On September 30, Czech Republic Humanitarian Aid concluded a successful project with Build Change and its nonprofit partners to improve the local capacity of shelter response programs following Typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong). The project worth of 7,7 mil. PHP, which started in December 2018, also worked directly with local communities to strengthen or rebuild storm-damaged houses due to Typhoon Mangkhut (Ompong) which struck the Philippines in September 2018. It was responsible for at least 127 fatalities and US$627 million in property losses, making it the fourth costliest Philippine typhoon of all time. 

Build Change worked in Cagayan and Benguet Provinces on a shelter repair program to help 700 households and 200 builders.  In Kalinga and Apayao Provinces, the focus of Build Change’s assistance was on the quality new construction.  Overall, the project resulted in over 800 safer buildings, more than 4,000 safer people, at least 250 new jobs, and 1,017 people directly trained in resilient building techniques. 

Further, the outcome of the project was the creation of a mobile application by Build Change for Google Play store called TIBAY BALAY. It helps homeowners in the Philippines to self-assess their homes and determine how to fix them before the next disaster strikes.  The application was unveiled at an event on September 5, 2019 which was attended by Jana Peterková, the Deputy Head of Mission of the Czech Embassy in Manila.   

According to H.E. Jana Šedivá, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Philippines, “The frequency of typhoons and other disasters in the Philippines requires that homeowners, their communities, and the nonprofits that support them are all trained in resilient building.  This project has rebuilt affected communities, and taught construction techniques that will prevent unnecessary loss of life and property in the future.” 

Build Change Country Director for the Philippines Kate Landry agrees. “With the creation of the new mobile app Tibay Balay, any homeowner can quickly assess their house and understand what needs to be done to keep their family and property safe. It is our hope that these homeowners who lost so much in Mangkhut (Ompong) can restart their lives knowing their homes are safe.”

Foreign humanitarian assistance is an integral part of the Czech Republic's foreign policy. It aims to prevent loss of life and injury, to alleviate suffering and to restore basic living conditions of people after an emergency, as well as to mitigate long-lasting consequences of emergencies and to prevent their occurrence and negative consequences.

In the past years, the Czech Republic Embassy also provided humanitarian assistance e.g. to those who were greatly affected by Typhoon Nina in Bikol region in 2016 or by typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Samar in 2014.

Build Change (@BuildChange) prevents loss of life and property in earthquakes and windstorms.  Because of Build Change’s efforts to strengthen buildings over the past 15 years, 332,000 people are living and learning in safer homes and schools.  Now in 18 countries, Build Change’s primary focus has expanded from post-disaster to prevention in order to combat the crisis of substandard housing, which according to the World Bank will impact an estimated 3 billion people by 2030.