In the coastal region of Cebu Province, Philippines, a group of people face multiple challenges: living with disabilities amid the threat of increasingly frequent disasters caused by climate change. Through a project supported by ASB and implemented by A2D since 2023, a transformative initiative has been launched that aims to strengthen climate and disaster resilience in these communities by placing persons with disabilities as key actors, not merely as beneficiaries or groups that need assistance, but as agents of change who lead their own community resilience efforts.
The main focus of this project is on strengthening the institutional and economic capacity of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). One of the main challenges faced by OPDs is that they remain largely informal groups without a clear legal status, as many administrators lack a Taxpayer Identification Number. This is a significant barrier for them in obtaining official funding or engaging with the government. Through an intensive mentoring process, the ten OPDs completed all the legal requirements. This ranged from internal ratification to obtaining official permits from national authorities such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). The results were remarkable: 100% of the OPDs are now legally recognised by the local village government, an important foundation for opening up access and participation.
The independence of OPDs does not end at legality, but is strengthened through economic development. This project trained 636 OPD members, far exceeding the target set for business skills, financial literacy, and social enterprise management. The process was rigorous, requiring each OPD to develop and defend their business proposal before a panel of experts. This approach ensured that the business ideas they developed were truly mature and viable. This was proven when several OPDs successfully submitted proposals and obtained funding from local organisations independently, armed with the skills they had acquired. Once the proposals were approved, the OPDs could proceed to the pre-operational stage, where they were guided through key preparations, including opening an organisational bank account, conducting market surveys, and procuring raw materials for their businesses. All these steps were taken to ensure that the social enterprises they ran were not only temporary but had stable and sustainable sources of income. The ability to run their own businesses allows them to finance their organisational activities and humanitarian initiatives without always relying on donors.
Organisational strengthening is clearly reflected in their internal capacity. Initially, Community Coordinators (COs) led most of the monthly meetings. However, through regular coaching and mentoring sessions (averaging eight sessions per OPD per year), OPD leaders now can organise their own meetings, handle membership renewals, and maintain financial records independently. This shift from dependence to independence is central to institutional success, transforming them into equal partners rather than passive recipients of aid.
The project conducted 48 outreach activities for officials and the community, successfully increasing awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities. The political impact was notable: OPDs started to be recognised as official members of the Village Development Council. Even the OPDs’ proposal to allocate a special budget for persons with disabilities (1% of village funds) to improve their business locations was approved. A landmark achievement was the issuance of a regional regulation in Lapu-Lapu City that fully adopted the Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR) approach. Technically, this project not only enhanced disaster plans (10 villages and 4 cities/districts now have inclusive DRRM plans), but also boosted community involvement. More than 2,800 people have taken part in disaster training and simulations, ensuring their safety during critical moments.
To ensure sustainability, this project has trained 96 people, including persons with disabilities, to become inclusive trainers who spread DiDRR knowledge in their communities. They are the custodians of knowledge and ensure that inclusive practices continue. The sustainability of this project is supported by a solid foundation of OPD legality, ongoing efforts, and, most importantly, local regulations that ensure the continued recognition of the role of persons with disabilities.
In essence, this initiative in Cebu proves that persons with disabilities are the most effective key actors in building resilient, equitable communities that are ready to face future challenges.
The project was jointly implemented by ASB South and Southeast Asia and A2D Project—Research Group for Alternatives to Development, with financial support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany.
