her mother sells live chickens and snacks at the local market, while her father works in a pottery shop. Despite their hard work, supporting four children through school often stretched the family’s income.

So, after finishing senior high school, she followed her older brother to a manufacturing company outside their town. She worked as a production operator assembling printers and LCD projectors. When her short-term contract ended in 2024, finding another job became difficult. For 15 months, she worked in catering. She helped prepare venues, carrying tables and chairs, and making décor arrangements. The pay helped her get by, but it wasn’t enough to save.

Finding Strength to Start Again

Paula dreamed of returning to manufacturing, where wages were higher and benefits were more secure. But job-hunting required money for transportation, application fees, and employment documents—all of which cost more than she could afford.

A Door Opens Through EMPOWER

Through CARE’s EMPOWER the Youth project, Paula joined a two-day training course organized by CARE and supported by the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who sent resource/technical persons.

She learned how to refine her résumé and highlight her working experience. She also built confidence to manage job interviews. With these, she joined a job fair supported by the EMPOWER project. She wasn’t hired on the spot, but the experience helped her build her confidence and better understand how to present her strengths to meet employer expectations.

In addition to training, CARE provided cash assistance to help bridge the gap for young job seekers. She used this support to rent a small room near the LIMA estate in Malvar, an economic hub with many hiring companies, and to cover transportation costs in job applications.

Building a New Future

Paula walks from her home to the jeepney stop as she begins her commute to work in Malvar, Batangas. © 2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE

In October 2024, Paula was finally hired by a company manufacturing automotive wiring harnesses. She was trained by a mentor who taught her how to work smartly and develop new skills. She eventually became a production operator in the cutting section. Many of her colleagues are women who she describes as focused, efficient, and meticulous and this inspires her to do her best in the production line.

“I was told that I learn fast and that I have a promising future in the company. This makes me really happy”, she shared.

Working far from home is lonely. She misses her family every day. But with a steady income, she is slowly building the life she envisioned. For the first time, she saves money, cooks her own meals, and supports her family back home.

A Young Woman Leading Her Own Journey

Paula picks out fresh vegetables from a shop near her home. By earning her own income, she is now able to cook healthy, nutritious meals for herself. © 2026 Mary Therese Norbe/CARE

Paula continues to help her parents and younger siblings who are still in school. She hopes to gain more skills and grow her career in the manufacturing industry.

Her story is a reminder that progress begins when women gain access to opportunities, support, and spaces where they can succeed.

At CARE, we believe that when women have the tools to lead, entire communities thrive. Paula’s journey shows how those tools can help a young woman rebuild her confidence, her career, and her future.

This Women’s Month, we honor Paula—and all women who keep rising, rebuilding, and leading with strength and hope.

Rapid Humanitarian Analysis: Cebu Earthquake

  • CARE Philippines
  • Featured Stories, Humanitarian, Latest News & Stories, Reports & Publications, Resources, Women and Girls, Women and Girls

On September 30, 2025, a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Cebu, damaging homes, disrupting livelihoods, and displacing thousands of families in Daanbantayan, Medellin, and San Remigio. Many people are still living in temporary shelters and facing challenges in accessing clean water, food, and health services.

CARE Philippines, through its SAFER and ACCESS projects, carried out a Rapid Humanitarian Analysis (RHA) from October 7–14, 2025. The assessment looks at how the earthquake affected women, men, children, and other at-risk groups, and identifies urgent needs and opportunities for recovery.

The report highlights priorities such as safe shelter, clean water, health and psychosocial support, and livelihood recovery—while promoting inclusive solutions that restore dignity and resilience.

Read the full report to learn what communities are facing and how we can work together to rebuild lives in northern Cebu: RHA-Cebu-Earthquake.pdf

Stories from the Field: For a mother in Negros, the flood took more than a home

  • Mary Therese Norbe
  • 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.

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).

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). 

Briefer: Empower and Mobilize Potential Opportunities for Work, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience (EMPOWER the Youth)

CARE Philippines, with support from the Tijori Foundation, implements the Empower and Mobilize Potential Opportunities for Work, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience (EMPOWER the Youth) project. It supports 600 young people in the Batangas province municipalities of Agoncillo, Alitagtag, San Nicolas, and Sta. Teresita, including youth from households participating in the DSWD 4Ps Program.

The project provides vital training and employment support to youth from families who rely on agriculture and fishing—industries that natural disasters have severely impacted over the past five years. By helping young people develop sustainable agricultural practices and create alternative ways to earn an income, EMPOWER-Y works to build economic stability in the community.

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