Center for Emergency Aid, Rehabilitation and Development (CONCERN) Inc.

Call for Donations: Typhoon Odette Victims in Cebu and Bohol

Let’s help provide relief for the victims of Typhoon Odette in Cebu and Bohol!
Your monetary support will be used by affected communities in Cebu and Bohol to purchase their immediate needs.

You may course your donations to:

𝙈𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙠
Center for Emergency Aid, Rehabilitation and Development Inc.
𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩 ＃：００７－２９６－５１０４９－８
𝘿𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩 ＃：２９６－２－２９６０１０８６－８
Swift Code: MBTCPHMM
Branch: MacArthur Highway, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines

𝙂𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙝：０９９５０６１９８４７

Kindly send the transaction slip via Messenger or email info@concerninc.org specifying the purpose, so we may verify and acknowledge receipt of your donation.

We are counting on your support. Thank you!

Donations will be managed by the Visayas Disaster Response Network, a collective of professionals, individuals and CSOs who respond to the needs of the most vulnerable communities affected by disasters and;

the Center of Emergency Aid, Rehabilitation and Development, a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 1986 to address and support the needs of disaster victims and communities at risk, registered with SEC and DSWD.

[FIL] Gabay sa Pag-iwas sa COVID-19

Paano nga ba kumakalat ang virus? Anu-ano ang mga sintomas? Ano ang magagawa natin para maprotektahan mula sa sakit? At bakit kailangang magpabakuna? Mag-review tayo tungkol sa COVID-19!

Ang primer na ito na hatid ng Concern, sa tulong ng We Effect Philippines. Bahagi ito ng ating kampanya para sa pagpapalakas ng kaalaman at kapasidad bilang tugon sa pandemya.

CONCERN and We Effect Engage Meranaw Youth in IDP Rights Training

As we celebrate the International Youth Day, we applaud the efforts being made to pursue the interest of the youth all over the world. But, let us not forget to remember also the struggle of the youth in its fight for peace, freedom, justice and inclusive governance for all, especially the young IDPs.

These are the youth who tirelessly assert its call for a safe and dignified return, demands truth, justice and accountability, and push for the narratives of the vulnerable and displaced people no matter how challenging the task to claim and defend what is rightfully theirs as a Meranaw people.

CONCERN, Inc. with the support of We Effect and in partnership with the Reclaiming Marawi Movement is currently implementing a project which hopes to strengthen the capacity of young Meranaw IDPs who are still living in the temporary and transitional shelters, more than 4 years have passed after the Marawi siege. The project aims to empower the young Meranaw IDPs on the importance of their participation in rights claiming.

Through the series of community based discussions focused on educating the youth on the IDP Rights, Basic DRR-CCA, skills enhancement through Leadership, Public Speaking and Para-Legal Trainings, the young Meranaw IDPs today believes in collective leadership and the significance of their voices in molding a gender-sensitive, secure, disaster resilient communities that will better serve their interest as a youth.

The trainings also provided them an avenue to develop their full potential as responsible leaders and recognize the need to fight for their right to accessible, quality and affordable education for all.

The current situation in the country presents an opportunity for everyone most especially the youth to take part in advocating for a genuine social transformation and continue the discourse on matters of justice, human dignity and peace.

Photos are compilation from the series of community-based activities in the different temporary and transitional shelters.

CONCERN Conducts Online GICBDRRM Training

CONCERN, in partnership with WE Effect, concluded its five-day online training on Gender-Integrated Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (GICBDRRM) on October 28, via ZOOM.

We thank our attendees – staff and community leaders from WE Effect’s partner organizations – PATAMABA, IPCSED and San Dionisio Credit Cooperative (through Trias) for accepting the challenges of online learning with us.

The five-day online training aimed at building the capacity of the organizations by leveling off on the concepts of disasters, climate change and gender; and by discussing Participatory Risk Assessment, disaster preparedness, early warning and policies.

We recognize the limitations of the online means of learning in building the capacities of our partners, but we cannot let this pandemic freeze our drive to promote GICBDRRM. The online training is our first step at adapting to the new normal.

The training is part of the Capability Assistance for People’s Initiatives at Transformative Actions and Leadership in Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience to Disasters (CAPITAL in CCARD) Project funded by WE Effect and implemented by CONCERN.

CONCERN Facilitates Conflict Management Training in Marawi

CONCERN Inc. is currently implementing a short-term project in partnership with Reclaiming Marawi Movement with the support of UNDP Bangkok and NPeace to strengthen the participation, inclusion and access of Meranao women in post-conflict Marawi. The main goal of the initiative is to enhance the capacity of IDP women in Marawi as mediators at the grassroots level for the promotion of social cohesion, prevention of conflict and violent extremism and enabling meaningful inclusion, especially in rehabilitation planning in the newly formed government.

Women in temporary shelters are confronted with multitude of difficulties but they are capable of playing significant roles in their personal development and in the development of their community. They are capable of articulating their own definition and understanding of development in protecting women and in preventing the violation of their rights as women and IDP’s. As they always say, “LAABAN LANG!”

CONCERN Inc. extends its heartfelt gratitude to MSU-IIT Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao (IPDM) through Ma’am Yasmira P. Moner and Ma’am Settie Sahara D. Mutia for facilitating the two-day Conflict Management Training with the women in the different communities of Marawi City. It was a memorable 2-day activity filled with shared laughters, tears and above all, friendship and love for humanity.

Credits to Proleta Nuñeza Gomez for the write-up and photos.

499 Earthquake-Hit Families Receive Relief Packs

During the crisis of Mindanao Earthquake, CONCERN sent out an appeal for partners and funding agencies to help in the relief efforts aimed at affected communities in Mindanao. Peace Equity Access for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Foundation Inc. and individual donors heeded this call, with relief activities focused on affected residents.

Brgy Kanapolo evacuation in the Municipality of Magsaysay – one of the hardest-hit municipality in Davao Del Sur and is 7 – kilometer away from the accredited evacuation center by the municipality, received less responses and in dire need of food for survival.

On November 22-24, 2019, CONCERN and PMBDRN facilitated the purchasing and repacking in Davao City. Repacking was participated by students from Sta Ana National High School, University of Southeastern Philippines USEP, and Holy Cross of Davao College, who are active network members.

The actual delivery distribution was successfully held last November 27, 2019. The beneficiaries arrived and organized themselves according to Purok. The project served 499 families or 1,664 individuals.

The beneficiaries were very happy and grateful to have received the pack. They were surprised by the content of the standard food pack. According to the beneficiaries the packs are “kumpleto at marami” (complete and plenty). The hygiene kit pack was highly appreciated especially by women.

Aside from its direct assistance to the affected community, the relief operation has also increased the capacity of the partner network, the People Based-Mindanao Disaster Risk Reduction Network (PBMDRN). While it was a challenging process as it is their first time to directly involve in the relief delivery operation, it has taught them an efficient approach in identifying areas and beneficiaries and in the organizing systems of repacking and distribution.

CONCERN expresses its utmost appreciation and gratitude to PEACE Foundation and individual donors for their support to Brgy Kanapolo! We also thank our partner, PBMDRN and volunteers from Sta Ana National High School, University of Southeastern Philippines USEP, and Holy Cross of Davao College for making this Relief Delivery Operation possible.

Tag-alag Irrigation System for Haiyan-Affected Farmers in Samar Inaugurated

Funded by Canada, implemented by Tukod Project and managed by National Irrigation Administration with the support from the Municipality of Marabut.

The activity was participated by Mr. Stephen Weaver, Head of Cooperation and Ms. Isabel Hernando, Project Officer from the office of the Global Affairs Canada, Mayor Percival Ortillo Jr. of LGU Marabut, Representatives from the Regional Offices of DENR, CENRO-DENR, DA, DAR, NEDA and Food for the Hungry- Philippines. The Deparment of Agriculture donated seeds for the farmers of Brgy. Tag-Alag during the inauguration.

This project aims at bringing sustainable agricultural practices and better land use and water management to Tag-alag community members in order to better adapt to dry periods or flooding, to increase their resilience and the protection of their livelihood, to provide economic continuity from potential future natural disasters, as well as to generate more income.

The irrigation infrastructure project will promote increased agricultural productivity, diversification of agricultural crops and commercialization of agriculture from subsistence. Improvement in crop productivity will raise the income for the rural poor above the poverty line. Sample households indicated that the implementation of the project will lead to expansion of existing crop enterprises. Nominal land prices may increase thus making the high value irrigable land useful for cultivation and marketable which was otherwise less favored.