By David Vera
Seven local government units (LGUs) and two non-government organizations (NGOs) in Eastern Visayas have launched PHP22.3 million worth of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) projects to combat climate risks and strengthen community resilience in the region.
The projects, under the Strengthening Disaster Resilience and Risk Mitigation through Ecosystem-Based Planning and Adaptation (E4DR) initiative, are supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and coordinated by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Eastern Visayas.
“These projects are designed to protect and nurture ecosystems while building the capacity of communities to address climate-related challenges,” said NEDA Regional Director Meylene Rosales in a statement on Monday.
The EbA projects will be implemented in Libagon and Saint Bernard in Southern Leyte; Laoang, San Roque, and Mondragon in Northern Samar; and Basey and Pinabacdao in Samar.
Among the highlighted initiatives are: Libagon, Southern Leyte: Climate-adaptive ecotourism projects; Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte: Conservation of mangrove forests and bird sanctuaries; Laoang, Northern Samar: Riverbank protection through enrichment planting and nursery establishment; San Roque, Northern Samar: Development of a mangrove eco-park; Mondragon, Northern Samar: Bamboo-based flood mitigation and riverbank stabilization; Basey, Samar: Agroforestry integration to promote food security and; Pinabacdao, Samar: Sustainable livelihood projects alongside coastal ecosystem protection.
Partner NGOs are also taking on specialized roles. The South Pacific Integrated Area Development Foundation, Inc. (SPIADFI) is implementing community-led disaster risk adaptation and sustainable livelihood programs in Tubod village, Silago, Southern Leyte. Sarayo Forests, Inc., meanwhile, is developing agroecology demonstration sites in Palapag, Northern Samar.
EbA approaches focus on preserving and enhancing natural ecosystems, such as catchment forests, wetlands, and mangroves, to mitigate climate risks. These efforts aim to improve water availability, quality, and resilience against disasters, according to Rosales.
The E4DR Project seeks to institutionalize sustainable disaster risk management and promote the integration of EbA measures with climate risk insurance to safeguard vulnerable communities in Eastern Visayas, a region frequently affected by typhoons and other climate-related disasters.
Eastern Visayas has a history of vulnerability to extreme weather, notably the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, which underscored the need for comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies. These EbA projects aim to address such risks while fostering long-term environmental sustainability and community development.