The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Tarlac Chapter, in partnership with the provincial government, formally launched the Network on Anticipation, Risk, Resilience, and Adaptation (NARRA) – Roots for Resilience Project at the Tarlac Provincial Capitol.

Funded by the European Union, the initiative seeks to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience programs across vulnerable provinces in the Philippines. Tarlac is the second pilot area after Eastern Samar.

Governor Christian Tell Yap and Vice Governor Estelita Aquino led the event, joined by PRC Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang, German Red Cross Office Head Meenakshinatan Ramaingompillai, Spanish Red Cross delegate Maria Pressaco, and PRC Tarlac officials and volunteers.

Priority municipalities identified for support include Anao, Camiling, Ramos, and San Manuel, all prone to flooding and other natural disasters.

Yap thanked the PRC and its partners for choosing Tarlac as a pilot site, emphasizing the province’s commitment to disaster readiness and its goal of excelling in the Gawad Kalasag Awards for resilience.

“The NARRA Project will be a huge help in developing more strategies and long-term solutions for disaster preparedness,” Yap said.

Local officials, disaster risk reduction officers, barangay leaders, and civil society representatives from the priority towns also attended the launch in support of the program.