In line with the goal of forming a National DRRM CSO Constituency, the four civil society representatives in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDDRMC) namely the Ateneo de Manila University–School of Government (ADMU), World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF), Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP), and Disaster Risk Reduction Network (DRRNet Philippines) held a National CSO Summit with the theme “Valuing a National DRRM CSO Constituency” last 26-27 September 2013 at the Sequoia Hotel, Quezon City.

It was envisioned that this constituency would be an organized body that puts forth a CSO agenda reflective of the consolidated DRRM aspirations and goals of DRRM CSOs across all regions of the country. This constituency also aimed to raise issues of DRRM practitioners at the local levels to the national level.

This National DRRM CSO Summit initiated the formation of the DRRM CSO Constituency, ultimately developing it into an organized and functioning body. The National Summit opened the venue for meeting of the members of the broad network of DRR practitioners, learn the issues being raised at national and regional levels, share good practices and resources in DRRM, and become part of the organized National DRRM CSO Constituency.

As a not-for-profit organization working in the field of disaster risk reduction, the OML Center, represented by Luigi Toda, participated in the said summit, in the hope to introduce and establish its role in the civil society and strengthen its partnership with non-government organizations, people’s organizations, academic and research institutions, and other civil society organizations working in DRRM.