Pia Wurtzbach to visit IPs in Palawan

Pia Wurtzbach to visit IPs in Palawan

Miss Universe 2013, Gabriela Isler of Venezuela visited Coron in March 2014. (Photo by: Cordaid)

MANILA, Jan. 20, 2017 – Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach will visit on Jan. 21 a community of Indigenous People (IP) in Barangay Malawig in Coron, Palawan who were previously affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The Tagbanwa community participates in the Integrated Watershed Management for Climate Resilience in Coastal Communities project that is being implemented by the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid) in partnership with the Catholic Church through the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines and the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay-Social Action Center (AVT-SAC).

The local government of Coron, Palawan and the Miss Universe Foundation also support the project.

“We [in] the Catholic Church welcome and support this project, which is particularly focused on empowering women and indigenous peoples,” said NASSA/Caritas Philippines executive secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez.

Food security, alternative livelihood

The IP communities, particularly women, are supported in building their capacity to cope with climate, disaster, and environmental risks through locally appropriate and culturally sensitive land and water management techniques.

The said organizations also help the community address food security and develop alternative and disaster-resilient livelihood such as vegetable farming and handicrafts production, building upon sustainable environmental management.

Cordaid, an international humanitarian organization and member of the Caritas Internationalis confederation, has been operating in the country since 2013 in response to Super Typhoon Yolanda. Cordaid recognize that:

  • A staggering 1.2 billion people live in fragile and volatile settings around the world.
  • Where crisis is most daunting, Cordaid in cooperation with the global and local network of Caritas agencies helps people move beyond survival to live in dignity.
  • Risks from disaster, climate and unsustainable environmental management put very poor people into highly fragile situations.
  • With a focus on disaster resilience, humanitarian aid, health, and creating safer income opportunities, Cordaid tackles complicated problems in some of the most complex countries on earth.

Global alliance

Both Cordaid and NASSA/Caritas Philippines are members of the global Alliance – the Partners for Resilience – working with Netherlands Red Cross, CARE Nederlands, Wetlands International, Red Cross, Red Crescent Climate Centre, civil society, faith-based agencies, the government, and private sector in the Philippines.

It seeks to build the capacity of key local and national actors and communities to advocate for strengthened resilience from disaster, climate, and environmental risks and secured livelihoods for vulnerable communities. This is supported by the Netherlands Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2016 and 2020.

In March 2014, Cordaid also organized a visit by Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler in Coron, Palawan. (CBCPNews)