PBSP kicks off its major activities under the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Programme with a Provincial Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting in the province of Agusan del Sur and Northern Samar. The activity was held in preparation for the various workshops and sessions towards the formulation of the Value Chain Analyses (VCA) and Business Continuity Plans (BCP) of the priority commodities or industries of these provinces.

The Provincial TWG is composed of provincial LGU department representatives designated to oversee implementation of the program at the local level.

In Agusan del Sur, a short courtesy visit to the Office of the Governor was also conducted where PBSP met with the governor himself, Gov. Santi Cane Jr. who pledged his full support to the implementation of the SHIELD Program in his province.

PBSP was led by Mr. Gari Enriquez, GMI Manager, Ms. Juliet Labayan, Senior Program Officer and SHIELD Project Lead (for PBSP), Ms. Judie Morales, Regional Coordinator for Mindanao and Mr. Jay Arididon for Visayas.

SHIELD is a 6-year program funded by the Australian Government in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that aims to accelerate institutional and community resilience to climate change, natural and other types of hazards at the local level. PBSP is one of the consortium members that implements SHIELD, along with the UNDP, UN Habitat, the National Resilience Council (NRC) and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS).