The Philippines experiences a high number of natural disasters and is greatly affected by climate change. As a responsive neighbour and partner, Australia supports the Philippines in building the resilience of local communities by strengthening their capacities to prepare for and respond to the impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

From 2014 to 2018, Australia supported various municipalities in Leyte and Samar through a program which focuses on community and LGU-based risk management. Local leaders were trained on natural resource assessment, disaster and climate risk and vulnerability assessments, risk-sensitive local planning, and multi-hazard early warning systems. This allowed the local government to develop a plan fit for the communities needs and resources.

Watch as residents of Abuyog, Leyte, a tsunami prone area, share how they have become better equipped and more resilient to natural disasters through this program: