Albay, UNDP ink P1.8-M skills training for recovery plan

LEGAZPI CITY, March 21 (PIA) -- Albay and the UNDP will sign a memorandum of agreement on Friday (March 23) here for the implementation of P1.8 million worth skills training on recovery plan development.

The training on the formulation of recovery development plan aims to capacitate humanitarian service personnel and the local disaster risk reduction management council of every municipalities and cities in Albay province.

In mid 2011, six typhoons hit Albay causing landslides and floods in various parts of the province. Albay and UNDPA seek to collaborate towards the pursuit of early recovery and long term development in typhoon-affected communities through the project UNDP Response to Early Recovery of Typhoon affected areas in Albay.

The training will focus on technical planning, recovery program after disaster, and early recovery.

The signing of MOA will be held at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional office here during the regular Regional Development Council full meeting.

The MOA will signed by Gov. Joey Salceda, concurrent RDC chairman, and Renaud Meyer, Country Director of UNDP to the Philippines. (MAL/MDR-PIA 5, Albay)

P20-M allocated for PAMANA projects in CamNorte

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, March 20 (PIA) -- Some P20 million was allocated for the projects under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) for the seven towns in Camarines Norte this year.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial director Robin Mercado said that the municipalities to benefit from the projects include the towns of Basud, Capalonga, Jose Panganiban, Labo, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Mercedes, and Sta. Elena.

He said that the local government units should submit project proposal focusing on economy, security and justice as discussed by DILG Regional Director Blandino Maceda during the two-day Planning Workshop on Mainstreaming Peace and Development in Local Governance (MPDLG) held here recently spearheaded by the OPAPP in coordination with the provincial government.

Last year, some P140 million was allocated for the farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in the province which were divided in the three towns of Jose Panganiban, Mercedes, and Labo.

The FMRs in the three towns was started December 2011.

The PAMANA aims to respond to and strengthen peacebuilding, reconstruction, and development in conflict-affected areas (CCAs) in line with the government’s goal of putting a permanent and just closure to internal armed conflicts.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cited that there are 38 barangays that are conflict affected areas in the province and they do non - combatant activities to facilitate the bridge between the government and the barangays. (MAL/RBM/PIA 5, Camarines Norte)