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'Hopefully, the timely preparations and warnings by the state forecasters contributed to the fact that minimal damage was sustained,' presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte told IRIN. 'The government’s performance in past typhoons shows that we have the capability to keep doing better in terms of disaster risk management and reduction'...

In addition to the creation of the shelters themselves, the projects promote a wider understanding of how communities can best protect themselves in the future by passing on, and training carpenters in, techniques to rebuild safer shelters. In this way, communities are taking an active role in the recovery process and helping themselves to become more resilient to future disasters...

Nine years on, Saint Bernard still grapples with the challenges associated with rebuilding, reports Rappler. Although in 2006, like most other municipalities, it had no organized disaster risk reduction and management office, but two years after the tragedy, Saint Bernard was awarded a recognition of the best DRRM efforts in the country...

Research finds that climate adaptation programs that ignore the social and political context could be even worse than no adaptation at all… in fragile and vulnerable states facing the dual threat of climate change and insecurity, effective and well-targeted aid can play a key role in building resilience and shielding vulnerable households and communities from acute humanitarian crises...

President Aquino signed a US$3.73 billion, 8,000-page, eight-volume rehabilitation and recovery master plan in late October, nearly one week before the one year anniversary. The plan, among others, is to build nearly 200,000 homes that can resist storms with 250km per hour winds, and rehabilitate damaged irrigation systems, roads, bridges and sea- and airports...

'The recovery plans are based on the principle of 'build back better' by focusing on long-term, sustainable efforts to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen capacities of communities to cope with future hazard events,' Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma told reporters...