This report contains the highlights and stories from the Foundation’s disaster risk reduction and management initiatives in 2020.

Vanuatu is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is highly susceptible to natural hazards, such as floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and cyclones.[1] In April 2020, Tropical Cyclone Harold, which is the most powerful storm to hit Vanuatu in the last two years since Cyclone Pam in 2015, ravaged Vanuatu’s islands and caused significant damage to the communities while the country was on COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Thousands of families were severely affected and displaced, buildings were damaged and flattened cutting off electricity and water. Through Vanuatu’s government combined efforts and engagement with several private sector members, the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council (VBRC) successfully implemented its response and recovery plans throughout the affected islands.

This study outlines how the PDRF Emergency Operations Center operates during multiple disaster scenarios. This also illustrates the importance of information and data management response. PDRF acknowledges the generous support from the Connecting Business Initiative (CBi) for the development of this case study.

This issue features the PDRF Network’s efforts and activities from January to March 2021. A year after the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, new variants of the virus have been detected in over 100 countries, including the Philippines, and found to be more contagious than the original variant, according to research. As the Philippines began its vaccination program, the government continues to impose community quarantine and urge the public to observe minimum health and safety measures to further control the increase of COVID-19 cases. The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and the private sector are working closely with the government, institutions, civil society organizations, and humanitarian groups to further strengthen the implementation of the vaccination program and to increase public uptake through various communication campaigns. 

PDRF continues to adjust its plans and programs as the COVID-19 pandemic extends to the end of 2020.  Multi-hazard plans have been developed ahead of the typhoon season to guide the Foundation for a scenario of a strong typhoon or earthquake during a pandemic. This issue features the PDRF Network’s efforts and activities from July to December 2020.

The PDRF Resilience Bulletin is the official newsletter of the Foundation. Volume 3 Issue 1 features highlights from January to June 2020.

PDRF’s 2019 Annual Report contains the highlights and stories from the Foundation’s disaster risk reduction and management initiatives in the year 2019.

PDRF Resilience Bulletin is the official quarterly newsletter of the Foundation. Issue Issue 9 features highlights from July to December 2019.

PDRF Resilience Bulletin is the official quarterly newsletter of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation. Issue 8 contains highlights of the second quarter of 2019.