The Australian government is investing P630 million (Au$18 million) to help strengthen the disaster and climate resilience of at least 10 selected provinces in the Philippines, including Metro Manila and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Dubbed as the SHIELD (Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities against Disasters and Climate Change) Program, the six-year initiative aims to work with local governments as the first responders to emergencies, by building their institutional and community resilience capacities against natural hazards and climate change.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which signed a memorandum of agreement with Australia, will implement SHIELD, along with consortium partners UN-Habitat, Philippine Business for Social Progress, National Resilience Council, and the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson AO said this new investment affirms Australia’s continued commitment to the Philippines as a dependable partner in building the long-term disaster and climate resilience of its institutions and its people.
He stressed that enhancing resilience remains a high priority for Australia, particularly in the Philippines, which is extremely vulnerable to disasters and the impacts of climate change.
“Through SHIELD, we will work with governments, private sector, civil society, and academic institutions to enhance and sustain community resilience,” Robinson added.
Under the SHIELD program, efforts will be made to accelerate resilience-building in the Philippines by collaborating with multiple stakeholders to unlock financing and implement risk-informed and inclusive resilience actions at the local level.
It will also support the Philippine government to establish the needed enabling environment and work with local scientific agencies to produce tailored and accessible information that will inform local resilience actions.