Christian Aid and disaster risk reduction

by Sarah Moss, Disaster Risk Reduction Unit Manager at Christian Aid.

Disasters resulting from natural hazards, such as droughts, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and cyclones, are widespread in many developing countries where Christian Aid partners work, and are identified as a major threat to sustainable development and poverty reduction. This is set to worsen as the frequency and intensity of disasters increase due to the effects of climate change, chronic poverty and increasing population pressure. Christian Aid has been involved in many disaster responses – providing relief and assistance to affected communities after disaster strikes. However, like many others we recognise the importance of trying to do more to prevent these humanitarian situations happening on such a vast scale. There are many ways to help poor families protect their lives and ways of living in the face of such risk – this is what disaster risk reduction (DRR) is all about.

Community-based disaster risk reduction

Christian Aid and its partners have worked for many years on projects rooted in the community, which aim to manage emergencies effectively and reduce these communities’ vulnerability to future disasters. These projects are often referred to as community-based or community-centred DDR.

The benefits of inclusive community-based disaster risk reduction projects are generally acknowledged in the development and humanitarian fields. Communities themselves understand their local context and their people, and are best placed to act when something happens, to save lives and livelihoods, often searching for and rescuing people before outside help arrives, and passing on local knowledge and techniques to adapt their ways of life to circumvent major risks and hazards. Christian Aid and its partner organisations have supported many successful community-based DRR initiatives over the past ten years. Whilst these have had enormous benefits for the communities concerned, especially in the face of devastating disasters and the complacency of governments, over the past few years we have also noted the limitations of this approach when trying to meet the global development challenge presented by disasters, in particular climate change.

Meeting the global development challenge

We have become more aware of the limitations of what can be accomplished when operating on a very local scale. Despite many positive outcomes from community-centred DRR, we are less sure about how to scale-up these successful risk reduction activities to find lasting ways to help more people and communities at risk. (The term ‘scaling-up’ is taken here to mean increasing the size, coverage and long-term effectiveness of DRR activities, so as to overcome the overarching challenge posed by disaster risk to developing countries, and achieving municipal and national results, rather than simple and singular project objectives.) Replicating good practice to meet the needs of more and more people and contribute to safer societies and a safer world presents a major challenge, calling for a holistic, multi-sector approach.

The role of government and civil society

The root causes of people’s vulnerability to disasters can often be found in national and global political, social and economic structures and trends: weak planning and building codes, inadequate policies governing civil protection and disaster response, inadequate international policies on greenhouse gas reduction and climate change, a lack of national welfare system or safety nets, indebtedness and aid dependency. Therefore, over the long term ensuring that people’s lives and livelihoods are resilient to disaster involves much more than community-based work: it involves creating a supportive political and legislative environment in which good initiatives can thrive, be sustained and be multiplied. It involves a multi-sector and multi-level approach, as laid out in the UN Hyogo Framework for Action, and the cooperation of national and international bodies. But this needs to be a participative process which involves civil society as much as government – all citizens have a role to play, and individuals can take responsibility for different actions. In short, the sustainable scale-up of community-centred DRR work depends on governments and civil society working together. This inclusive approach has become central to Christian Aid’s DRR work with local partners through the ‘Building Disaster Resilient Communities Project’, funded by DFID.

Good practice in disaster risk reduction

Over the past decade, we have learned through experience that the most effective DRR projects meet the following criteria:

1. They are based on a thorough analysis of the particular risk and vulnerability environment, and an understanding of the people affected.

2. They encourage civil society and governance actors to participate in the analysis of risk, so that DRR activities ensure that the needs of citizens are acknowledged and addressed fairly.

3. They aim to develop stronger links between community-centred and government- led DRR initiatives.

4. They attempt to bridge the gaps between micro, meso and macro-level DRR activities in terms of transfer of information, assigning responsibility, funding and allocating resources.

5. They are set up to encourage a facilitating environment to promote sustainability, scale-up and the replication of good practice.

6. They promote greater interaction and participation between community members and governing authorities, are linked to the bigger picture, are resourced appropriately and are implemented effectively.

The role of NGOs

NGOs should focus on the longer-term goal of municipal and national results rather than simple and singular project objectives or internal organisational goals, which have often been the focus in the past. This might involve distinct project timelines, but should also fit into a long-term plan which is congruent with local wishes, and in line with local visions for the future. It is important to see DRR as a long-term process that requires sustained attention, even if resources, training and skills requirements may change over time.

NGOs can support this aim in the following ways:

• provide training and awareness raising of the issues;

• develop collaborative strategies to promote scale-up and the replication of good practice;

• support the rolling out of the Hyogo Framework;

• raise the profile of DRR as a policy and advocacy concern, with the aim of creating a favourable environment for sustainable DRR (restructuring processes and reforming institutions and legislation);

• aim to increase the resources deployed and the range of actors working for the common goal of risk reduction;

• provide facilitation or technical advice and assistance where requested;

• help to link donor funding for DRR with good-practice initiatives; and

• promote coherent and sustainable solutions to disasters.

Community-led policy monitoring

One way to encourage governance actors to acknowledge the needs of their citizens is through community-led policy monitoring (CPM). In CPM, communities are at the centre of the action – identifying needs and action plans, and challenging the government to provide the right enabling environment and resources for citizens to reduce their risk to disaster.

In early 2007, Christian Aid, CAFOD and Trocaire released a joint publication entitled Monitoring Government Policies: A Toolkit for Civil Organisations in Africa. This is a practical tool to help local organisations plan how they can monitor different government policies. Although written for use in Africa, the majority of the toolkit contains generic information that could be used by any civil society group seeking advice on how to undertake policy monitoring.

With reference to this tool kit and the Hyogo Framework for Action, Christian Aid has produced a series of short guidance notes to help civil society organisations and communities to better monitor, influence and secure commitment to the Hyogo Framework at the local level by:

• documenting and analysing the different approaches and tools for community-led policy monitoring that will be needed to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action; and

• making specific recommendations for achieving effective and successful policy monitoring and mainstreaming of DRR at a local level, based on lessons learnt from existing policy monitoring initiatives and case studies.

Rapid Response and Assessment Team

The concept of a Rapid Response and Assessment Team was an identified need during the Emergency Response Management Training in May 2007 and participated in by Christian Aid partners. The aim was to set up a system and a means for emergency response assistance among CA partners.

The Rapid Response and Assessment Team seeks to assist partners in need during occurrences of disasters by providing rapid assessment assistance and enabling partnerships and capacities for setting up and actual conduct of relief operations.

Some CA partners saw value of the rapid response and assessment teams at the local level and used the knowledge they gained to help develop local rapid response and assessment teams or quick response teams.

This system of emergency assistance among partners proved to be most useful during the Typhoon Reming (Bicol region), Typhoon Fengshen (Visayas and MIMAROPA – Sibuyan Island) disasters and Humanitarian Crisis in Mindanao. Partners from other regions came to the assistance of organizations who needed help particularly in enhancing assessments and setting up relief operations

Featured Photo: Maila Quiring of Coastal Core Sorsogon providing CARRAT assistance to LRC and Sibuyan Isle during the Typhoon Fengshen Emergency in Sibuyan Island, Romblon, Philippines.

The BDRC Learning Circle

Training on Emergency Assessment and Response Planning

Rigorous Module Preparation for DRR Course

10-day Intensive DRR Course for Community Practitioners

Engagement with government-lead agencies and negotiators on climate risks and climate change.

Collaboration on Climate Risk Assessments

Policy Advocacy (SNAP and the DRM Bill)

Collaboration in the Pilot Project Implementation (Case of SAM Ipil and PhilRice)

Background

•Came about as response to need expressed by partners working with disaster-stricken communities

•Mounting demand for disaster response and preparedness as a result of more frequent and more intense disasters

•Non-DMP partners having no choice but to respond


Evolution of the BDRC Learning Circle

I. Meeting of Christian Aid Partners working in Disaster-Prone Areas

Practical and humble intentions:
–Compare notes and learn from each other
–Create mutual support mechanism: joint rapid disaster assessment teams

Identification of further knowledge and skills gaps

Process led to recognition of need to link up with scientific/research/technology institutions


II. Community-Based Organizations Meet Scientific and Research Organizations on Disaster

Leveling-off understanding on disaster risk reduction

Validation of information

Sharing each others needs

Identification of policy issues

Planning joint activities


III. Regular BDRC Learning Circle Sessions

The Learning Circle meets at least twice a year. However, because of jointly planned activities, they are actually able to meet more often.

Now formed clusters for deepening exchange and learning around specialized DRR issues: urban, coastal.

Documentation Project

BDRC Pilot Project 2008-2009: UPSWCD
(University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines)

Project Background

This documentation project is being proposed by the Department of CommunityDevelopment (DCD) as a member of the Learning Circle formed under the BDRC programme of Christian Aid. It is seen as part of the BDRC programme Year 2: The Learning Process, particularly in the process of documenting the community learning processes.

By carrying out the Case Study Writing/Documentation project, the DCD’s specific contribution as an academic organization is to facilitate and enhance the NGOs’ capacity to document their project experiences and to cull out lessons from the partner NGOs’ experiences which can be used for advocacy and theory building.


Project Objectives

General Objective

To document the processes and experiences of Christian Aid partners in their implementation of pilot projects on building disaster resilient communities in different settings (e.g. coastal, urban, terrestrial) in order to draw and disseminate lessons in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) among NGOs, POs, government agencies and development and humanitarian agencies.


Specific Objectives

1. To document, assess and synthesize the methods, strategies and approaches used in DRR in various communities, community development and project settings (e.g., coastal, urban, terrestrial, etc.)
2. To draw out significant concepts, principles, indicators and guidelines on building disaster resilient communities that is grounded on Community Development (CD) perspectives as well as the practical experiences of communities and NGOs
3. To assist NGO partners in determining the appropriateness of indicators used in monitoring and assessing the methods, strategies and approaches in implementing their pilot projects on building disaster resilient communities
4. To prepare learning materials for use in the training of fieldworkers, researchers and grassroots organizations involved in CD and DRR
5. To identify possible areas of collaboration to help strengthen existing DRR and CD programs and initiatives in the Philippines and the region


Project Design

Proposed Design

In this proposed partnership with Christian Aid and its partner NGOs, the Department of Community Development (DCD) faculty envisions the following process:

1. Review of documents - Collection of project proposals, reports, and other documents from Christian Aid and partners

2. Documentation workshop - to develop a shared framework and guidelines for the Case Studies (e.g., on the nature, objectives, target audience, main content and timeframe). The workshop will also provide inputs and exercises to develop/enhance basic research and documentation skills of the case study writers. This workshop will be attended by the Lead Writers who will be contracted/assigned by respective NGO partners. To be designed based on consultation with representatives of CA and NGO partners, the target outputs of the workshop will be a working outline of the case studies and a workplan for completing them.

3. Mentoring and consultation field visits – Selected case study writer/s will be assigned with faculty mentors cum editorial advisers who will assist in the completion of the case studies. While the NGO representatives will be the main writer/s, the faculty mentor will provide editorial input and general advice to help ensure that the objectives of the project are met.
4. Email/Online Discussion/Distance Advise – In between field visits, assigned faculty mentors will provide additional comments and inputs to respective writers via email/online discussions to monitor and help ensure progress of the documentation project.
5. DRR Conference/Workshop – The case studies will be presented in a Culminating workshop/conference where representatives of the NGOs, community-based organizations, LGUs, other CA partners and development agencies will be invited. Other DRR practitioners and experts will also be invited to help draw insights and lessons from the case studies as well as other experiences.
6. Publication – The final output of the project will be a publication containing two main parts: The first part will feature the 8-9 case studies written by NGO partners. The second part will contain articles written by the faculty mentors synthesizing the key concepts, principles, processes, indicators and guidelines on building disaster resilient communities that is grounded on the practical experiences of communities and NGOs.


Expected Project Output

The proposed project will have the following output:

1. A two-part publication featuring (i) the 8-9 case studies in DRR written by NGOs and (ii) analysis and synthesis of DRR concepts, principles, indicators and guidelines written by DCD faculty
2. Enhanced skills on documentation and case study writing among NGO partners

Purpose and Uses of the Case Studies

Based on the above project objectives, the DRR Case Studies could potentially serve several needs and/or uses, including:

1. TO DEMONSTRATE AND INSPIRE - The Case Studies could illustrate and provide evidence to the validity of Community Development and community-based approach to DRR. Likewise, the case studies could help strengthen policy advocacy and advocacy strategies on DRR and CD
2. TO INSTRUCT - As potential learning materials for future DRR courses/trainings, the Case Studies could describe the CD methods and processes used and the bases for their selection, and critically analyze issues and potential implications to CD arising from chosen DRR interventions
3. TO THEORIZE - Amidst the increasing volume of DRR materials available globally, there is still a dearth of materials with a Philippine and so thern development perspective. Hence the Case Studies (including other materials gathered) have the potential to contribute to the development of DRR theory and practice from a Community Development perspective. “DRR theory and practice” here could refer to key concepts, principles, assumptions, models, etc. applicable to Philippine communities and development organizations.


Project Management

The project will be managed and implemented by the Department of Community Development (DCD of the UP College of Social Work and Community Development, through the UP Social Action fo Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UPSARD), a non-stock nonprofit foundation composed of the faculty and alumni of the CSWCD, with the Dean as Executive Director.

The CD Department will constitute a Project Team composed of faculty members. A Project Leader will be tasked to coordinate, and lead in the design and implementation of all project activities.

CD faculty members will serve as faculty mentors cum editorial advisers to case study writers of respective NGOs. A TOR will be developed between the DCD and the individual faculty member
containing specific tasks and responsibilities.

Christian Aid will provide the funds needed for this undertaking. It will assign a person or persons who will liaise with the DCD for matters concerning project implementation. It will provide access to respective partner NGOs.

Enhancing Resiliency in a Flood-prone Community

BDRC Pilot Project 2008-2009: SAM Ipil
(Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Mindanao, Philippines)

Project Background

Zamboanga Sibugay Province is located in the western part of Mindanao composed of 16 municipalities. It has an approximate total land area of 360,775 hectares that constitute 43.09 percent of the mother province of Zamboanga del Sur, about 22.5 percent of the region, and 1.2 percent of the country’s 30 million hectares. There are 13 river channels and seven (7) marine bays or fishing grounds in the province. Marine water stretched to about 210 kilometers of shorelines benefiting 13 coastal municipalities and its 113 barangays.

Sibuguey river is considered to be the largest river in the province, it traverse seven municipalities: Bayog, Lakewood, Buug, Diplahan, Siay, Imelda, and Payao, his also is a source of irrigation of Sampoli area and Bayog. However, it also became the source of flash floods during rainy seasons, affecting the low lying coastal areas in the seven municipalities. According to the residents, and initial study from the Sibugay Valley Management Council (SVMC), the overflowing of the Sibuguey River, which causes flash floods, was due to the deforestation in the upland areas caused by large scale logging operation in the 1950’s, and small scale mining activities in the 1980’s up to present, and currently the exploration of Big Scale Mining, closing Sibuguey River’s route to other tributaries.

Among the affected areas, Sitio Riverview of Barangay Salinding of the Municipality of Say suffered more. Salinding had flat plains, where water stagnates for three to seven days; moreover, it is only 2.5 kilometers away from the seacoast, adding to its vulnerability during heavy rainfalls, typhoons, and floods. During flooding, the most prevalent illnesses according to Municipal health Office of Siay, were Diarrhea, Stomach ache and Skin Diseases especially to the children. Crops like corn and rice that were already 30 days from planting were totally damage., The rice which was ready to be harvested were partially damage resulting to the shortage of their expected harvest.

There was a history of prolonged dry season that lasted for 11 months on 1973. Based on the recorded data there was a drought that lasted for 9 months that made more than a million of families suffered from scarcity of food specialy on upland as well as in the lowland area here in Mindanao. Zamboanga Sibugay was not spared from that threat where rice fields were totally unproductive.


Barangay Profile

Last November 15, 2007, the Social Action Ministry conducted a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) in Barangay Salinding. The following are the summary of the results

A. History

In 1976 an earthquake caused the tectonic plates to move, blocking the route of Sibugay River to Guiana; rerouting the course of Sibugay River to Barangay Sliding and Baumann, exiting to Log pond, Say. In 1980’s barangays Guiana, Log pond, Baumann, and Sliding were covered with mangroves. But due to the development of fishpond these areas made the rivers and creeks closed and hinder the spontaneous flow of water. Ever since then, the flooding occurs during rainy seasons in Barangay Sliding, especially in sitio riverview which suffers more and receives the full impact of the flood.

Last August 1999 and July of 2006, 50 percent of the residents have to be evacuated in the Parish Formation Center because of the flood. The parish then caters their basic necessary needs and had given them medical supplies with the help of Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD ).

B. Population and Livelihood

The municipality of Siay is a third class municipality with a total number of 29 barangays and a population of 37,336 that comprises 6,838 households.

Barangay Salinding which is under this municipality has two sitios: Riverview and Lagaan, composed of tri-people with a total population of 1,472, of which majority are Christians, 38 percent (568) are Lumad (Subanen), and a small percentage of Muslims; there are 289 families and 267 households.

Their main source of income is purely agricultural, like rice and corn planting, Livestock raising, lemon fruit production and making roofs made of nipa, which are all very vulnerable to floods. A time, while waiting for the crops to be harvested, farmers will go for fishing for family consumption while others get their extra income in production of coconut wine (Tuba in visayan dialect) while still others applied as a laborer in nearby Fishpond earning a meager wage of P150.00 per day.

C. Organization

Salinding had existing people, and church’s organizations, like the Inter-Religious Disaster Organization, Pagsalabuan Subanen de Siay, Women’s Organization, and Farmer’s Organization. These organizations were organized by NGO’s, and the Church. Though these organizations were established years ago, some of the organizations no longer functional they were organized.

D. Resources and Services

Sitio Riverview do not have power supply, roads accessible to land vehicles; residents use their own boats in transporting their agricultural products to markets during rainy season and walk on foot when dry season. It is also lack of potable waters for the community to drink during rainy season. Though it has an infrastructure like primary schools, it often closes down and became useless during rainy seasons. High-rise water that reached from mid-thigh to waistline enters the school premises; the school eventually closed. All the barangay infrastructures, including the Barangay Hall, is reached by the flood. The main source of their income is purely agricultural, like rice planting, Livestock raising, lemon fruit production and making roofs made of nipa, which are all very vulnerable to floods.

E. Diseases

During rainy seasons, from May to December, the prevalent illnesses in the area were colds, stomach ache, skin rashes and diarrhea. Diarrhea is largely contributed to the residents’ source of drinking water. Majority of the populace especially in Riverview get their drinking water from a shallow-well near the Sibuguey River. In 1994, it was reported that measles epidemic breakout to the community which resulted to some deaths especially to the children.


Project Concept

There are three components which the project comprises. First is the establishment of potable water source through rainwater harvesting and water purification. Second, is the early warning system and then the third is the alternative/supplemental livelihood.

Houses with galvanized iron roofing will be provided with container for rainwater catchments. 2 of these HHs will be provided with a larger container for community use in case of flooding (since many houses in the community do not have galvanized iron roofing) Each container for community use contains 375 gallons that is equivalent to 1500 ltrs. Water purification will be undertaken by SAM-Ipil in partnership with PhilRice scientists and in coordination with DOST and DOH.

Development of an early warning system will be done as part of the disaster risk reduction capacity building for the community. This will be the responsibility of SAM-Ipil in partnership with the Disaster Management Team, the Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council, and in coordination with the BDRC Learning Circle and the scientists and hydro-geologists from local scientists, MO, UP NIGS.

The third component would be the significant intervention of the Philippine Rice Research Institute. As agreed upon, PhilRice will implement this section of the project in partnership with SAM Ipil. An MOU between SAM Ipil and PhilRice will be prepared and signed by the two institutions. PhilRice will submit to SAM Ipil an interim and final report on the progress of their engagement of Zamboanga Sibugay. Arrangements between PhilRice and SAM Ipil will also be covered by CA and DFID guidelines.


Project Objectives

The aim of the action is to enhance the capacity of the marginalized households of Brgy. Salinding,Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay that had been organized by the Social Action Ministry of Ipil to implement:

- disaster resilient agriculture-based and skills based sustainable livelihood activities;

- simple but effective drinking rainwater collection and water purification techniques;

- community-based production of processed medicinal herbs for common illnesses;


Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies

The Capacity building are centered on the following:

- Household/Community-based water treatment to enable households to hold ample supply of potable water;
- Optimize “floating agriculture” innovations for the community’s food security and production of herbal medicines;
- Herbal medicine processing and storage which leads to the establishment of the “Botika ng Barangay type” herbal drug store; and,
- Other livelihood skills which the community would like to optimize to start their household-based enterprises;
- Food preservation

INSTALLATION OF EARLY WARNING SYSTEM IN THE BARANGAYS ALONG AGOS RIVER IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF INFANTA and GENERAL NAKAR, QUEZON

BDRC Pilot Project 2008-2009: SAC Infanta
(Infanta, Northern Quezon, Philippines)

Project Concept

The selected areas of project implementation are considered highly vulnerable areas that suffered the most in terms of human and economic losses during the last disastrous calamities in November 2004. Primarily, the reasons for these are the absence of clear disaster preparedness and response plan and efficient early warning system. Hence, the necessity to develop such a mechanism with the trainings on disaster preparedness and response is a significant factor to prevent the previous experience of the communities in dealing with disaster. The installation of a radio communication system to serve as early warning which is capable of reaching the whole community will improve monitoring and forecast information will guide the communities to the prepared disaster plan and response at the soonest possible time. The Early Warning System to be implemented is a community-based and people centered at local level. It is increasingly clear the necessity of a multi-hazard warning system that should represent a new way of thinking and ensures that environmental stability and local wisdom are built into disaster plans. The early warning system will make use of both low-tech and high-tech communication equipment. The batingaw or warning bells made from recycled oxygen tanks distributed in the communities will complement to warn the residents should there be a need to evacuate.

Basically this project includes water level measuring stations set up over key points in a watershed or its sub-station. Every station transmit its information in real time to repeater stations which are linked to a mother station where the data from all basins are received and processed and the change in water level at different points of interest can be closely watched. The basic elements of this system are a.) prediction; weather forecasting b.) detection-observation of rainfall and flood levels c.) communication – relay information to disaster agencies d.)decision making and e.) mobilization.

For the efficiency of the project, the early warning system must develop a standard actions to formulate an appropriate common messages easily understood by all the sectors in the communities. Consequently, the results of these will be integrated into the disaster preparedness and response training to be conducted to level-off the communities and all major stakeholders of the project.

However, in case of worst scenario that the radio communication system malfunctions or failed the only alternative warning scheme is the satellite cell phone that can relay and deliver a message in any disastrous event.

To have an added value and to maximize its purpose, it should be linked with the Manila Observatory and Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) for climate forecasting. The application of climate forecasting will complement the implementation of the agricultural project in the upland as well in the low-lying areas. The multi-purpose use of this project plays an important role to address the livelihood issues of the communities. Through the messages relayed by MO and PAGASA on the climate forecasts that will be transmitted to the communities the farmers will be able to determine what crops is suitable to plant prepare a farm plan.

To make this operational, vertical and horizontal communication and coordination between all stakeholders, with roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined and agreed. The local government units must also be included in all planning and training and will be recognized as key stakeholders in the project. The communities shall also be active participants in all aspects of the development, operation, training and testing of the early warning system. The local cable network and radio and the parish church have an important role to immediately deliver the news to the communities in case of any emergency situation.

This project shall primarily be implemented the by Social Action Center, local government unit and MDCC of Infanta and General Nakar, KABALIKAT Radio Communication Group and will be sustained by the Barangay Council, BDCC and community based organizations particularly Munting Sambayanang Kristiyano (MSK). In general, the whole households in the targeted communities will benefit from this project since it aims the development of preparedness disaster plan and response.


Project Objectives

Generally, the main goal of the project is to mitigate the impact of any disastrous calamities that may happen in the selected area through the installation of a systematic communication and early warning system alongside with the capability building of the brgy. officials and community leaders through the reactivation and strengthening of the BDCCs in the municipalities Infanta and General Nakar, Quezon along the Agos River.

Specifically it aims to :

• Strengthen risk management capacity of the barangays/communities along the Agos River by forming, training and strengthening response units and developing contingency plans.

• Installation and operation of early warning systems

• Coordinate efforts with the NDCC and MDCCs of the municipalities of Infanta and General Nakar and other organizations and institutions to establish social support networks on disaster risk reduction.

• To link with scientific agencies like PAGASA and Manila Observatory to received accurate and scientific data of climate forecasting

• To relay climate forecasts to the communities to prepare for the farm and determine crop to be planted.


Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies

1. Church-based NGO at the frontline with spiritual-based formation as the focal point for strong community participation and action.
2. Adopt a partnership with the national and local units and other major institution and entities as an approach to ensure the social protection of the community.
3. Installation of a multi-hazard warning system
4. Utilization of low-tech and high-tech communication system.
5. Linked with the scientific agencies such as PAGASA and Manila Observatory.

Disaster Resilience in an Upland Community

BDRC Pilot Project 2008-2009: PhilNet (c/o PRDCI)
(Iloilo City, Philippines)

Project Concept

Barangay Sianon in Badiangan Iloilo’s rice fields are prone to flooding because these are situated near the banks of Calansanan Creek. Households residing along the creek have to evacuate during typhoons and find refuge in the barangay hall and relatives’ houses located in higher ground. Soil erosion affects about 53 hectares of farmlands with 40% being moderately to severely so. This is due primarily to the absence of soil conservation system in sloping farms.

Barangay Sianon in Badiangan Iloilo’s rice fields are prone to flooding because these are situated near the banks of Calansanan Creek. Households residing along the creek have to evacuate during typhoons and find refuge in the barangay hall and relatives’ houses located in higher ground. Soil erosion affects about 53 hectares of farmlands with 40% being moderately to severely so. This is due primarily to the absence of soil conservation system in sloping farms.

The thin vegetation of the barangay cannot effectively protect its potable water supply that comes from underground springs during drought situations. Numerous springs have already dried out due to the clearing of forested areas for sugarcane cultivation in the 60’s and 70’s and several hand pumps were rendered useless during the 1997-1998 El Nino.

The continuous use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that for many years now, has degraded the soil in the slopes, pose a threat to water quality most especially to two open dug wells used by 8 households.

The barangay cannot rely much on the municipal government for support during calamities. Badiangan is a small 5th class municipality with 31 barangays that have topography similar with that of Sianon.

It is therefore sensible for Sianon to build its own resilience against disasters by drawing its strength from its human and natural resources. This is the rationale for PhilNet and PRDCI’s piloting project in Barangay Sianon.


Project Objectives

The project aims to build the resilience of Brgy. Sianon in the events of disasters. It is a pilot project that is primarily aimed at reducing vulnerabilities of upland agricultural livelihoods due to heavy rainfall and drought.

The pilot project will also enable PhilNet and PRDCI to test the adequacy of its concept and strategies in assisting communities mitigate disaster risks and become better prepared primarily through their own initiatives. The following strategies will be undertaken to achieve these objectives:

The success of this project will make Brgy. Sianon as a model on disaster resiliency that other communities can replicate. It will also enable PhilNet and PRDCI to expand its BDRC program to cover highly vulnerable areas in the Visayas Region.


Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies

Risk and Vulnerability Reduction as a Development Strategy

The Project implementation follows PhilNet’s vision of building self-determining and self-reliant rural communities thru Local Economy Development (LED) and productivity enhancement and wise utilization and management of human and natural resources. Rural development and democratization and disaster preparedness are development frameworks that aim to address rural poverty and reduce risks and vulnerabilities to natural and anthropogenic-induced disasters through broad-based local economy development. Both are intervention frameworks that offer local ownership of development processes that strengthen and re-enforce partnerships among: (a) Local Government Units; (b) Line Government Agencies; (c) Business Sectors; (d) NGO or Not-for-Profit Sectors; (e) Academe and Experts; (f) Church; and (g) Local Community.

Since natural disasters pose a growing threat to the development strategies in rural communities by destroying livelihoods and interrupting economic activity, destroying productive capacity and productive capacity, and even creating irreversible changes in the natural resource base. With the increasing frequency and severity of hydro-meteorological disasters, rural communities like Brgy. Sianon are facing situations in which scarce resources that were earmarked for development projects have to be diverted to relief and reconstruction following disasters, thus setting back economic growth of households and communities.

Disasters also directly impact on the economic capacity of poor households in Brgy. Sianon, at a time when extra resources are needed for the most basic necessities like food, medicines, clothing, education, farm tools and equipment, seeds and inputs for production.

If sustainable development is to be achieved, then the people themselves, with the assistance of civil society organizations (CSOs) like PhilNet and PRDCI, local government units (LGUs), government line agencies (GLAs), the academe, and experts, will have to take effective measures to reduce the vulnerabilities of the most at risk to natural and anthropogenic hazards.

Long term hazard mitigation and vulnerability reduction quite often have to compete for scarce resources with other development initiatives addressing basic infrastructure, production and livelihood needs. The benefits of long term hazard mitigation go beyond economics, as the reduction in vulnerability to disasters contributes to individual security, social stability and sustainable development.

Home-based Early Warning Systems

BDRC Pilot Project 2008-2009: Manila Observatory
(Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines)

Project Concept

The problem with flood forecasting in the Bicol River Basin is that it is still at a regional scale wherein flood prone areas are designated on the sole basis of topography. While it is true that floodwater will eventually accumulate in the lowest part of the basin, the root cause of flooding is when streams overflow. A better approach then is to subdivide the BRB into individual river basins and evaluate every stream’s flood potential. Determining an impending river overflow can be done through monitoring the relationship between rainfall and flood height (from both historic and current data). Numerical modeling is also needed to constrain this relationship as well as current geohazard mapping for other weather-related hazards. Lastly, grassroots involvement through home-based stations (HBS) in this monitoring is imperative in order for local communities to recognize that scientific information is a vital component in their decision making process. This study aims to involve local experts and community leaders in scientific data gathering which eventually may form the basis of a localized early warning system for flooding.


Project Objectives

1. to constrain the rainfall-flood height relationship for various BRB rivers using historical data;

2. to set up a network of home-based stations within the BRB;

3. to set-up a floodwatch center in a partner university in the region;

4. to collect rain and flood information from the HBS volunteers on a daily basis; and,

5. to aid communities in incorporating the HBS network into their early flood warning system.



Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies

The relationship between rainfall and consequent flooding can be determined per river. Initially, rainfall intensity and duration data from PAGASA can be matched against historic river height. The use of numerical modeling can further refine the rainfall-flooding correlation such that later on one may be able to predict flood levels based on a given rainfall event.

Current mapping of river profiles and related geohazards (landslide-prone areas, stream blockage that may cause flash floods, etc.) will be continued. Thisinformation will likewise be transmitted to the communities involved.

A network of home-based stations (HBS) will have rain gauges installed within each sub-basin. This will also include HBS in the easternmost section of the Bicol peninsula (Catanduanes, Rapu-Rapu and/or Sorsogon) so that the rainfall volume from an incoming typhoon can already be established several hours ahead. An HBS will be designed for easy monitoring – the gauge will be installed in one’s roof which will be connected by a plastic tube to a graduated container inside the house. Data is sent via text messaging. An HBS for river height monitoring will be selected based on its proximity to the river being surveyed. Existing private and government weather stations can also be linked into this network. The information from the HBS network will be funneled in a local university floodwatch center which in turn can also update the network of prevailing conditions. It can also recommend predicted flood heights when needed.

Since the HBS network will be maintained by volunteers in the community, regular consultative meetings will be done to improve this methodology. Once this is perfected, it can hopefully be incorporated in their respective early warning system.

Social Protection, Sustainable Livelihoods, and Disaster Preparedness

BDRC Pilot Project 2008-2009: Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise-Bicol
(Legazpi City, Bicol, Philippines)

Project Background

A post disaster sharing of initiatives and learning among local and national non-government organizations on implementing emergency response has been conducted both at the local and National level.

Focus has been given particularly in the Province of Albay, because of the concert of disasters that visited the Province in recent years. By virtue of the physical and geographical character of Albay, natural disaster is part of the daily lives of the Albayano. Impending threats are the Mt. Mayon, for volcanic eruption, storm surges, earthquakes, floods and super typhoons, coupled with double digit poverty incidence needless to say drives the Albayanos/bicolanos into further vulnerability.

Based on the series of consultation and discussion of COPE staff in consultation with Christian Aid, the target community of the proposed BDRC project is the COPE/Christian Aid permanent housing partner-beneficiaries from the barangays of Padang, San Roque, Bonot, Pawa, Bogtong, Arimbay and Rawis of Legazpi City and from the select communities in the Municipality of Daraga-specifically Brgy. Tagas and Binitayan which is considered as high risk areas based on the study of Manila Observatory (MO) conducted this year, devastated by super-typhoon Durian in November 2006.

Total number of target beneficiaries of this project is 450 families. It will be composed of 170 families from two resettlement sites (Taysan 110 and Anislag 60) and 280 families from Brgy. Tagas (110) and Binitayan (170) who opted to stay in the area despite the high risks and high degree of vulnerability situation of the place.

The reasons of prioritizing the targeted 4 pilot communities in the BDRC project are as follows:

1. the 280 families in the brgys. of Tagas and Binitayan are considered as one of the high risk areas in the Municipality of Daraga, which entails the high degree of vulnerability of the families who opted to still stay in the area for some various individual reasons

2. based from the series of consultation conducted in the resettlement site, there is more to be done in the site aside from disaster-resilient and permanent housing, particularly in terms of LIVELIHOOD and HEALTH/SANITATION as they explicitly stressed

3. the continuity of intervention to the site thru community organizing and linking DRR initiatives to development work

4. the site is in dire need of external developmental intervention and the most appropriate community to be considered as the pilot community for the implementation of BDRC project.

This pilot BDRC project will start its implementation on September 15, 2008 with expected impact after six (6) months (or until March 15, 2008) of implementation up to one (1) year of program implementation. It is collectively decided by the members of the learning circles that after two (2) months of implementation there will be a sharing of experiences and learning among CAID partners who implement the BDRC project in the Philippines, and after the 6 months implementation a documentation of the learning, strategies and initiatives, impacts of the projects and experiences will be conducted by UPCSWD.


Project Concept

Community organizing will play a major role for the accomplishment of this project. The principles of participation, collective decision-making and actions, empowerment and people-centered development, as well as methods of community analysis, community education, conscientization, community organization and participatory planning will be integrated in the disaster risk reduction processes.

The implementation of this project will be based from the following components;

1. Social Protection (Health and Well Being, Physical Protection, Livelihoods, Structural and Technical Measures)

(for Tagas and Binitayan)
Under this component, the proponent of the project will assist the 2 identified high risk communities (Tagas and Binitayan) to strengthen and organized community mechanisms that will eventually lead to risk reducing initiatives and strategies of the communities. Capacity building of the community is the most essential part of this component and community organizing work, which happen to be one of the field of specialization of the proponent. Major target output of this are, formation of active and operational QRT’s, familiarization of the communities to the basic DRR concepts, identification of vulnerable groups, setting-up early warning system (EWS), formulation of disaster preparedness plan and community drills are conducted that will heightened the vigilance of the target communities to be prepared and resilient to future disasters.

(for Anislag and Taysan)
Building up the capacities of the target-beneficiaries in the 2 resettlement sites (Taysan and Anislag) for addressing the need for social protection and implementation of sustainable livelihood. Active participation of the target groups will plays a major in this component thru participatory planning and community initiated risk reducing activities. Community DRR plans, developed and implementation of livelihoods managed by the community, acquired knowledge in health care and nutrition, trained and committed community health workers (CHW) and agreements with medical schools, churches, other NGO’s to build up and sustained technical and advocacy supports are among the major identified outputs that will addressed the vulnerability of the community in terms of health and sanitation, and sustainable livelihood.

2. Environmental Management (physical protection and technical measures)

(for Tagas/Binitayan and Taysan/Anislag) Target groups understanding on local and natural environmental and their potential risks will be heightened and strengthened thru FGD’s and any other form of info dissemination with regards on the results of the MO study on the high risks areas. Training on Weather Forecasting will be conducted to PO leaders as preparation for gathering relevant information on climatic and environmental conditions that will be disseminated to the target communities by the organized QRT’s and community disaster information teams (CDIT) (that will part of the QRT’s). Proper waste disposal are planned and implemented in the target communities.

3. Planning Regimes

(for Tagas/Binitayan and Taysan/Anislag)
Enhancing the participation of the PO leaders in tripartite mechanisms that will concretized the integration of DRR into local governance. Advocacy work and lobbying are the key activities of the target communities in order to attain the objective of this component. A passed resolution to the concerned LGU’s requesting an adequate relocation intended for the families who are willing to relocate from Tagas and Binitayan (without precluding the initiatives and advocacy agenda of the key stakeholders in the Province of Albay in developing options for safer settlements in the context of Disaster Risk Reduction), DRR-conscious CLUP and development plans presented to Barangay and municipal/city special bodies, are among the target output of this component.


LIVELIHOOD COMPONENT OF THE BDRC PROJECT (for Taysan and Anislag)

The project will also make use of the sustainable livelihood seed money in the form of a loan assistance at PHP 3,000.00 each for a total of target of 136 partner-beneficiaries. At Taysan, we had initially identified 46 potential beneficiaries. And Anislag has 60 initial target Beneficiaries for a total of 106 partner-families for two sites. These target beneficiaries will still be subject to validation based on the following criteria: a. should be a good payor; b. managing an existing small business; and c. an actual resident in the Resettlement Site.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES: (Livelihood Component of the BDRC Project)

The funds intended for the livelihood component of the BDRC project will be deposited in a separate bank account number, but still in the name of COPE Foundation and it will be separate from the COPE general bank account. The reasons for this are the following;

1. for security and safety purposes of the funds
2. to ensure a sound financial management system of the livelihood funds
3. to ensure a proper and efficient financial monitoring and evaluation of the livelihood funds

The three (3) signatories when there is transaction in the bank will be our COPE-Bikol Regional Coordinator, the Assistant Regional Coordinator and Nardito Sayson (COPE Bikol Staff) as the one who will handle and supervised the livelihood component of the project.

As part of the financial management system to observed clearly during the implementation of the project, a capacity building on “Simple Bookkeeping and Recording” will be conducted to the concerned identified PO’s from both sites and CO’s to ensure a proper and efficient handling of the financial management system of the project. The proponent will identified from our local allied stakeholders who are experts in financial management system to assists us in the conduct of the said capacity building, plus the proponent will maximized its personnel in the finance to also assist in the activity.

As financial management policy of the project, all loans will be made through CHECKS-for safety and security reasons duly signed by three signatories , and to ensure that the loaned amount thru checks will be directly named to the legitimate recipient of the livelihood projects. And only the legitimate recipient will be authorized to en-cash the check. Also, on the matter of disbursement and any other related transaction with the same nature will be made thru checks.

All loans shall be collected/claimed from the bank by the legitimate recipient, so that the assigned CO’s don’t have to carry cash in the area.

A receipt will be issued by the collector to the recipient during collection of payment of the loaned amount. And to ensure good payment turn-out, good standing payor will be rewarded an incentives by way of not paying his/her last day of payment.

Scheme of Loan Payment and Process:

Loan amount is P3,000.00 per beneficiary at 2%/ payable within 6 mos. The 2% of the loan [P60.00] shall be deducted from the loan able amount thus the net pay to the loaner shall be P2,940.00]. Part of the 2% shall be allocated for incidental expenses [receipts, cash book, journal, etc.] Another part of the 2% shall be allocated for transportation and honorarium of the collector and another for capital infusion as savings of the association or members.

The P2,940.00 shall be paid by the borrower in accordance with the policies as stated below:

1. The loan shall be paid within P120 days [excluding Fridays and Saturdays] at P25.00 daily.
2. No collection on Fridays and Saturdays to avoid collector from holding the collected amount because the Bank is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
3. The collected amount will be deposited to the bank the next day of collection, hence, collection on Fridays and Saturdays could not be deposited because the bank is closed.
4. The amount collected on Sundays will be deposited on Monday.
5. A collector from each relocation site {Anislag and Taysan] will be chosen by the group to go around the area everyday to collect payment and record it in his/her cash book, which he will remit to the bank on the next banking day.
6. The collector from each site will remit the money to the assigned CO for deposit to the bank.

Other financial scheme will be formulated together with the partner-beneficiaries to claim ownership in the formulation of the financial management system by the PO members.

COPE-Bikol Foundation, specifically the BDRC Team (2 CO’s assigned in Taysan and Anislag) will be assisting to manage the seed fund together with the officer and members of both housing sites. The PO’s will be tasked to assists in the collection of daily payment, in which a scheme will be formulated collectively by the partner-beneficiaries and our institution in order not to burden morethe members who are identified recipient of the said loan assistance. Aside from that, the PO’s will also be assigned to assists in the monitoring of the whole BDRC project to ensure their active participation and to build-up their sense of ownership to the project.

To ensure that the livelihood funds are revolving, we planning to stick to our initial identified recipient of the loan assistance, re; A) a good payor; B) managing an existing small business; and C) an actual resident in the Resettlement Site. But this is not to say we are closing some potential options to the most vulnerable groups in the communities. The most vulnerable groups who are identified in both sites will also be a priority of the loan assistance project, they will be assisted first by the assigned CO’s (plus we will tap the expertise of our local allied here in Legazpi City, who are expert in livelihood identification and management-which hopefully give their assistance for free) in identifying their livelihood opportunities focusing on the local potential resources and livelihood options inside the sites. After the identification of the potential livelihood opportunities of the most vulnerable groups, they will also be consulted on the interest rate of the loan assistance and their loan will be released.

The principle of gender equality in the implementation of the livelihood project will be emphasized thoroughly during the conduct of livelihood identification, livelihood management, series of PO meetings, decision-making, FGD-to ensure the gender friendly environment of this project.


Project Objectives

The General Objectives of the project is to strengthen the capacities of target communities in Binitayan, Tagas, Anislag and Taysan to prepare for and reduce risks of future disasters through community mechanisms for social protection and sustainable livelihoods.

The specific objectives of the project are as follows:

To assist target groups in Binitayan and Tagas organize and strengthen community mechanisms for disaster risk reduction
To build up the capacities of target groups in Anislag and Taysan for social protection and sustainable livelihoods
To strengthen the target groups understanding of local natural environment and their potential risks
To enhance participation of PO leaders in tripartite mechanisms towards DRR integration in Local governance

Sustainable Livelihoods and Social Protection

BDRC Pilot Project 2008-2009: Coastal Core Sorsogon
(Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Philippines)

This proposed project will focus on building capacities and resiliency of 40 households in the above-mentioned area that represents almost half (45%) of the total unserved households in Sitio Gumang. These 40 households will be selected based on the family’s willingness to be active partners of the project, with children in the families, with poor or very limited access to other support and is willing to pass-on the knowledge, skills and resources that they have received. This criteria for selection of household partners is imperative to ensure the project’s prioritization for the most vulnerable members of the community.

The notes below presents the different vulnerabilities identified by the community during the PVCA workshops;

1.) Physical Vulnerability- since Sitio Gumang is located in the sea shore of the municipal waters of Gubat, most of the residents are significantly vulnerable to the rising tides, storm surges, flooding and tidal waves but there is no sea wall or any other protection structure and mechanisms to protect them from these hazards.

2.) Economic vulnerability- the area lacks sources of livelihoods except to their limited income from small scale fishing. Employment opportunities for these people is also nil due to their lack of skills and education. In addition to these economic difficulties, the marine resource of the community is also gradually depleting due to various harmful human activities, i.e. overfishing, illegal fishing, improper waste disposal and recently the mining spill from the opposite island of Rapu-Rapu that caused fish kills and heavy metals contamination in marine resources.

3.) Social vulnerability- from the PVCA results also of this sitio, one of the major concern also is their condition as informal settlers in the area. Their houses are also very weak since they cannot afford to construct more stronger housing but also they are not allowed to construct permanent structures. Though there is already a barangay plan to relocate some of these households through the assistance of Gawad Kalinga Program, it will still take time. As also mentioned above, 80% of households in this sitio have no access to sanitary toilets and potable water. Access to education is also a problem since they are economically poor.

In order to minimize the above-mentioned vulnerabilities and to build their capacities towards disaster resiliency, this project specifically aims to employ strategies on risk management and vulnerability reduction (Thematic 4, John Twigg’s Guidance Notes on DRR). Using this guideline, this project will focus on the specific components of resilience which include the health and well being, sustainable livelihoods, and social protection. Described below is the characteristics of Sitio Gumang that we want to achieve at the end of the project;

Keeping in line with the Coastal CORE’s principle in project implementation, this project will be participatory and gender-responsive in its approaches. Hence, this project will be collaboration between and among the Barangay LGU, the Municipal LGU through the Office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development, Coastal CORE, COTIPABA and the target households. These target pilot families will be group into two (2) self-help groups to enhance participation and co-management approach and also foster harmonious relationships among them. These self-help groups will be given tasks related to project management and monitoring and so honing their skills on basic project management and also develop their communication and negotiation skills. For the part of the LGUs, the Barangay and Municipal government both committed to provide technical and financial counterpart for the project. COTIPABA on the other hand will assist Coastal CORE in mobilizing the target families; co-facilitate training and community activities as well as monitoring of the project.

Coastal CORE will also try to leverage this project with the LGUs and other development agencies to access additional support for water system development, mangrove reforestation and seedlings provision for communal vegetable garden.

Having enumerated the above activity plans, the characteristics of a disaster resilient community that these activities aim to create are summarized in table 1.


Project Objectives:

To provide selected households of a sustainable and hazard-resilient livelihoods.
To ensure a healthy and sanitary environment.
To ensure access to health insurance.


Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies:

Given the characteristics of the target pilot area, the stakeholders and beneficiaries, this project will mainly be using three (3) DRR strategies delving on sustainable livelihoods development, social protection and improvement of health and environmental sanitation.

These strategies are:

1.) Capability-Building for DRR and Behavioral Change Towards Better Health and Environmental Sanitation

The state of poor sanitation in Sitio Gumang is a concern which must be equally addressed to further reduce various risk and vulnerabilities of these households and the community as a whole. The unhealthy and unsanitary practices of the residents in Sitio Gumang have a significant effect to their lives as well as to the coastal environment and resources. To prevent this, the project plans to initiate or facilitate various learning activities on the importance of environmental sanitation to their health and to the marine resources as their primary source of livelihoods. Values enhancement exercises will likewise be carried out to strengthen the culture of caring for self, for others and the environment as well as values of service and accountability. The following orientations and learning activities will be facilitated by the project;

a) Orientation on Basic Health and Environmental Sanitation
b) Disaster Preparedness and Management Training
c) Community Visioning and Planning (Health, Environment, Sanitation and Disaster Management)
d) Sustainable Livelihoods Planning

2.) Improving family/community nutrition and access to potable water

Part of the initiative towards building a disaster resilient community is the ability of the people to adapt to change, absorb stress, manage disaster events and recover from disasters (Twigg, John. Characteristics of a Disaster-Resilient Community: A Guidance Note. August, 2007.). This therefore requires and entails the need for healthy members of communities.

Considering the above area description, the area’s vulnerability to hazards’ risks is aggravated by its poor health and sanitation conditions. Hence, the project will strive to improve households’ access to potable water as well as improve its health and nutrition practices. The project then proposes to facilitate the provision of bio-sand water filters to be utilized by the community. One (1) unit bio-sand filter will serve 8-10 families for their potable water and the project could initially provide five (5) units of this facility while the LGU (municipal and barangay) will also provide the other 5 units. The project will also attempt to resolve the problem on the use and maintenance of the existing communal toilets by reviewing and enhancing its policies together with the self-help groups and LGUs. These interventions are planned as this because according to the Barangay Officials, these households are their target beneficiaries for the Gawad Kalinga Housing Project and maybe relocated in the next coming years.

As mentioned above, the family health savings will also be introduced by the project as a social protection strategy. This health savings will be part of weekly or monthly savings of the households that will be set aside from their livelihoods income.

For the improvement of family and community nutrition, the approach will be two-pronged. One is for the long term, and the other is for the short term or the immediate need for nutrition as part of the projects’ capability building strategy. Lectures, seminars and demonstrations on how to achieve better nutrition by meal planning in the family will be initiated by this project. A community crops and vegetable garden will be established in the area using organic farming technology to ensure supply of organic and nutritious food that will also respond to the nutrition problem. This could again be managed by the self-help groups and the seedlings will be the counterpart of the Local Government Units. Products of this communal farm could be utilized for children feeding program as well as for community consumption. During the establishment of communal garden, families will be encouraged to actively participate and a rice-for-work scheme (Participating families will receive 2 kilos of rice per 3 hours work in the communal garden) will be carried out as form of support to participating families and this gardening period should coincide with the starting of family livelihoods implementation so as to avoid also the possible misuse of their livelihoods funds (some families are forced by the situation to use part of the livelihood funds to buy rice or other basic goods and thereby reduces its revolving capital for livelihoods and will eventually diminish rather than increase).

3.) Hazard-Resilient & Sustainable Livelihoods Development

All the target pilot families with no previous livelihood assistance from the organization and other agencies will be given the chance to identify, develop and sustain hazard-resilient livelihoods based on their expertise and capacities. The project will ensure diversity and linking of livelihoods activities in the communities to avoid conflicts. During the PCVA workshops, women in the communities were insisting to train and support them on sewing/dress-making/tailoring, food cooking and handicraft-making. Technical assistance will be provided by Coastal CORE as the main implementer of this project and will link also these households to various service agencies of the government to further develop their knowledge, skills and livelihoods. Similar with the household organizing strategy, these households will first define their vision and goals for their family and community before it will proceed to livelihoods planning. The project will provide financial and material support to these households to develop and enhance their livelihoods. As mentioned above, these activities will be jointly managed by the Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Coastal CORE, COTIPABA and Barangay LGU. Monitoring and capital build-up management for replication strategies will be simultaneously handled by the same group though COTIPABA and the SHGs directly keep the funds.

The main target beneficiaries of this livelihood engagement are the women in the community. The PCVA results showed their specific desire to be productive members of the community since fishing as the dominant source of livelihood in the area is basically a male-oriented. The women of the community characterize themselves mainly as idle or support systems of their spouses’ livelihood. This have led most of them to believe that they are the less productive members of the community which highly affects their tendency to be involved in small time gambling activities (card games), chatting all day, and other nonchalant activities. The goal for this strategy is additional income generation for the selected families, wherein women members of the household will be given the chance to create or develop her choice of livelihood depending on her skills and interest. Capital or seed fund will be provided to the women beneficiary after capability-building and cooperative membership orientation.

This strategy is seen by the project as an important opportunity for the family to increase their income, generate funds for savings, and thus promote stronger family resiliency to disaster with their stronger capacity to bounce back from its damages. In the gender sensitive lens, the PCVA results show low confidence amongst the women members of the society with their “passive and spouse-dependent” self images. Part of the characteristics aimed by this project for a disaster resilient community is gender sensitivity since women compose half of our population, they too must be empowered as part of our DRR strategies.


Negotiated Strategies and Indicators

Vulnerability of livelihoods:

Approach:
Capacity building to develop livelihoods (gender, social enterprise and value-chain approach?) Provision of seed capital
(NOTE: Fund management and replication managed by COPATIBA and SHGs) Increase in income (due to alternative livelihood developed)
Savings mobilization

Indicators:
HH-based disaster-resilient alternative livelihoods developed Small enterprises given technical and marketing support by DSWD, COPATIBA, CCS, LGU

Health vulnerability
Health savings mobilzation
Use of HH savings for health insurance
Use of bio-sand filters for drinking water
Health and sanitation education in cooperation with BHWs
Community plan for the use a maintenance of communal toilets
Communal garden
(NOTE: use of rice for work scheme in developing communal garden)
Nutrition program

Indicators
Family savings
Family health savings
Access to health insurance
50% of HHs with access to bio-sand filters for clean drinking water Signed community agreement on sanitation maintenance
Consumable and medicinal plants planted in communal garden
Crops from communal garden used by LGUs in the feeding program in the barangay
Communal plan and agreement for access and use of produce from the communal garden

Investing Partnerships for Disaster Resilience

In the Philippines, the program engaged Christian Aid partners in a participatory and collaborative process leading to the preparation of the BDRC strategic plan in the Philippines.

The plan includes the formation of the learning circles, the conduct of an intensive DRR course, community-based capacities and vulnerabilities analyses, the preparation of DRR plans and the piloting of DRR projects.

Together with other stakeholders, BDRC strategies, methods and learning experiences will be documented and shared through DRR field schools.Following the planning process is the organization of a Learning Circle that aims to facilitate the learning exchange among and between CA partners, academic and research institutions and other stakeholders in the conduct of a DRR intensive course, community-based capacities and vulnerability analyses, preparation of institutional DRR plans.

Currently, it is composed of representatives from CA, CA partners and academic and research institutions. The learning circle is a recommendatory body to the BDRC. Among the members of the said learning circle are Manila Observatory, some scientists from the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences, UP Los Banos, UP in the Visayas, the UP College of Social Work and Community Development and CA partners like the Social Action Center (prelature of Infanta), Coastal Core Sorsogon, COPE Bicol, PhilNet-Visayas, Unlad Kabayan, CERD Samar, FORGE, MUCAARD, Social Action Ministry (Ipil), CARD Davao, MAHAL in Mindoro and MACEC in Marinduque. The first output of the partnership was the preparation for and the conduct of the intensive DRR course from 14-26 October 2007.