CNDR

The Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR) is a network of business groups, associations, corporations and corporate foundations whose objective is to rationalize and institutionalize disaster risk management efforts of the business community.

CNDR started in 1990 as a group coordinating the responses of the business sector for the Luzon earthquake. Since then, it has been CNDR’s institutional role to mobilize the sector for disaster response. CNDR’s disaster response program include disaster monitoring, volunteer mobilization during emergencies, formation of disaster volunteer teams among member organizations, publication of emergency response guidelines, systematization of emergency response, conduct of donors’ forum and emergency situation briefing, and provision of food and non-food relief items. CNDR also provides technical assistance to members who have separate disaster response initiatives.

It is noteworthy, however, that after almost two decades, the network has evolved into an institution rendering services not only for community disaster response but for the whole range of disaster risk  management work that includes disaster preparedness and rehabilitation.

CNDR embarked on various community-based disasters preparedness projects. Among these are:  USAID funded project “BAYANIHAN: Building Multi-Sectoral Partnerships for Sustainable Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness,” the Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Project in Dingalan, Aurora, and Phases 1 and 2 of ACCORD which stands for Strengthening Assets and Capacities of Communities and Local Governments for Resilience to Disasters, a community-based disaster risk management project funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) through the Fifth Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO) Action Plan for Southeast Asia, and CARE Netherlands.

Through these community-based disaster preparedness projects, strategies that enhance the capacities of the target communities to respond to disasters and reduce their vulnerabilities were supported.  Strengthening the institutional capacity of local government units (LGUs) to engage in Community-based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) activities and institutionalizing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) through local legislative plans and agenda were undertaken.  Some of the projects likewise focused on strengthening the relationship between the corporate and public sectors for CBDRM and emergency preparedness.

CNDR is also managing two permanent resettlement sites in Pampanga that provides 708 housing units for the affected families of the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. The Resettlement Assistance Project (RAP) also undertakes community projects most recent of which are street lighting, donation of road lots, and tile setting of Buensuceso chapel.

Apart from providing services to communities affected by disasters, CNDR’s thrusts also include providing service to the business sector by assisting its members in the development of appropriate disaster response programs for implementation and providing venues to raise business sector awareness on disaster preparedness.

CNDR also facilitates private sector support in community-based disaster risk management activities by promoting Public-Private Sector partnership in disaster risk reduction.

Towards these ends, CNDR will continue to mobilize the sector envisioning empowered communities, prepared for, and able to cope with, disasters.