MAIN ACTIVITIES

ACF began its activities in Philippines in 2000, focusing on meeting the needs of the population affected by conflicts between the rebel group MILF and the government. Currently, its work continues to focus on assistance to populations displaced by conflicts, persons returning to their villages, and other vulnerable populations such as those affected by natural disasters.

In order to ensure the rights of these populations to have access to food, water and sanitation, and nutrition, ACF implements programs in different areas. 

Food security

• Support for displaced families
• Agricultural and productive diversification
• Distribution of fertilizers, seeds, livestock and other resources
• Training on production and management technologies
• Activities related to fishing and mariculture
• Support for popular organizations and construction of firms

Water and sanitation

• Construction and rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities
• Establishment and training of water committees
• Hygiene promotion in families and schools
• Hygiene kits distribution
• Training on environmental sanitation and disaster prevention
• Support for the integration of water and sanitation in education

Emergency intervention

• Support to agricultural activities, including distribution of rice and corn seeds, fertilizers, and transfers of technological skills for sustainable agriculture
• Support to the creation of water and sanitation points, which can be used by communities and displaced people during future disasters
• Strengthening of communities ‘capacities for sustainability of the assistance received

Nutrition

• Nutritional surveys
• Training on detection and treatment
• Development of referral systems for children

Good governance

• Conduct of informative sessions on government responsibilities, obligations and procedures for community leaders and stakeholders
• Conduct of informative sessions on legal issues in all barangays
• Provision of assistance to government departments in developing local politics
• Facilitation of participatory review of development barangay plans

Advocacy

• Conduct of awareness session on CCA/DRR and environmental issues for LGU officials and community leaders and stakeholders
• Training in negotiation and lobbying skills for community leaders
• Support of development of a national protocol on CMAM for the detection, referral and treatment of acute malnutrition
• Promotion of the need to incorporate the treatment of acute malnutrition in training packages for health workers

Cash Transfer Programming

• Diffusion of the experiences of cash transfer in emergency in the Philippines
• Provision of training and technical advices in setting up Cash Transfer Programming to the humanitarian community in the Philippines (including UN agencies, International and local NGOs, Red Cross movement, National and regional governmental agencies, private sector)
• Support of information exchange between those actors within the Cash Transfer Working Group

HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT

Since 40 years, Philippines suffers from dramatic consequences of armed confrontations between the government and various groups in different areas of the country.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is one of opposition groups. In the 60s, the Muslim minority has begun to fight for the independence of Mindanao isle, in the south. In 2008, violence has increased, after more than a decade of peace negotiations. Today, thanks to the preparation of the treaty of Agreement between the Philippine Government and the Autonomous Region of Mindanao, armed groups have put a stop to fights. In addition to the MILF, Philippine government faces the Maoist armed group NPA (New People's Army) in several regions.

The conflict led to hundreds of thousands dead. But its most dramatic consequence is the displacement of millions of people who, during these four decades, had to abandon their homes and livelihoods to confront a situation of uncertainty and vulnerability. Indeed, access to food depends on foreign aid, water supply in evacuation centers is limited, hygiene conditions are bad and these people are suffering because of not having a decent home.

The large inequalities and the extreme poverty are among the leading causes thriving on violence. Philippines are also very vulnerable to natural disasters because of their geographical location. Typhoons, storms, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and droughts are some of the most common natural disasters in the country, and cause significant loss in lives, material and economic.