SUBMITTED BY ANA SILVIA AGUILERA ON THU, 2013-04-18 17:28

Last month, during a visit to the Philippines I had the opportunity to meet some of the 28,000 people whose lives have been changed by the Manila Water Supply Pilot Project.

By Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, Oct 18 (PIA) -- Over 60 brand new housing units were recently blessed and officially turned-over by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) seven to 60 indigent families beneficiaries of the government’s Core Shelter Assistance Project (CSAP) in Bajumpandan, Dumaguete City.

This project was undertaken using the “Bayanihan” scheme in partnership with the Dumaguete City government and the beneficiaries of the shelter project.

A total of 400 individuals will benefit from this project.

MANILA, 14 September 2012 (IRIN) - The Philippines government is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in anti-flood infrastructure in the Manila area in a bid to protect against the storms, typhoons and floods which displace thousands and kill hundreds every year, officials say.

ARAYAT, Pampanga July 2 (PIA) -- Fifty-seven households will now have a roof over their heads when the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office III and Gov. Lilia Pineda turnover today 57 permanent core shelters to the victims of the 2009 Mt. Arayat landslide in Brgy. San Juan Baño, Arayat town.

DSWD provided P70,000 each for housing materials, totaling P3,99,000 while labor was shouldered by the provincial government.

Pineda said the National Housing Authority will provide about P10 million for site improvement and development of the area.

About 15,000 people gathered in a threefold celebration of the Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines for its 46th global founding anniversary, Mother’s Day and the birthday of Buddhism’s great teacher, Gautama Buddha.

Marikina City hosted the event at the Marikina Sports Park last May 13. It was participated in by Chinese and Filipino Tzu Chi volunteers, staff, beneficiaries, donors, invited guests, religious leaders, Marikina City officials, representatives from Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. One third of its population of 94.9 million people live below the poverty line and are vulnerable to the typhoons, floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that plague the country.

Read the full story on OCHA's website

Period covered by this final report: 1 October 2009 to 30 November 2011 Appeal target (final): CHF 12,724,570 Appeal coverage (final): 87 per cent

In response to rapid onset flooding in Laguna and Rizal provinces in the Philippines, Oxfam International implemented a Cash Transfer Programme (CTP) in three phases: 1) Unconditional cash transfers for individuals to provide for basic needs; 2) Conditional cash transfers for individuals resuming income generating activities (IGAs); and 3) Cash transfers for groups to pursue joint activities that contribute to community livelihoods.

This case study documents the intervention, with a focus on recommending best practices and highlighting lessons learned.