Humanitarian context
The Philippines is an island nation of Southeast Asia with high seismic activity that periodically suffers natural disasters such as volcanic activity, earthquakes and tidal waves, tsunamis and typhoons. The heavy rainfall of the rainy season causes floods and landslides. The consequences of these catastrophes are devastating, with thousands of deaths and long-term material and economic damage to the survivors.
Major humanitarian challenges include inequality between rich and poor populations, and lack of food and drinking water for many people in precarious conditions. In parallel, the country has continued to suffer the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its health system and economy.
BENEFICIARIES
workers
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
FOOD SECURITY, LIVELIHOODS AND SHELTER
EXPATRIATES
NATIONAL
Our activity
The Philippines faces a relentless struggle against hunger in a context of enormous climate challenges, and remains the most disaster-prone country according to the Global Risk Index 2023. Its heavy dependence on natural resources for livelihoods further aggravates the hunger situation in the country. Recently, the Social Weather Stations have highlighted the stark reality: 12.6% of Filipino households went unintentionally hungry in the last quarter of 2023, underlining the widespread problem of food insecurity. To further complicate the situation, the country faces the arrival of El Niño from July 2023.
In addition to the ongoing localised conflicts in Mindanao, communities may face a further increase in tensions as the upcoming 2025 elections marking the end of the transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) could intensify existing problems.
Action Against Hunger's mission in the Philippines intervenes strategically in this complex landscape, adopting a multi-sectoral approach. Our Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Emergencies programme ensures a rapid and effective response during crises, including the restoration of vital infrastructure. We provide community health workers with essential equipment and coordinate mobile health missions to reach remote areas. We facilitate the detection and treatment of malnutrition, enabling access to food aid, as well as access to mental health and psychosocial care for disaster-affected communities.
In close collaboration with local partners, we run specific programmes aimed at strengthening community resilience and mitigating the impact of climate disasters. In addition, we continue to support the development of preventive action protocols for droughts and dry spells in collaboration with local government agencies, while also actively monitoring climate trends affecting water sources.
Throughout 2023, Action Against Hunger in the Philippines achieved major milestones, such as expanding local partnerships and improving emergency response capacities. From addressing displacement caused by armed conflict to providing basic assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters such as super typhoon Doksuri, the Sarangani earthquake and the Samar floods, our interventions exemplify resilience and technical expertise. In addition, our commitment to diversity and prevention took shape in the establishment of a new base office in Siargao, with plans to expand to Tawi-Tawi by 2024.
WHERE
WE HELP
We help 24.5 million people each year. We work in 55 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, those most threatened by hunger.
EYEWITNESSES
ERNA CRISOLOGO, 35, IS PROUD TO BE A RICE FARMER.
She grew up in a family of rice farmers and has lived all her life amid rice fields. In addition to the rice paddy surrounding their home, Erna and her husband, Rubén Cabalán, 35, have a small coconut plantation high up on the mountain.
Unfortunately, in December 2021, Typhoon Odette swept through the Philippines leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Erna and Ruben's house in Barangay Capalayan, a rural area outside Surigao City, was completely flattened, along with their rice plants and coconut trees.
Erna took part in livelihood training sessions and received cash assistance to restore her family's livelihoods through the emergency response implemented by Action Against Hunger.
After the typhoon, Erna, Ruben and their daughter Shekanaiah, 8, took shelter in a nearby school that served as an evacuation centre. In the initial days after the storm, their situation was desperate. The centre was overcrowded and families went hungry. It took almost a week for food and other relief items to arrive because the roads were impassable.
With no home to return to, Erna and her family stayed in the evacuation centre for two months. "I was very stressed about our situation," Erna recalls. "Our rice plants were completely destroyed and our coconut trees were damaged. We no longer had a source of income or food."
Fortunately, they found the light at the end of the tunnel. Action Against Hunger donated building materials to Erna's family, which they combined with leftover planks from their old house to build a new home.
Once her family had a roof over their heads, Erna and other typhoon-affected farmers attended training in good agricultural practices and organic vegetable production organised by Action Against Hunger. Erna learned to make and apply organic insecticides and fertilisers and to improve the construction of her dykes.
Erna also participated in financial literacy training and wrote a business plan to access a cash grant of 15,000 pesos. She used the funds to buy tools such as a sprayer for organic fertiliser, a shovel, a raincoat, rubber boots, organic rice seeds, and to pay labour costs for land preparation. "I am very happy and excited to start planting rice again," says Erna.
"I learned that it is very important to save so that you don't go hungry in case of a disaster. We are very grateful that Action Against Hunger gave us funds to restart our business. Now we have no debts to pay and we can start saving immediately."
Erna smiles with satisfaction: "We are doing well now. We're not just doing well, we feel good."