The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Friday, Sept. 29 launched a nature-based solutions (NbS) program in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to help vulnerable communities sustain their natural environment as a means of protection against climate disasters.
PRC in a statement highlighted the significance of the collaborative project, which also includes the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IFRC) and the Netherlands Red Cross—that targets the communities in Leyte and Surigao del Norte, known for their vulnerability to climate change disasters.
"NbS is based on the theory that by working with nature, specifically by restoring ecosystems, disaster risks are reduced, livelihoods are strengthened, and communities become more climate resilient," PRC said.
PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwen Pang expressed her excitement as this marks the first time the PRC will be working directly with WWF.
"We are joining forces, bringing to the table our respective expertise—WWF in sustaining the natural world for the benefit of the people and PRC in helping communities build resilience,” Pang said.
Aligned with this project, PRC will build on the knowledge gained from its existing NbS project in Bohol, which trains communities to work with nature, such as by planting trees, bamboo, and mangroves to parry and hold water breaching the river banks and shores.
Furthermore, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon continues to emphasize the importance of the "4 Ps," which stands for Predict, Plan, Prepare, Practice.
It underscores the importance of "being prepared for sudden-on-set climate-change related and weather-related disasters.”