PHILSSA has been working with its local partner, the Palawan Advocates on Good Governance and Empowerment (PAGE), in organizing and strengthening municipal federations of community organizations in the Calamianes Group of Islands in Northern Palawan – Coron, Busuanga, Culion and Linapacan. 

Both organizations are presently leading the Palawan Provincial DRRM Coordination Hub. Leaders from vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities and indigenous peoples, participate to engage local government on DRRM planning and budgeting.

Both organizations contributed financial support to the Calamianes Resilience Network (CRN) for the construction of two (2) portable handwashing facilities made of plastic drums to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The idea of constructing the said facilities came from the frontliners in Coron.

Last first week of April, the facilities were donated to the Coron District Hospital and Coron Rural Health Unit situated in strategic locations frequented by many people.  

To date, Coron and the three other municipalities of Calamianes have no confirmed case of COVID-19. The handwashing facilities aim to promote good hygiene and give people, especially those within the hospital premises, access to clean water, thus minimize risks of acquiring and spreading COVID-19.

The provincial hub continues to work with the Calamianes Resilience Network (CRN) for disaster preparedness and response initiatives in the Calamianes. CRN is a multi-sectoral convergence group composed of organizations from local and national government, NGOs, academe, and people’s organizations working toward a resilient Calamianes.

By: Rhea Kristine S. Aguilar, Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies, Inc. (PHILSSA)