MANILA, Philippines -- The government in partnership with international development bodies launched on Thursday a P100-million program to promote the reduction of disaster risk and adaptation to climate change in decision-making among local governments.

Spurred by the National Economic and Development Authority, Australian Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Program, the launch followed the roll-out of post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA).

The PDNA is a joint effort among various government agencies -- including the NEDA -- and the World Bank, UN, Asian Development Bank and European Commission.

The project called "Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR/CCA)" is aimed at bringing into the mainstream of local decision making and planning processes the defense against the hazardous impacts of climate change such as extended droughts and floods.

The NEDA noted that the DRR/CCA project came in the aftermath of massive flooding in Metro Manila and Northern Luzon due to storm "Ondoy" and typhoon "Pepeng."

Damage from the two cyclones are currently placed at P20 billion worth of crops and infrastructure. The storm and the typhoon also forced affected people to leave their homes and live in evacuation centers.

"It is in this context that we need to take stock of what went wrong with our disaster preparedness and mitigation programs." said Augusto B. Santos, NEDA acting director general.

Santos added that the project, with a total budget of Australian $2.5 million, was also aimed at bringing awareness and understanding of DRR/CCA to the community level, incorporating it into local level land-use and development plans.

"The project will promote a medium- to long-term strategy to rebuild the affected areas into stronger and more resilient communities, while frontline agencies and local government units currently focus on the quick recovery of these areas," he said.

"We hope to stir action in everyone, not only among those directly involved in disaster management or among scientists," Santos said.

The PDNA, on the other hand, is meant to determine the extent of damage and loss as well as identify measures for recovery and reconstruction.

Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves said in a statement the PDNA process would help the government identify needs, policy gaps, and resources, as well as appropriate programs and interventions to better prepare the country for future calamities.

The finance chief said results of the PDNA would be presented to the government the last week of November.

Teves, who also co-chairs the newly formed Public-Private Reconstruction Commission, had requested the World Bank, to take the lead in coordinating the implementation of the PDNA, in close cooperation with government agencies and other development partners.

"The huge tasks at hand both in terms of short-term recovery and long-term reconstruction demand no less than a concerted response from all sectors of society and the global community," he said.

"The PDNA will serve as a framework by which the country could mobilize greater support from the broader global community for recovery and reconstruction," said Bert Hofman, WB country director for the Philippines.

"The World Bank is honored to coordinate this effort as it is extremely important for the country to recover as soon as possible and alleviate the conditions of the poor who were the most affected by these calamities," Hofman added.