The International Labour Organization (ILO), together with the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Save the Children Philippines, launched the UK Department for International Development (DFID)-funded project, “Emergency and recovery support to restart livelihoods, income generation and food self-sufficiency and to build the resilience of small scale rice-and corn-based farming communities in Leyte province of Region VIII severely affected by Typhoon Haiyan”, on 21 March 2014 in Ormoc City.

The project was designed to be aligned with and support the response and recovery plan of government counterparts, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Municipalities of Kananga, Ormoc City, Villaba and San Isidro. Its overall objective was to contribute to an increase in employability and livelihood opportunities of poor and vulnerable rice and corn farming households.

The ILO component of the project included Emergency Employment (EE) creation through debris clearing, agricultural land clearing and de-silting of irrigation canals; employment created through land preparation for Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT); and Skills Training (ST) in non-agricultural economic activities.

In attendance during the launch were Jonathan Price (International Labour Organization), Ajambar Rai (Food and Agriculture Organization), Alberto Aduna (Food and Agriculture Organization), Tom Howell (Save the Children), Jose Estuar (Save the Children), Exequiel Sarcauga (Department of Labor and Employment), and Bernadette San Juan (Department of Agriculture), all of whom signed a ceremonial joint implementation plan.

Representatives of partners International Labour Organization (ILO), Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), Save the Children (SC), and various government agencies gather in Ormoc City on 21 March 2014 to launch the UK Department for International Development (DFID)-funded project, “Emergency and recovery support to restart livelihoods, income generation and food self-sufficiency and to build the resilience of small scale rice-and corn-based farming communities in Leyte province of Region VIII severely affected by Typhoon Haiyan”.

Jonathan Price (chief Technical Adviser, ILO) signs a ceremonial project integrated work plan to express the ILO’s commitment to the DFID-backed project. Representatives from FAO, SC, and participating government agencies also affixed their signatures to indicate their support of the project, “Emergency and recovery support to restart livelihoods, income generation and food self-sufficiency and to build the resilience of small scale rice-and corn-based farming communities in Leyte province of Region VIII severely affected by Typhoon Haiyan”.