Introduction
Known then as the Montanosa Relief and Rehabilitation Foundation Services Incorporated or MRRS, Inc., the Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services (CDRDS) of today was born in the aftermath of the June 1987 Earthquake which brought disaster to scores of villages in three provinces of the Cordillera Region of Northern Luzon, here in the Philippines.
In response to the disaster and to government inaction, several non-government and cause-oriented organization went on a fact finding and relief mission to the affected areas.
They assessed the impact of the earthquake and extended immediate assistance. Shortly afterwards, they resolved to set up a regular mechanism for disaster response in the Cordillera. This started the process, which led to the formation of the CDRDS (then MRRS).
CDRDS has served more than two decades now. An evaluation, the summing up and drawing of lesson in service has merited a reorganization and expansion of the program. Thus, adopting a scope of work that is not only disaster response but a more holistic community development service and also renaming it the CDRDS.
CDRDS continues to extend its services to the communities of the cordillera provinces: Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet and the City of Baguio.