After being a national finalist for four years, Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits, Inc. was named as the best civil society organization in the Philippines during the national awarding ceremony of the 21st Gawad KALASAG held at the Philippine International Convention Center on December 6, 2019.
For this year, EcoWEB has been adjudged by the National Selection Committee (NSC) as one of the champions in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) search for excellence in disaster risk reduction management and humanitarian assistance for the year 2019, specifically with its proactive programs and project implementations in disaster-affected and vulnerable communities in the Philippines.
The award highlighted the organization’s valuable efforts in empowering communities through different interventions that promote the value of locally-led responses and long-term actions for further development and improvement of the communities and its people. With this, the award has acknowledged EcoWEB’s drive in strengthening the Survivor and Community-Led Response (sclr) to crisis, as an innovative approach in responding to humanitarian crisis.
“I am happy that EcoWEB has been recognized as the best civil society organization in the Philippines. More than that, I am more happy that the #SurvivorAndCommunityLedResponse approach that recognized the capacity of the communities affected by disasters to help themselves is being recognized nationally. Resilience is indeed community efforts and more possible through the whole nation and society approach.” said Regina Antequisa, Executive Director of EcoWEB.
As EcoWEB highlighted its contributions and innovations during the validation phases, the approach has definitely reached the entirety of its operational areas benefiting various actors especially the crisis affected communities to decide for their own response and recovery. Through this, projects of the whole year corners the continuous undertaking of the organization to lean more on the development of knowledge and mindset, and improvement of social and financial conditions of its beneficiaries.
In 2019, EcoWEB’s endeavors have reached various communities and tapped different stakeholders and agencies in developing action plans to promote sustainability and inclusivity at any range. Experiences of projects implemented in Marawi City especially in assisting internally displaced individuals with capacity building, livelihood and cash assistance and community improvement programs have gained this award a major leap.
Also, the implementation of improved community-based DRRM in the target municipalities in Lanao del Norte and Eastern Samar has gained its appreciation to exceed the manner of consciousness among people and establishing better attitudes in responding and mitigating or preventing disasters. Lastly, the high point of the organization to make sure that its values and programs are widely delivered, it also handed support to disaster-affected communities in Itogon, Benguet. The whole year also cornered having in-depth studies on DRR and CCA frameworks, innovating new technology and models, co-designing and dissemination manual, modules and publication, and conducted various activities to reach the marginalized and prioritized vulnerable sectors.
The award definitely symbolizes the entirety of the organization’s achievement in complementing with the government’s action and supplementing efforts on the ground. Through participative processes and learning-by-doing approach in influencing long-term recovery and resilience have uplifted EcoWEB and its working force to inspire collective actions and transform lives.
The appreciation of having this award as it was indicated, EcoWEB is truly cognizant in adopting a participatory and consultative approach in capacitating communities to become disaster-resilient while promoting social unity and value effective local advocacy, lobbying and building partnerships with agencies and foreign funders and stakeholders.
NDRRMC Chairperson and Secretary of National Defense, Delfin N. Lorenzana graced the event and emphasizes the contributions of different sectors and organization, and conveyed the splendid efforts of various humanitarian assistance in safeguarding the people and equipping them the skills to sway away from hazards and disasters.
“More than the prestige and incentives, the very essence of Gawad KALASAG is the ultimate gift of preparedness and resilience to the communities that makes everyone a winner. To all the awardees, congratulations for a job well done. May you continue to have the sense of responsibility, enthusiasm, and exemplary leadership. I hope that you will not only continue supporting the activities, but more importantly, everyone should embrace our objective that disaster preparedness is way of life.” he said.
Over 150 DRRM and CCA advocates and sectors participated in the national search with the mindset of striving for greatness and continuously imparting knowledge and capacities to the communities in building resilience and adjusting to the systems of improving DRRM and CCA.
Our efforts as a developmental organization and contributions in implementing programs and projects for our communities to be climate change adaptive and disaster-resilient have been recognized. This is also a milestone for the organization as our commitment to localisation and to the communities we serve have enabled us to help the survivors take the lead in their own responses.
During the awarding, EcoWEB was represented by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Atty. Omer Pacilan; Executive Director, Regina Antequisa and Communications Officer, Jose EG Michael Lacre.
We dedicate this award to all of those individuals, groups and organizations who supported us all throughout these years that we continue to build partnerships and empower communities. To our communities and beneficiaries, you have given a big part of this recognition and as we continue to provide assistance for your recovery, we will be at our best to give what needs to be supported. Also, to the forward-looking donors and funders who trusted us and handed us full financial and capacity support, this award is greatly dedicated. Lastly, to the amazing working force and driven staff of EcoWEB, all the efforts and sacrifices that we shared together, are immensely appreciated as this award is our victory!
#SurvivorAndCommunityLedResponse #GK2019 #GawadKalasag21 #EcoWEB
