The Province of Albay Governor Grex Lagman, represented by Provincial Administrator Sheina Onrubia-Dela Cruz, met with the consortium members of SHIELD (Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change Programme) to discuss how SHIELD can support the province’s programs and priorities.

The mission trip also included visits to the DILG Regional Office and to Brgy. San Francisco, Guinobatan, Albay.

Australia in The Philippines Counsellor for Development Thanh Le and UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran led the visit. PBSP was represented by Director for Operations Kristine Rivadelo, SHIELD Program Manager Juliet Labayan and SHIELD Luzon Regional Coordinator Jay Arididon.

SHIELD is a six-year (2021-2028) program with grant funding from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The program aims to build institutional and community resilience to hazardous events and effects of climate change. It is designed to scale-up resilience-building efforts at the local level through collaboration with multiple stakeholders to unlock financing and implement risk-informed and inclusive resilience actions.

SHIELD is being implemented through a consortium led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Other members include the UN-Habitat Philippines, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), National Resilience Council (NRC), and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

‍

Photos from UN-Habitat Philippines.