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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
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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, 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).
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
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. 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
Disaster Response, Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories
Charmine Rudolfo and Jay Vallestin, both 25, live with their two children in San Antonio, Panganiban, Catanduanes. For six years, they have built a life near the sea. Jay fishes for shrimp and crabs, while Charmine takes care of their children and home.
Living close to the sea has its costs, especially when storms and typhoons strike. When Typhoon Pepito hit, strong winds and rising waves destroyed everything. Their home, made of plywood and thatched nipa leaves, was swept away. “We lost everything to the sea,” Charmine said.
For a month, the family stayed in an unused space in their village leader’s house. They relied on government food support for their daily survival. Jay would go out to sea for hours, hoping to catch enough to feed the family and earn a little income. Sometimes, he would return with nothing. The uncertainty of each day weighed heavily on them.
Photo: Jay shows the juvenile crabs he caught that were packed and ready to be sold to mud crab growers.
Their children still feel scared when it rains heavily. The sound of strong winds or pounding rain brings back memories of the typhoon. As parents, Charmine and Jay find this heartbreaking. They want their children to feel safe again.
Determined to rebuild, they borrowed money to buy lumber and hire a carpenter. Though the interest was high, they took the loan because they had no other option. However, the funds were still not enough. They used scrap GI sheets for walls and gathered sand and pebbles from the shore to create a temporary floor.
When CARE, through the UNCERF-funded emergency response, arrived in their community, they assessed the damages and the needs of the most affected people. Charmine and Jay’s family qualified for shelter repair kits and multi-purpose cash assistance. These resources gave them the support they needed to begin rebuilding their home with dignity and hope.
With the materials and cash assistance, they began rebuilding together. Jay helped the carpenter after fishing trips, and Charmine hauled sand and gravel.
“We worked together to save on labor costs,” Charmine said.
Today, their house is still a work in progress. The walls need to be completed with plywood and properly braced. The floor remains unfinished, but they plan to buy cement to make it sturdier and safer for their children. The kitchen also still needs to be built, so Charmine can once again cook meals in a space of her own. The roof also needs to be reinforced to withstand strong winds. With the rainy season usually beginning in June, they are doing their best to prepare and protect their family.
Photo: Jay readies the crab traps in preparation for another fishing trip while Charmine cleans the catch for selling.
“It is small, but we have big dreams,” Jay said. “We are working hard so we can make it stronger and one day move to a safer place.”
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For Liezel, 33, and her husband, Mark Anthony, 35, life in their village in Pandan, Catanduanes, was built on hard work. As a cook at a nearby resort and a construction worker, they earned a decent income together, enough to provide for their two children.
Their stable life was turned upside down when Typhoon Pepito struck. The storm’s powerful winds tore the roof and walls from their house. With their home destroyed, the family had to stay with Liezel’s sister for over a month.
The typhoon took more than just their home; it took their jobs. It damaged the resort where Liezel worked and halted all construction projects in the area. With no income, the family relied on government food aid to survive. After a month, the resort reopened, but with only Liezel working, the family struggled to afford enough food. Her husband was not able to get back to work until February.
“It was difficult because this was the first time we experienced a typhoon that destroyed our house and stripped our savings,” Liezel said.
The experience also left a lasting impact on her children. “Every time it rains hard, they get scared,” she shared.
In March, CARE and its partner TABI, with support from the Gates Foundation, came to their village with food, kitchen items, and sleeping materials. This support which included 75 kilos of rice and other food items, like chicken, was essential to keep going.
Photo: A family waits for a boat to carry their food, kitchen items and sleeping materials to their village. The food could last a family of five for 2-3 months while they recover their livelihood.
“I saw how my children were smiling from ear to ear, especially when I fried the chicken. It was their favorite meal, even before the typhoon,” she said.
With enough food to last their small family for the next three months, Liezel felt a sense of relief she hadn’t felt in months.
“As a cook, I always worry about my children’s food,” she said. “And I was so happy that they got to eat well again.”
This support provided the stability her family needed to get back on their feet.
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Christine has been a dedicated Community Health Worker in her community for the past eight years, serving tirelessly since 2017. Her extensive training and accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH) underscore her proficiency and readiness to address various health needs within her assigned households.
Christine manages the health needs of 38 households, making her an integral part of the community’s health care system. Her role is multifaceted, encompassing regular weekly visits to her assigned households. During these visits, she conducts essential health activities such as weighing children to monitor their growth and development and assisting midwives with immunization and vaccination programs. Christine is also responsible for managing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes within her community. She ensures that her patients receive the necessary medications monthly, and meticulously records their health status.
Despite her critical role, Christine faces significant challenges, particularly concerning resource limitations. She receives a modest annual stipend of 2,000 pesos from the provincial government and an additional 650 pesos per month from her barangay. This limited financial support underscores the financial constraints under which many CHWs operate.
“For the past eight years, I’ve been making sure families get the care they need, especially when there aren’t enough resources. Even when things are tough, I believe it’s important to teach people how to take care of their health. This way, we can stay strong as a community, even when times are hard.”
When supplies of medicines run out, Christine adapts by focusing on health education, providing valuable information and guidance to her community members. Her efforts in health education are vital, as they empower households with knowledge about maintaining good health practices and managing illnesses.
Christine’s commitment to her community is evident in her willingness to go above and beyond her official duties. Her ability to adapt to resource shortages and her proactive approach to health education highlight her resourcefulness and dedication. Her continuous engagement in training programs conducted by the DOH further enhances her capabilities, ensuring that she remains updated with the latest health care practices and protocols.
Christine Jimenez’s profile exemplifies the dedication and resilience of Community Health Workers in rural areas. Her work not only addresses immediate health needs but also contributes to the long-term well-being of her community. Through her unwavering commitment and continuous efforts, Christine plays a pivotal role in fostering a healthier and more informed community.
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.”
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.”
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.
Blog, Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Peacebuilding
For twenty years, a deep rift split this indigenous community in the Philippines. What started as a territorial dispute in 2000 evolved into an intense conflict over resources, ideologies, and leadership, eventually spiraling into violence, displacement, and the loss of many lives. It also prevented the formation of a unified council needed to secure the tribe’s land rights. With climate change and environmental degradation potentially making scarce resources even scarcer, further escalation seemed almost inevitable.
But now, two decades later, both sides are taking crucial steps toward reconciliation.
NCIP and BRIDGE Project help clear a path to peace
The Talaandig, the smallest indigenous group in the Philippines’ Caraga Region in Mindanao, is a dwindling tribe with fewer than 2,000 families. The conflict forced some to flee deep into the forests, limiting their access to education and basic services mostly available in the lowlands. Many of its youth also struggle to maintain their traditional way of life and cultural identity due to discrimination and limited opportunities for learning and livelihood.
For years, the tribe tried to settle the dispute, but insufficient resources and the periodic recurrence of violence made it challenging.
With facilitation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and support from the European Commission-funded BRIDGE project, members of the Talaandig tribe recently gathered for a peace dialogue. The goal was to bridge the long-standing divide by openly and respectfully talking about misunderstandings and grievances, committing to preventing future conflicts, and (re)uniting in their claim over their shared ancestral domain. This included establishing clear land boundaries and facilitating the creation of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) to strengthen their legal claim.
This landmark event opened a new chapter for the tribe. “From now on, there will be no more bloodshed,” declared one tribal chieftain.
“We can’t ignore the hurt this conflict has caused our families and the damage it’s done to our relationships, but I truly believe that, by starting this dialogue today, we can begin to heal,” said another tribal leader.
The peace dialogue
While the dialogue itself took place within a day, most participants spent one day traveling to the venue and another day returning home. For some, because they lived in such remote, “last mile” areas, the journey to the venue involved two days of walking barefoot. Yet, for something that had been out of reach for two decades and for which they spent years preparing, it seemed a reasonable price to pay.
The event began with a traditional Talaandig ceremony invoking peace and unity, led by the tribe’s elders. Two datus, or tribal chieftains,from the conflicting parties presented their perspectives, detailing the origins and consequences of the territorial dispute. Elders, women, and youth from both sides shared insights and recounted their genealogy, the conflict’s history, and its impact on their community.
The group that remained in the original settlement in the lowlands spoke of their community’s milestones, including having two college graduates who are now teachers, and said they hoped these could serve as an inspiration to others and a testament to what the Talaandig can achieve given the opportunity.
Mediators also played a key role, helping pave the way for a peace agreement by using the appropriate mediation processes. Mediators included the Municipal Tribal Chieftain Datu Raul Minglana, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of San Luis Bae Ederlina Precioso, NCIP Regional Director Ordonio P. Rocero, and NCIP Lawyer Atty. Fritzie Lynne Sumando. BRIDGE project staff, and personnel from the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, served as secretariat and witnesses to the dialogue.
The DepEd teachers also conducted a learner mapping to assess the educational needs of the community, especially in alternative learning systems.
The peace dialogue was a critical first step for the Talaandig Tribe to claim their ancestral domain. | Photo: CARE Philippines
Talaandig women’s voices
Women were instrumental in the peace process by documenting the dialogue and providing significant information to complete the tribe’s history. They also lent the discussion a nurturing and caring lens, helping participants see possible ways to heal past wounds. The event underscored the importance of inclusive participation, involving women in reconciliation and decision-making.
Resolution and future steps
To close the dialogue, the datus exchanged metal bracelets to symbolize their commitment to peace. They reached a tentative agreement on land boundaries and the establishment of the CADT, and all parties pledged to maintain the peace and prevent future conflicts. They also agreed to support each other’s aspirations for a dignified life by educating their children and ensuring equitable access to their ancestral land’s resources.
From humanitarian response to peacebuilding
The dialogue partially illustrates what working within the humanitarian, development, and peace nexus looks like, and how humanitarian and peacebuilding initiatives can build upon each other’s gains. In Mindanao, ACCORD, CARE, and partners implement two projects intentionally designed to complement each other: ACCESS, which addresses urgent humanitarian needs, and BRIDGE, which focuses on peacebuilding.
Months before the dialogue, a group from the tribe – who had been experiencing chronic violence, threats, and harassment for years – was given food, shelter, WASH (water supply, sanitation, and hygiene promotion), health, and civil registration assistance by the EU Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project. Seeing an opportunity to ask for help and give his people a better future, the group’s leader sought the project’s help in organizing a discussion with the other Talaandig groups. Through BRIDGE, the team from ACCORD supported NCIP in setting up the much-needed talk.
With the NCIP’s partnership with BRIDGE, initial aid from ACCESS, and the Talaandig Tribe’s commitment to peace, cultural preservation, and self-determination, this decades-long conflict may finally be coming to a close.
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ACCESS is a multi-year, multi-sectoral project funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and implemented by consortium members ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity, Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, and Save the Children Philippines.
The “Civil Society, Women and Youth Promoting Culture of Peace in Mindanao” (BRIDGE) Project is funded by the European Commission and implemented by ACCORD Incorporated, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity, and Oxfam Pilipinas
