Oxfam's work in the Philippines in depth

In the Philippines, Oxfam's focus is on empowering poor women, sustainable livelihoods, humanitarian assistance and protection, conflict resolution, and disaster preparedness.

The context

The Philippines, because of its geography and location, is the most disaster-prone country in East Asia. Natural disasters and conflict are almost constant threats to people's lives and livelihoods.

Sitting on both the seismic ‘ring of fire’ and within the Asian typhoon belt make floods, earthquakes, landslides and typhoons common in teh Philippines.  The impacts are particularly severe on poor people who are most likely to live in vulnerable areas and lack the resources to build any kind of protection. 

Mindanao, the southern region of Philippines, remains one of the poorest regions in the country despite the region’s rich natural resource and agriculture.  It has experienced nearly 40 years of fighting between government troops and Muslims seeking independence which has displaced approximately two million people.  The ongoing conflict has stopped the region and its people from attaining its full development and economic potential.

High rates of population growth, expanding human settlements, and the increasing privatisation of land have all exacerbated resource problems. The increasing severity of natural disasters has meant that the environment and the communities that depend upon it have little time to recover and rejuvenate.

Poor women, especially Muslim and indigenous women, are often excluded from leadership positions and are not recognised for their role and contribution in agriculture and fisheries. 

How is Oxfam helping?

Oxfam began its work in the Philippines in 1987 with a programme on sustainable livelihoods, which over the years has developed holistically. We influenced the development of Community-based Coastal Resource Management and continue to work on the fishery sector.  We support civil society organisations and produce policies on areas of concern, such as disaster management and access to affordable medicine, providing a framework for people to have a say in the circumstances and policies that affect them.

Poor women at the heart of what we do

We believe that poor women are an economic force and active actors whose hidden powers could be unlocked as a catalyst for social change.  Oxfam works with women, particularly in Mindanao, to gain security and livelihoods, protect their rights, and increase their voice and participation in decision making and peace building process.

We work with partners to build the capacity of women in agriculture and improve women’s access to market.  We promote poor women’s role, contribution, and success in agriculture, fisheries, and humanitarian actions in order to challenge dominant ideas and practices that marginalise them from positions of leadership.

Sustainable livelihoods

Fishing communities are often made up of poor farmers who head to the coast after finding themselves unable to make a living off the land. It is estimated that there are about one million working fishers in the Philippines, with some four to five million dependents.

We have worked in the area of fisheries development since the late 1980s, supporting fishing communities in improving their technology with the aim of securing their right to a sustainable source of food and income. We support their attempts to be recognised by government with a say in policies that affect their lives and livelihoods.

Disaster management and emergency response

We promote community-based disaster management programmes that equip communities with the knowledge and skills to prepare for, cope with, and mitigate the effects of natural or human-made disasters.

In Central Mindanao, where civilians are caught under ongoing conflict, Oxfam provides shelters, health care and education facilities for evacuees while advocating for humanitarian protection for civilians in times of war.  We work with partner organisations to support the efforts of communities to rebuild their lives when people return to their homes.

We lobby local and national governments to prioritise disaster risk reduction and ensure that development plans do not exacerbate disaster risks.

 

Last updated: November 2009