LCDE Press Release on the EnCap2 Project

DKH EnCap2 Continues amidst COVID-19

LCDE in partnership with Citizens' Disaster Response Center and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe continue to implement the EnCap2 project in the region of Leyte in the Philippines despite of the on-going COVID-19 crisis in the Philippines and steadily rising cases in the region. During the onset of COVID-19 LCDE was able to carry out activities under the project even with the quarantine measures of the region in effect through close coordination with Local Government Units (LGU) and observance of public health protocols.

Throughout the months after the start of the quarantine LCDE was able to lay the groundwork in-order for the EnCap2 to proceed in several communities of Palo and Jaro in Leyte. LCDE staff visited both LGUs of these municipalities to inform them on the details of the project and encourage support on their end, which was met with a positive response. Project staff also underwent relevant trainings which will help them be more effective in the implementation of the EnCap2.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic presents a great challenge for the EnCap2 project, LCDE believes this project has become even more important in these times. The need for preparedness at the community level has become evident because of COVID-19 because of the strain it is causing to many government departments making it difficult for aid to arrive in a timely manner. The EnCap can help these communities achieve a measure of resiliency against disasters, especially since typhoon season in the country is fast approaching and may worsen the situation the people are in due to the pandemic.

Currently LCDE is coordinating with LGU’s and local government agencies to continue the EnCap2 project in Palo and Jaro.

The EnCap2 (Enhancing Capacities in Disaster Risk Reduction Management for More Resilient Peoples and Communities) is the second phase of a project supported by Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) from 2016 which aims to increase the preparedness of its local partners for possible calamities, involve the community in disaster mitigation and preparedness, and advocate DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduction Management) policies through working with LGU’s (Local Government Units) and the private sector.

LCDE Press Release July 2020

Serving in the first 6 months January - June of 2020 Amidst the COVID 19 Pandemic

LCDe Leyte Center for Development, a local NGO serving poor and vulnerable communities in Samar and Leyte since 1988, would like to share our achievements in the first 6 months of 2020.

From January 2020, LCDe has served 6,162 families/ 36,972 individuals, from 22 barangays in 9 municipalities from 4 provinces of North Samar, East Samar, Samar and Leyte. The aid was in the form of cash, rice and canned food. Total support if converted into cash was Php 11,990,515.00, covering responses to Typhoons Tisoy, Ursula, Ambo and COVID 19.

Specifically, 1,901 poor families who survived Typhoon Tisoy were given Php 5,000.00 each family amounting to a total of Php 9,505,000.00. These beneficiary families were from the Northern Samar towns of Palapag, Mapanas, Lapinig and Gamay.

All the beneficiaries expressed the timeliness and huge help of the aforementioned cash, rice, canned food, as they were already poor even long before these calamities affected them.

Furthermore, through CARE Philippines, LCDe was able to grant Personal Protective Equipment PPE to 200 health frontliners in Palapag and Mapanas municipalities of Northern Samar. The PPE’s were comprised of the following: face shield, face mask, gloves, protective suit. 2,244 families were also granted the following: 2 water jugs, 4 laundry bars, 4 bath soaps, 183 sachets of water purifiers. These were all part of LCDe’s COVID 19 response in communities of Northern Samar.

The Local Government units headed by the Municipal Mayors were all very supportive throughout the months of LCDe’s program implementation and humanitarian response. Each MDRRMO Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office were all out in helping LCDe achieve its goals to serve the poorest and most vulnerable.

LCDe would like to thank our main donor and partner, CARE Philippines, as well as our other partners CDRC Citizens Disaster Response Center, World Jewish Relief, Mercy Relief, Global Giving.

LCDE and CARE Begin INCREASE Project Orientations

LCDE and CARE Philippines conducted multiple project orientations in Barangays Nipa, Bagacay and Capacujan in the town of Palapag, Northern Samar throughout the 2nd week of January 2020. This is to prepare the communities for the upcoming INCREASE project that will help them recover from damages caused by Typhoon "Ursula". 

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LCDE Typhoon "Ursula" Response in Eastern Samar

LCDe served 240 families affected by Typhoon "Ursula" in Barangay, Palanas, Salcedo, Eastern Samar on Jan. 14, 2020. They received relief items composed of rice, sardines and mung beans.

However, thousands of families in the town of Salcedo and other municipalities have not yet received aid and they are in dire need of food and livelihood assistance.

These families lost much of their homes, a motorized boat with fishing gear and farm implements, which they heavily rely on, during the typhoon.

Thank you to World Jewish Relief and Citizen Disaster Response Center for the support.

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Typhoon "Ursula" Damages LCDE Office

December 25, 2019 7:30 A.M., the LCDE office in Barangay Libertad, Palo, Leyte after Typhoon "Ursula". The office including the surrounding communities suffered significant structural damages due to strong winds.

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