[January 8, 2025- Manila]- “PHIVOLCS has maintained Alert Level 3 for Mayon Volcano, indicating ongoing lava flow and the possibility of more hazardous eruptions.
We commend the Philippine government, especially PHIVOLCS and local disaster councils, for their quick action to move families out of the six-kilometer danger zone and monitor the volcano day and night. According to the latest reports, 3,515 people (964 families) have been affected; most are now staying in evacuation centers.
CARE Philippines and our local partners recognize the ongoing needs of affected communities. Women and girls are often hit hardest when people are displaced, facing more difficulty accessing basic services and greater risks to their safety, while carrying more caregiving responsibilities. The need for urgent action is clear.
We stand ready to support and coordinate with the government, humanitarian organizations, the private sector, and local communities in ensuring families have access to food, safe shelter, clean water, hygiene supplies, and emotional support.”
As volcanic activity can escalate can change quickly, strong coordination, anticipatory action, and resource mobilization are critical to protect lives and dignity. CARE Philippines and partners are coordinating closely with government agencies and will continue supporting collective efforts to keep communities safe.”
CARE Philippines has been doing humanitarian and development work in the Philippines since 1949. Today, CARE Philippines is one of the leading humanitarian NGOs in the Philippines fighting poverty and delivering life-saving assistance to vulnerable Filipinos and communities. (www.care-philippines.org)
The Philippines continues to be the most at-risk country in the world and have the least societal capacity to respond to natural disasters, according to the World Risk Index Report from 2023 to 2025.
European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro visited Cebu on 2 December 2025 to reach out to communities affected by the 30 September magnitude 6.9 earthquake and tropical cyclone Tino, which in early November brought unprecedented floods to the province.
“We stand with communities in the Philippines recovering from major back-to-back to emergencies. With our partners in the ACCESS Project, the EU is committed to addressing their needs and supporting their recovery”, said Ambassador Santoro after meeting with survivors and local officials in Cebu.
During his visit, he also witnessed ongoing relief efforts facilitated by the EU Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project, which since 2023 has been providing emergency assistance to the most affected communities across the country.
In the immediate aftermath, ACCESS mobilized rapid, lifesaving assistance, including psychological first aid, clean water, hygiene supplies, essential household items, and protection support. “We work alongside local communities and stand beside them as partners. Through ACCESS, we work hand in hand with community leaders, volunteers, and civil society groups to ensure that lifesaving assistance reaches the most affected families quickly, safely, and with dignity,” said Reiza Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines, which leads ACCESS.
“Through close coordination with the local and provincial governments and humanitarian coordination platforms, we made sure our inclusive humanitarian interventions filled the most urgent gaps, particularly for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable sectors. These actions complemented the government’s response and helped reach communities with the greatest needs,” said Melanie Ruiz, Country Manager of Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, part of the ACCESS consortium.
In 2025, the EU approved emergency funding totaling € 3.7 million (approximately PHP 252 million) with a significant portion going to the ACCESS Project to provide timely, appropriate, dignified aid to the most affected, at-risk, difficult-to-reach communities across the country.
About the Organizations:EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid: The European Union and its Member States are among the world’s leading donors of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and human-induced crises. Through the Directorate General for European Civilian Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.
ACCESS: The Assisting the Most Vulnerable Communities and Schools Affected by Complex Emergencies Access Quality and Timely Humanitarian and Disaster Preparedness Services (ACCESS) Project is a multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid. It serves the most affected, underserved, difficult-to-reach communities in the Philippines, where natural hazards, conflict, recurrent displacement, and intensifying climate-related risks continue to threaten lives and livelihoods. It is implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women).
The European Union Humanitarian Aid, through the ACCESS Project, is providing humanitarian assistance to communities affected by multiple tropical cyclones, the southwest monsoon, and the recent earthquake in Cebu.
The most vulnerable families are receiving support on food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, psychosocial support, shelter, protection, and education.
Manila, Philippines — More than 50,000 of the most affected, at-risk individuals impacted by massive floods in Masbate, Cagayan, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) due to back-to-back tropical cyclones Mirasol, Nando, and Opong and the Southwest Monsoon, as well as by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu, have received life-sustaining humanitarian assistance through the European Union Humanitarian Aid–funded ACCESS Project. The support is helping affected populations meet urgent needs in food security, water, sanitation and hygiene, psychosocial support, shelter, protection, and education.
“A series of emergencies has left the most vulnerable in an even more fragile situation, driving them further into poverty. Through our humanitarian aid, we strive to bring hope and relief to the hardest-hit and hard-to-reach communities, especially persons with disabilities, children, women, and older persons,” said Melanie Ruiz, Country Manager of Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, the organization leading this particular emergency response under ACCESS.
In September, three closely spaced tropical cyclones – Mirasol, Nando, and Opong – combined with intensified monsoon rains, affected more than 4.6 million people across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, displacing 94,000 individuals and resulting in 42 deaths. On 30 September 2025, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu and nearby provinces, with its epicenter near Bogo City. The quake affected over 750,000 people and displaced 22,000 individuals, resulting in 79 deaths and 559 injuries. At least 107 cities and municipalities declared a state of calamity due to the typhoons, and 53 more following the earthquake, underscoring the scale of humanitarian needs.
The EU Humanitarian Aid, recognizing this, provided additional funding support to the ACCESS Project, whose wide geographical reach, strong network, and deep local knowledge enable rapid, dignified, first-on-the-ground emergency response.
Community-led action is central to the ongoing response. “Our collective effort ensures that those who are often hardest to reach are not left behind,” said Edilberto Villaruel, Mindanao Coordinator of Community Organizers Multiversity, part of the ACCESS consortium. “This response embodies solidarity, compassion, and the bayanihan spirit that defines how communities come together in times of crisis.”
“Our partnership with local communities ensures that aid reaches those most affected, efficiently and equitably,” said Reiza Dejito, Country Director of CARE Philippines, which leads the ACCESS Project.“Beyond delivering aid, our role is to help restore people’s confidence in their ability to rebuild their lives. When communities lead and partners stand in solidarity, recovery becomes both sustainable and dignified.”
About ACCESS
ACCESS is multi-year, multi-sectoral humanitarian and disaster preparedness initiative funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid. It is implemented by a consortium of 14 local and international organizations: ACCORD, Action Against Hunger Philippines, CARE Philippines, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Humanity & Inclusion Philippines, Integrated Mindanaons Association for Natives (IMAN), Kadtabanga Foundation for Peace and Development Advocates, Mindanao Organization for Social and Economic Progress (MOSEP), Oxfam Pilipinas, People’s Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PDRRN), Plan International Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), and United Youth of the Philippines – Women (UnYPhil-Women).
Media contacts
Sam Liberato
Communications Officer, Humanity and Inclusion Philippines
For 10 years, pastor Richard Macanas, 48, and his wife, Jovelyn, 39, have made their home in Baganga, Davao Oriental. While Richard serves his community, Jovelyn cares for their two young children.
Living near fault lines, the family has experienced several earthquakes.
“We are aware this place is prone to earthquake,” Richard said, “But we remained because this is where I serve in church, where we bought our house and [are] raising our children”.
This constant threat became a terrifying reality in 2023 when a major earthquake struck at night. It damaged their doorway, trapping a pregnant Jovelyn and their son inside. The experience left a lasting mark, making them fearful. They learned to monitor tsunami alerts and evacuation instructions, prepared “go-bags,” and taught their son what to do when an earthquake happens.
But nothing prepared them for the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck 9:43 a.m. on October 10. Jovelyn recalled tending to their one-year-old daughter when the ground shook violently. Their house began to crumble as she struggled to get out. Richard rushed inside the house while the ground was shaking, grabbed Jovelyn and their daughter and led them outside, just moments before their ceiling and roof collapsed.
The Macanas family’s house damaged by the earthquake in Baganga, Davao Oriental.Richard Macanas looks at collapsed roof and the damage caused by the earthquake to their house.
“We could have died,” said Jovelyn.
Their relief was cut short by a new fear. Their son, Lynnch, eight, was still at school, and they didn’t know what had happened to him during the earthquake. Richard was about to run and fetch him when Lynnch arrived with other children on a neighbor’s motorcycle. Upon seeing his parents, he wailed and hugged them.
“I was so scared,” Lynnch said. “I thought I would never see them again.”
Even after the main quake, emotions remained high as the family stayed alert for aftershocks. They took shelter in the church garage, sleeping under tables in the open space. Whenever the ground shook again, they huddled together for safety, and the parents comforted their crying children.
Photo: Jovelyn and her children rest by their sleeping area under the table.
The couple is now unsure what to do next. Their house is devastated, and most of their belongings were damaged. They lost WiFi vending machine and new solar light sets they sold for extra income. Richard said the solar sets were brand new, and he hadn’t yet earned anything from them.
As a pastor, Richard’s worries extend to his church congregation, and the people affected by the quake. He has seen families struggle for food. Some are risking their lives by taking shelter in their damaged homes during the day before sleeping in open spaces at night. The health of the elderly, especially those with chronic conditions, has worsened with exposure to the elements. The entire community is on edge; anytime the ground shakes, they fear for their lives.
Now, Richard is urging for help. He says people need food and basic household items like sleeping materials, as many are unable to recover anything from the rubble of their homes. With families sleeping outside, he says mosquito nets are also necessary. Beyond the physical needs, Richard says mental health support sessions are urgently needed to help his community process the trauma they have endured.
CARE staff of the ACCESS project talks to the family about their experience and their needs.Women at one of the psychosocial first aid sessions facilitated by volunteers through the ACCESS project.
CARE and its partners in the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP) and the ACCESS consortium, are responding to the earthquake by pooling their resources and working with local government units and community members to bring immediate, life-saving support to affected families. This includes food, water kits, tarpaulin sheets for temporary shelter, and psychosocial first aid.
For Ruben and Jonnely Benitez, life in their village in Bagamanoc, Catanduanes, is a rhythm dictated by the seasons. The couple worked hard to build a stable life for their five young children.
During the fishing season, from August to October, Ruben, 34, would dive into the clear waters, his livelihood dependent on the quality of his catch. When the harvest arrived, he turned to the land, processing coconuts for and stripping abaca for fiber. He’d pick up his tools and work as a carpenter if times were lean. His steady hands provided for his family and ensured that there was always food on the table and that their children could attend school.
Their life changed when Typhoon Pepito struck. The storm tore the roof from their home and ruined their belongings. The family took shelter in an evacuation center for a few days. The couple worked together to salvage what tin and other materials they could find to piece their roof back together.
The storm had washed away more than just their home. The coconut and abaca crops were damaged, leaving Ruben without his usual work.
“I also couldn’t go dive fishing,” Ruben recalled. “The water was murky after the storm.”
For two months, the family relied on the local government’s assistance, but the goods they received were often not enough for their family of seven.
The immediate assistance from the Gates Foundation was a big help. They received food and other important household items for cooking and sleeping. This was a great relief for Jonnely, who cooks for the family every day.
Photo: A woman carries food items home to share with her family.
“I cooked nutritious food for my family,” she said. “We had mung beans, dried fish, and eggs. We even had chicken.” She added that her children were glad to eat meat again.
The 75 kilos of rice they received lasted for two months. This help allowed Ruben to focus on finding work. He started earning an income again by helping his neighbors fix their own damaged homes.
“I didn’t have to worry about where our next meal would come from,” Ruben explained. “I focused on earning a living to cover our daily expenses and support our children’s schooling.”
Today, the family is still getting back on its feet. Because their work depends on the seasons, they hope another big storm doesn’t come soon. Ruben and Jonnely continue to work hard to rebuild their life, showing the quiet strength of a family facing an uncertain future.
Farm fields lay barren due to lack of rainfall and extreme heat on May 4, 2024, in Brgy. Santor, Rizal, Kalinga. (Photo: Josephine C. Kusain/CARE Philippines)
Significant portions of the Philippines are experiencing below-normal rainfall levels and above-average temperatures due to El Niño, impacting 59 out of 82 provinces across the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions. This extensive drought has adversely affected millions, with severe implications for agriculture and fisheries.
In May, CARE Philippines and its local partner, the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services (CorDIS RDS) conducted a Rapid Humanitarian Assessment (RHA) in Kalinga, one of the drought-stricken provinces in the country. Key local government officials and residents of three severely affected communities in Rizal and Balbalan municipalities were interviewed to particularly determine the drought’s impact on women, men, girls, and boys.
The RHA reports that these communities thrive on farming rice, corn, and vegetables are experiencing livelihood loss and hunger as repercussions of the El Nino. The lack of rainfall has made it impossible to maintain the fields and gardens, resulting in severe food shortages.
In Barangay Santor, Rizal, a farming family’s corn fields lay barren, and the garden withered due to the extreme heat. With the soil cracked and lack of rain, Julie Romero, 49, and her family of eight are left with nothing to harvest or sell. Farm work and other daily labor opportunities have also ceased due to the lack of water to irrigate the fields.
Photo: Julie Romero sits by her home’s kitchen during the interview (JR Paclay/CORDISRDS
With no produce to sell, Julie sells snacks like boiled corn and peanuts at the Bulanao, Tabuk public market. Despite her efforts, her daily earnings were barely enough to meet their basic needs. The meager income supplemented by her husband’s occasional work in construction was insufficient to cover their mounting expenses, especially, those incurred for their children’s education.
Julie shared that they worry for their children if the drought persists in the coming months.
“They eat whatever is on the table. They are used to the hardships of our life. But I am unsure about their education,” she added.
One child already stopped schooling because they could not provide for her school needs.
She also fears for their tenure on the land that they till and rent for 10 cavan or 500 kilos of corn per cropping. With the drought, they asked their landlord to waive their obligation until they could recover from their losses. But Julie is uncertain when they can bounce back from their situation when they lack the funds for land preparation in the coming rainy season.
A family garden in Barangay Santor produces stunted vegetables because of the extreme heat. Photo: Josephine C. Kusain/CARE Philippines
Water sources have started to dry up. Farmers have attempted to use water pumps to save their crops, but the rising cost of gasoline and insufficient water supply have hindered these efforts. The once-reliable supply from the mountain springs has lessened, leaving community members without water at certain times of the day. The only hand pump in the community is shared among the residents and is also at risk of drying up.
An open faucet awaits water from a dwindling mountain spring source (left) and a woman pumps water from the only handpump in the community for domestic use (right) in Barangay Santor, Rizal, Kalinga on May 4, 2024. Photos: Josephine C. Kusain/CARE Philippines
The drought also affected social dynamics in the community. Alex Dalayday, a 52-year-old Barangay Councilor shared that their administration works hard in addressing the increasing domestic disputes and illegal activities caused by the financial stress. The lack of local employment opportunities forced families to borrow money, leading to increasing debts. Couples face heightened stress as they struggle to provide for their families, sometimes leading to conflicts and the search for alternative sources of income. Some individuals have also started engaging in illicit activities to make ends meet.
“We have barangay tanods patrol regularly to ensure safety and implement mechanisms to address violence and harassment,” he added.
However, he fears that the situation will worsen without aid. The barangay council already passed resolutions to request assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). These requests included water pumps and other support measures. However, there has been no response to these resolutions as of the conduct of the RGA.
Access to basic services like healthcare has also become more critical. Marivic Wigan, 34, a Barangay Health Worker (BHW) in Anonang Liwan West, Rizal observed an unusual increase in chickenpox cases, affecting not only children but also adults and seniors, due to the stress and weakened immune systems brought on by the extreme heat and conditions.
CARE Philippines, with its extensive experience in emergency response and long-term recovery efforts, advocates for a comprehensive approach to resilience-building. This includes livelihood diversification, skills training, sustainable agriculture practices, improved water infrastructure and sanitation facilities, and strengthened community health services to handle critical health issues.
Land is life. Nobody understands this better than a farmer. And when wells dry up and fields crack under scorching heat, they are also the most directly affected.
Across the country, the drought and dry spells El Nino brought have impacted food security, water supply, health, education, and infrastructure, causing widespread economic and social repercussions, and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
Affected populations dealing with the effects of the phenomenon and, at the same time, bracing for the impact of La Nina, are also still recovering from recent hazards, including Typhoon Doksuri, which hit northern Philippine provinces in July 2023, and the widespread flooding in Eastern Visayas in November 2023. In Mindanao, communities are reeling from the flooding, landslides, and earthquakes in early 2024 while facing sporadic displacements due to chronic conflict.
The agriculture sector, particularly farmers and fisherfolk of already limited means, has been hit the hardest.
According to the Department of Agriculture, losses total PHP 9.50 billion (EUR 151 million), affecting 163,694 hectares of farmland across 12 regions, with 47,828 hectares (29.22%) beyond recovery. The ACCESS project estimates that 5.5 million people in drought-affected provinces are engaged in farming and fishing, with 1.6 million living below the poverty line.
El Nino’s widespread impacts
In areas monitored by the ACCESS consortium and member organizations of the Humanitarian Partnerships Platform (HPP), we are seeing a host of negative impacts:
Agriculture
Because of insufficient rainfall and water shortages, there have been extensive crop failures and delays in planting affecting corn, rice, vegetables, and other high-value crops. There are reports of deaths among livestock, and poultry and fishery are also affected. This not only reduces the incomes of households dependent on agriculture for livelihood but may also intensify overall food insecurity.
Economic and social impacts
Drastic income reductions have forced farmers and fisherfolk to go increasingly into debt and borrow money from informal lenders with high interest rates. Some move to more urbanized areas to look for alternative work, and others have resorted to selling their livestock. People are eating less, with upland farmers reducing meals from three to just one daily.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene
There is a severe shortage of water for domestic and agricultural uses. Where it’s still available, the price has been increasing. In some areas, there is intermittent supply; in others, people travel to other towns to fetch water.
Health
There are reports of dehydration, diarrhea, skin diseases, respiratory issues, and other heat-related illnesses.
Education
Schools have had to suspend classes or adjust their schedules to avoid the extreme heat.
Women and girls, persons with disabilities, and older persons face heightened risks
These conditions place certain groups in danger. Women bear a disproportionate burden, managing both care duties and livelihood activities to make up for incomes lost, often sacrificing their own needs. For instance, some eat last to make sure their children and husbands have enough food.
Increased stress levels, the loss of work, scarce resources, and the disruption of daily life can aggravate existing tensions within households and contribute to often-unreported cases of gender based violence (GBV). Women and children also face higher risks of physical and sexual harm when tasked to secure food and water by traveling farther than usual.
Persons with disabilities and older persons who have limited mobility now have an even harder time accessing food, water, and basic social services. Women with disabilities, in particular, are doubly affected: decreased household incomes may prevent them from meeting dietary, medical, and rehabilitation needs as their families prioritize food and other essentials. They are also five times more likely to experience sex-based violence, including domestic violence, due to perceptions that they cannot report incidents or will not be believed. Additionally, reporting systems are often inaccessible.
Building drought resilience, preparing for La Nina
ACCESS and HPP partners have conducted needs assessments, a rapid humanitarian analysis, and initial response activities in drought-affected areas in Northern and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Food is emerging as the most pressing need, and livelihood assistance—seeds, farm inputs, water irrigation facilities, and tools—are essential for recovery.
Even as El Nino’s effects may extend into August in some provinces, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomic Services Administration (PAGASA) expects La Nina to set in between June and August and about 13 to 16 more cyclones to arrive this year. These may compound the negative impacts on vulnerable populations. Humanitarian aid must thus take these forecasts into consideration.
And while emergency response addresses people’s most urgent needs, to more effectively build resilience to drought, longer-term solutions, including those focusing on ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction, are vital.
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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, CO Multiversity, Humanity & Inclusion – Philippines, and Save the Children Philippines.
The Humanitarian Partnership Platform is a network of 13 local organizations plus CARE as convenor, enabling rapid, scalable, and coordinated disaster response, emphasizing flexible funding and gender sensitivity, and leveraging local expertise and resources.
Featured Stories, Latest News & Stories, Press Release, Uncategorized, Women and Girls
Agusan del Sur and Norte, March 2024 — The BRIDGE Project capped off the month of March—National Women’s Month—with workshops to help educators integrate peace education and peace-promoting values in their learning curriculum, conducted in collaboration with Common Reference Educators Workshop (CREW) and the Department of Education.
Held on March 21, 2024, in Agusan del Sur and on March 22, 2024, in Agusan del Norte, the activities gathered a total of 103 primary and secondary school teachers, teaching personnel, and administrators.
Not just about conflict
A key takeaway is that peace “is not just talking about conflict or the absence of war,” as one female educator and workshop participant describes it. “It also talks about gender, the environment, health, and values. Peace is about accepting our diversities,” she says.
Photo: ACCORD
The role of women educators
The BRIDGE Project believes that women educators and women’s civil society organizations (CSOs), along with youth CSOs and national government agencies like the Department of Education, play important roles in peace education and can lead the process of promoting a culture of peace. This entails enabling the meaningful participation of women and girls in peace education activities in school, which must be designed to empower them.
Gender and peace also need to be contextualized in learning tools, especially those highlighting indigenous communities’ peace-promoting practices.
Photo: ACCORD
Advocates of peace
“As duty bearers, we have the responsibility to nurture young people, our students,” says a participant.
Another one echoes this sentiment, saying, “We teachers are advocates of peace. We need to cultivate empathy in our students. [Because] most of the learners are very vulnerable and prone to negative coping mechanisms, we should be there to support [them].”
Addressing educators’ challenges
The workshops were designed to address four specific issues that educators typically face when trying to mainstream peace education:
Messaging: how to discuss the subjects of peace, rights, and citizenship in a comprehensive and comprehensible way
Adaptability: how to introduce these topics into the present curriculum of all levels in a non-ladderized, flexible platform
Acceptability: how to integrate these into a framework or one common reference that various audiences will find helpful and fair
Sustainability: how to sustain peace, rights, and citizenship education
It covered these in three sessions, including one on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and another on peace and diversity.
Photo: ACCORD
A holistic approach to peace education
Apart from being informative and engaging, participants appreciated the breadth of the workshop topics. Says one participant, “At first, I thought we would be talking about the social injustices. But our discussion went beyond that. [We talked about how] health issues, persons with disabilities, cultural diversities, and environmental concerns are part of peace. Peace Education is a holistic approach. This training [can guide us on] the topics we can use in our lessons.”
Investing in women
In succeeding activities, BRIDGE will further highlight how gender is an important component of peace education, and how empowering women is central to promoting a culture of peace.
As the 2024 International Women’s Day theme reiterates, “If we invest in women, we accelerate progress.”
Photo: ACCORDPhoto: ACCORDPhoto: ACCORD
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.
Blog, Healthy Mothers & Children, Other Topic, Uncategorized, Women and Girls, Women and Girls
Written by: Juin Ancha(CARE Philippines)
November 14 — World Diabetes Day. Various health organizations and groups all over the country urge the Filipino community to take active measures to prevent this life-threatening illness. However, simple lifestyle and dietary changes may not be enough to comprehensively address diabetes, especially within the context of vulnerable populations. Pervasive gender norms and roles are also factors that influence the health and well-being outcomes of Filipino women and men. As we commemorate World Diabetes Day, we encourage the public to use an intersectional lens to understand diabetes.
Diabetes at a glance
Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic, and the Philippines is not exempt. According to the International Diabetes Federation, of the 64 million adults in the country, 4 million have diabetes. However, even with these high numbers, there could be more undocumented cases, specifically in low-income, rural, and armed-conflict-affected areas. Lack of health facilities in far-flung communities, lack of access to diabetes information, and lack of access to basic services continue to be major factors that prevent people, including the elderly, children, women, and men, from seeking timely health check-ups and routine monitoring. Socioeconomic constraints do not help either, and only contribute to a general reluctance among poor families to seek medical intervention.
Early detection of diabetes is hard when you are poor and internally displaced. In Lanao del Sur, many people did not know that they were diabetic until they saw CARE Philippines NCD-LOVE. NCD-LOVE was a three-year pilot project designed to introduce innovative approaches to address health issues, specifically non-communicable diseases, diabetes included. From providing technical assistance and capacity buildings to partner government stakeholders, augmenting NCD service delivery in project sites, and ensuring its sustainability through transition plans, the NCD-LOVE indeed provided strong advocacy on health and well-being. In 2023 alone, the project reached 15 municipalities in Lanao del Sur and served 7,031 patients, of which 67% were women.
Using intersectionality as lens to understanding diabetes
Lived experiences of diabetes can be best understood through an intersectional lens that considers the social identities of ordinary Filipinos. Due to deep-seated culture and gender norms, various gender biases have affected not only our behavior towards health but also our understanding of health. According to the World Health Organization, the majority of studies on NCD, diabetes included, have been undertaken on men, and women have been less diagnosed at early stages. As a result, even health interventions have placed women at the periphery of diabetes attention.
“No words could express how CARE helped us and made us happy, especially here in our community,” – shared Alma (not her real name), 58 years old, a woman with diabetes from Boganga Transitory site. That is why the NCD-LOVE project purposefully targeted not only low-income households in conflict-afflicted areas but, more importantly, women.
“We deeply appreciate the invaluable support from CARE and Abbott, which has been instrumental in propelling this NCD-LOVE program forward. Our steadfast commitment to prioritizing health and well-being remains resolute. As we look ahead, our focus remains steadfast on ensuring the sustainability of our NCD-LOVE program, guaranteeing that the progress achieved endures for the long term,” stated IPHO II.
Unlocking one of the key solutions, applying intersectionality in analyzing diabetes, opens discussions beyond the medical model of this life-threatening, non-communicable disease.
The NCD-LOVE project was funded by Abbott and the Abbott Fund.
