Agusan Norte pioneers on Local Resilience Index
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The province of Agusan del Norte has made history as the first in the Philippines to launch a Local Resilience Index (LRI).
The LRI is a strategic and data-driven framework designed to equip local government units (LGUs) with the tools to measure, understand, and strengthen their capacity to withstand and recover from shocks and hazards.
More than just a planning tool, the Agusan del Norte LRI serves as a performance guide for LGUs. It empowers the governors, mayors, and local leaders to identify gaps in disaster preparedness, prioritize interventions, and make evidence-based decisions. With localized and science-based data, LGUs are now better positioned to craft responsive policies, allocate resources effectively, and lead with foresight during times of crisis.
Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante underscored that the LRI reflects the provincial government’s unwavering commitment to safety and resilience. “We want to make sure that Agusanons are safe, and the LRI is one tool to realize this priority. By providing LGUs with localized and science-based data, we ensure that resilience-building efforts are practical and effective.”
As the first province to institutionalize the LRI, Agusan del Norte sets the bar for resilience-building in the country. The framework enables LGUs to strengthen accountability by tracking resilience progress and outcomes in their locality; make smarter investments by directing funds to urgent and high-impact projects; build stronger partnerships with communities, the national government, and development partners through transparent and evidence-based planning; and lead with confidence during disasters and with decisions backed by accurate and localized data.
The province’s LRI was developed through a co-designing workshop led by the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI), producing a framework that is both localized and science-based. A technical working group was created to secure institutional ownership and ensure alignment with the Philippine Resilience Index (PRI) under the United Nations Development Programme- Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (UNDP-SHIELD) Programme.
Pilot testing was conducted in the municipality of Las Nieves and it validated the index’s practicality, identifying resilience gaps and highlighting the importance of independent evaluation. Also, to guarantee unbiased assessment, the province partnered with Caraga State University (CSU) in Butian City through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), ensuring sustained research and technical expertise.
Ahead of the province-wide rollout, a pre-orientation for 11 partner LGUs was held, presenting the 195 indicators and assessment procedures. This equipped LGUs with the knowledge to apply the index in their planning and governance systems.
The launching ceremony on Sept. 5 concluded with a commitment signing led by Gov. Amante, CSU President Rolyn C. Daguil, and local chief executives from the 11 LGUs. Their united pledge reflects a shared vision for evidence-based governance and disaster preparedness.
Agusan del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) Officer Erma Suyo described the LRI as both a celebration and a call to action for a collective stride toward a more resilient Agusanon community.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Caraga Director Maria Loisella E. Lucino commended the governor’s leadership, emphasizing the pioneering nature of the initiative, “Agusan del Norte is the first in the country to establish and launch a localized resilience index, setting an example for other provinces to follow.”
With the LRI now in place, Agusan del Norte positions itself as a trailblazer in disaster preparedness and resilience-building, offering a model for the entire nation and reaffirming its commitment to protect lives, strengthen communities, and lead with foresight in the face of disasters. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)