CODE-NGO conducted a three-agenda meeting last June 15, 2015 at the Ugnayan Hall, PhilDHRRA Partnership Center, Quezon City. It was primarily on: (1.) START Network Preparatory Meeting, (2.) Advocacy Working Group on DRR-CCA, and (3.) Advancing CSO Engagement on DRR-CCA (ACED) Year 3 orientation. This event was participated in by member networks of CODE-NGO involved in DRRM.

Surge Capacity, as defined by People in Aid (2007), is the ability of an organization to scale up (and scale down) resources quickly and effectively to meet increased demand and stabilize or alleviate suffering in any given population during emergencies. START Network, a consortium of 19 leading international humanitarian NGOs, wanted to transform surge capacity in the Philippines by localizing it, improving collaboration among organizations and promoting better engagement with key stakeholders.

Maria Alexandra Pura of Christian Aid emphasized that the network wanted the local level to take the lead on surge capacity. Believing that local actors have more knowledge of their area compared to others. Also, it is the goal of START Network to establish a more collaborative surge capacities within INGOs/NGOs and at the same time a better engagement with other stakeholders specifically UN, public sector, private sector, academic institutions and partners.

CODE NGO presented a bird’s eye view of its member CSOs’ DRR related activities and capacities. The said mapping aims to help not just NGOs but also INGOs who would like to be involved within a specific region of the Philippines.

Moreover, a summary of the sunset review of R.A. 10121 or Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 was presented to the participants of the meeting. Recommendations as well as gaps and challenges in the areas of institutional set-up, preparedness, response, adaptation and mitigation, rehabilitation and recovery, and funding of R.A. 10121 were also discussed.

Lastly, there was an orientation for ACED Year 3. Prior to that, a brief summary of the accomplishments of ACED Year 1 and 2 was presented.

For Year 3, the main objective is to set-up and equip the regional CSO DRR Coordination Hub. This is to facilitate DRR-CCA learning exchanges and advocacy among CSOs during recovery and preparedness planning. At the same time, to coordinate their actions and mobilize resources for humanitarian responses during and after a disaster. It also aims to strengthen the CSO hub’s capacity to engage LGUs in crafting needs-responsive local DRRM plans and budget.

As the meeting ended, PHILSSA National Coordinator, Dick Balderrama, reminded everyone that disaster-related activities cannot just be separated with developmental projects for both affect each other. Thus, CSOs must do their part, to the extent of taking the lead on projects concerning DRR-CCA. If one would ask why CODE- NGO and its members do these initiatives, it could be because as the participants have said it during the meeting, they are “the one and the many.”

Kerby Gonzaga spent his internship at CODE-NGO, assisting the Knowledge Development and Management as well as the Membership Program. He is a senior Political Science major from the University of Santo Tomas (UST).