CRS Philippines

05/06/2026

Lessons from Bicol are helping shape how the Philippines acts before disasters.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines worked with government partners to bring field experience into national discussions, supporting the development of Republic Act 12287, which allows early action before disasters.

CRS also supported coordination with national platforms and alignment with the country’s disaster risk reduction law.

When local learning shapes national systems, more communities can act early and stay safe.

05/06/2026

This World Environment Day, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), through the Forest Flavors Project, highlights its work advancing regenerative agriculture and agroforestry for sustainable coffee production. In partnership with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) and the Provincial Government of Bukidnon, a five-day Training of Trainers at Grand Apex Integrated Farm equipped 28 participants—from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), local government offices, cooperatives, and private sector partners—with practical, field-based learning grounded in real farming conditions.

The training ensured strong participation from Indigenous Peoples, including leaders from KADNTAI, TICCAD, and BUHITA, integrating Indigenous Knowledge, Systems, and Practices (IKSP) into sustainable coffee approaches while fostering peer learning across sectors. Moving forward, CRS and partners will support these facilitators in cascading knowledge to communities, especially Indigenous coffee farmers in Bukidnon, with TESDA committing to train around 250 farmers, strengthening an inclusive, resilient, and environmentally sustainable coffee value chain.

04/06/2026

When Severe Tropical Storm Opong was forecasted, clear triggers helped Bicol act early.

With guidance from PAGASA forecasts, local governments quickly:
• issued advisories
• activated Anticipatory Action plans
• coordinated response efforts

Because of this, support reached families before and right after the storm. Cash assistance helped them fix homes, protect livelihoods, buy food, and prepare to evacuate.

Key lessons:
✔ Clear triggers help leaders act with confidence—even with uncertainty
✔ Early cash support helps families reduce losses
✔ Strong local partners make fast action possible
Anticipatory Action works when forecasts are understood—and communities are ready to act.

Find out more about the key lessons learned from our pilot implementation of Anticipatory Action in the Bicol Region at: https://www.crs.org/our-work/research-publications/anticipatory-action-practice-learning-crs-pilot-bicol-philippines

03/06/2026

In Bicol, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines worked with five local government units (LGUs), Tabaco City and Rapu‑Rapu (Albay); Bagamanoc, Caramoran, and Pandan (Catanduanes and regional government agencies (PAGASA, DILG, DSWD, and OCD), to develop localized anticipatory action plans that are clear, local, and official.

These plans define:
• when to act
• what actions to take
• who is responsible

They were approved by local disaster councils, making them part of existing government systems.

Because of this, decisions are faster, coordination is smoother, and actions are more organized.

Key lessons:
✔ Local plans build ownership and trust
✔ Clear protocols reduce delays and confusion
✔ Strong systems avoid separate or overlapping responses

When plans are clear and local, communities can act early, with confidence.

Read more: https://www.crs.org/our-work/research-publications/anticipatory-action-practice-learning-crs-pilot-bicol-philippines

02/06/2026

Anticipatory Action Initiatives included increasing disaster risk reduction (DRR)-related capacities of communities. Communities understand early warnings, trust the system, and know what to do. Local plans are in place, and barangay and municipal teams are ready to act together.

Before any typhoon, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines worked with local governments and communities in Bicol to strengthen disaster risk reduction—through training, planning, and community awareness.

Because of this, when activation happens, people respond quickly and with less confusion.

Key lessons:
✔ Preparedness makes early action possible
✔ Training builds confidence to act
✔ Barangay leaders are key to reaching communities fast

Learn more about the lessons learned from our pilot implementation of Anticipatory Action in the Bicol Region at: https://www.crs.org/our-work/research-publications/anticipatory-action-practice-learning-crs-pilot-bicol-philippines

01/06/2026

Catholic Relief Services Philippines work in Bicol showed great results and the power of acting early:
✅ 93% received early warnings
✅ 88% took preparedness actions
✅ 100% were satisfied with assistance delivery [AA Bicol L...klet print | PDF]

Across Bicol:
• 10,900 people reached
• 2,400 households supported

In Anticipatory Action communities, families don’t just prepare, they prepare better.

• More households strengthened their homes
• More families protected their livelihoods
• More families prepared multiple actions, not just one.

Anticipatory Action changes how people prepare, not just when they receive help.

01/06/2026

After months of disruption caused by Typhoon Tino and the ongoing eruption of Mt. Kanlaon, communities in La Castellana faced damaged water systems, leaking pipelines, and limited access to safe sanitation, especially in evacuation sites where families had to fetch water just to wash their hands.

Through the Philippines Typhoons Emergency Response Project, CRS Philippines worked hand-in-hand with local leaders to address these urgent needs, rehabilitating WASH facilities in Barangays Biak-na-Bato and Sag-ang. Today, with newly installed water tanks and rainwater harvesters, repaired distribution lines, and improved sanitation facilities, residents and displaced families now have safer and more reliable access to clean water.

Completed as of May 29, 2026, this milestone reflects strong community partnership with the Action Center of Kabankalan and Caritas Philippines, as CRS continues supporting recovery efforts in nearby barangays. 💙

29/05/2026

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), in close collaboration with the City Government of Tagbilaran, supported the development and final validation of the Tagbilaran City Environmental Management Code 2026—marking a major step toward sustainable and climate-resilient urban development. Through a series of intensive workshops, CRS helped convene city leaders, government agencies, and stakeholders to shape a comprehensive policy that integrates environmental protection, green governance, and disaster resilience. Once enacted, the code will guide the city in balancing growth with ecosystem protection, institutionalizing environmental management systems, and safeguarding communities from climate risks.

Tagbilaran City takes a massive leap toward a sustainable future! Following a week of intense workshops since Monday, the draft Tagbilaran City Environmental Management Code 2026 is being presented for its final validation.

This landmark legislation is a defining pillar of Mayor Jane Yap’s executive agenda, underscoring her administration's absolute commitment to progressive green governance. Mayor Jane emphasizes that this code is not just a regulatory document, but a visionary blueprint to secure a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant city for all Tagbilaranons.

This monumental milestone is a collaborative effort, jointly facilitated by the City Government of Tagbilaran and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The validation workshop brings together a dedicated coalition of leaders, including the City Council, People's Council, provincial representatives, National Government Agencies (NGAs), and city department and office heads.

Once approved as an official ordinance, this legislation will serve as the city's ultimate legal backbone to:

Balance Growth & Nature: Ensure rapid urban development works hand-in-hand with ecological preservation.

Protect Crucial Ecosystems: Enforce strict rules on waste segregation, plastic bans, and septage management to safeguard local karst landscapes and mangrove forests.

Institutionalize Green Governance: Establish the Tagbilaran City Environmental Management Office (TCEMO) to centralize and strictly enforce environmental laws.

Build Climate Resilience: Protect the provincial capital from flooding and climate disasters, ensuring a healthy environment for future generations.

29/05/2026

Deadline for submission of proposals extended until June 5!

DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 5, 2026: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines is seeking a Cost-Benefit Analysis Consultant to assess the value and impact of the PlanSmart for Sustainable Human Settlements (SHS) platform.
PlanSmart supports Local Government Units (LGUs) in developing risk-informed Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) by improving access to data, streamlining analysis, and strengthening evidence-based planning.

Interested applicants may send their CV and proposal/quotation to [email protected] until 25 May 2026.

More information about the consultancy can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/CRScbaconsultant

29/05/2026

In Bicol, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Philippines works with local governments to act early, and strengthen existing systems, not replace them.

This is how Anticipatory Action happens:
✔ Communities are trained and prepared through disaster risk reduction
✔ Plans and protocols are developed with local governments
✔ Forecasts trigger early action
✔ Support, like cash assistance, is delivered quickly
✔ After each response, partners reflect and learn

CRS uses a systems-based, government-led approach, so communities can act faster, together, and with confidence.

Because effective action doesn’t start during a disaster, it starts long before it.