Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Disaster Resiliency Model for Flood-Vulnerable Communities in Davao City, Southern Philippines

Development and disasters are closely linked, but the cause-andeffect relationship between the two has been ignored in the past. Thus, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) observed that disasters were seen in the context of emergency response and not as part of long-term development programming. Over time, effects of disasters can seriously degrade a country’s long-term potential for sustained development. Vulnerable communities of Davao City in the Southern Philippines has experienced flooding that led to catastrophic results such as damage to property and loss of lives. Communities need to build its resiliency to respond to flooding and mitigate its negative impacts, while policy makers and leaders need to consciously and regularly review and update its existing policies to address gaps and promote effective community engagement. This paper highlights the results from the quantitative phase of the study to examine and analyze the respondents’ vulnerability, awareness, and perception of flood risks. A survey using multistage cluster sampling was conducted among 353 respondents from the top 5 flood-vulnerable barangays. Data from the key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also integrated to provide an in-depth explanation of the patterns emerging from the survey. Results of the study revealed that the vulnerability is associated with sociodemographic characteristics, experience in flooding, and responses to flooding. Moreover, risk reduction strategies can be further enhanced through risk communication management using a localized and participatory approach in the proper knowledge transfer of flood risk communication among the stakeholders involved. Community-based policies and well-defined communication processes must be strengthened to promote inclusive approach towards effective community-based disaster preparedness and management

Towards a Modified Burkean Approach to the Rhetoric of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD)

This study was conducted in view of the significance of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) not only among the Mindanaoans, but to the Filipino people as well. The study aimed at describing the rhetorical process using the Burkean approach and to determine the major issues reflected in the rhetoric. To reach this goal, a description of the rhetoric using the Dramatistic pentad with its five elements— act, scene, agent, agency and purpose—was deemed necessary. It was found out that Kenneth Burke’s dramatism or pentad was useful in analyzing the whos, whats, whys and hows in the rhetorical process. Although Kenneth Burke’s dramatism or pentad was useful in analyzing the rhetorical process, there was a need to complement the approach with discourse analysis to be able to show the interpersonal relationship that was observed. Since the study focussed on the Senate deliberation on the establishment of SPCPD, the rhetoric was analyzed during the height of the issue, the year 1996: focusing from the release of the draft of the Executive Order in August to the signing of the final Executive Order 371 in September, establishing the SPCPD, ZOPAD and the Consultative Assembly up to the immediate aftermath of the EO 371 in October to December. The analysis concentrated on this particular timeframe. Hence, the recent developments in the Mindanao situation was not included in this study. The Senators who had given their speeches to explain their votes on the establishment of the SPCPD were foremost considered as the main agents in the rhetoric. Hence, the written explanation of votes was not included. Sample speeches were chosen to represent the “pro” and the “anti” side of the issue. Senators Heherson Alvarez, Neptali Gonzales and Orlando Mercado represented the “pro” side; while Senators Blas Ople, Marcelo Fernan and Francisco Tatad represent the “anti” side. The selection was based on the criteria that the speeches revolve around the “major issues” commonly identified in this study. These issues were: (1) SPCPD as a formula for peace in Mindanao; (2) the composition and constitutionality of SPCPD; and, (3) the Muslim/MNLF domination. The statements uttered, open letters, position papers published in the newspapers and in other forms of documentation were the main materials used for this study. Since limited studies in the Philippine setting have been done in this area, results of this study would provide additional information on rhetorical criticism using the “dramatistic pentad” of Kenneth Burke. 

Exploring a Social Vulnerability Model for Disaster Studies: The Case of the 2011 Flashflood in Davao City, Southern Philippines

Using the qualitative methods of document analysis and key informant interviews, this paper explored the Berkes & Ross (2013) framework to show a human-ecological representation in analyzing a disaster situation. The case of the 2011 flashflood in Davao City, Southern Philippines was examined, looking into a social vulnerability model as the focal point of disaster resiliency. Results show that the systems approach on the framework can be an alternative approach to the study of disaster resilience, combining the ecological, psychological and developmental resilience vis-à-vis the role of the institutions and the agencies involved using the community as the central actor for the immediate response to the disaster. Moreover, this analysis showed that the integration of cultural factors can contextualize disaster mitigation. Disaster resiliency at the community levels may be further enhanced using an integrative model with a “participatory bottom-up” approach

Vulnerability Profile and Risk Perception towards an Inclusive DRR for Flood-Vulnerable Communities in Davao City, Philippines

Vulnerable communities of Davao City, Southern Philippines has experienced flooding that leads to catastrophic effects costing damage to properties and loss of lives. Communities need to build its resiliency to respond to flooding and mitigate its negative impacts, while policy makers and leaders need to consciously, regularly review and update its existing policies to address gaps and promote effective community engagement. This paper highlights the results from the quantitative phase of the study to examine and analyze the respondents’ vulnerability, awareness and perception of flood risks. A survey using multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted among 353 respondents from the top five (5) flood vulnerable barangays. Data from the key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also integrated to provide an in-depth explanation of the patterns emerging from the survey. Results of the study revealed that the vulnerability is associated with socio-demographic characteristics, experience in flooding and responses to flooding. Moreover, risk reduction strategies can be further enhanced through a risk communication management using a localized and participatory approach in the proper knowledge transfer of flood risk communication among the stakeholders involved. Community-based policies and well-defined communication processes must be strengthened to promote inclusive approach towards effective community-based disaster preparedness and management

Vulnerability Profile and Risk Perception towards an Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction for the Flood Vulnerable Communities of Davao City

Development and disasters are closely linked but the cause-and-effect relationship between disasters and socio-economic development was ignored in the past. Thus, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) observed that disasters were seen in the context of emergency response and not as part of long-term development programming. Overtime, effects of disasters can seriously degrade a country’s long-term potential for sustained development. Vulnerable communities of Davao City have experienced flooding that leads to catastrophic effects costing damage to properties and loss of lives. Communities need to build its resiliency to respond to flooding and mitigate its negative impacts, while policy makers and leaders need to consciously, regularly review and update its existing policies to address gaps and promote effective community engagement. This study aims to examine and analyze the respondents’ vulnerability, awareness and perception of flood risks. A survey using multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted among 353 respondents from the top five (5) flood vulnerable barangays. Data from the key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also integrated to provide an in-depth explanation of the patterns emerging from the survey. Results of the study revealed that the vulnerability is associated with socio-demographic characteristics, experience in flooding and responses to flooding. Moreover, risk reduction strategies can be further enhanced through a risk communication management using a localized and participatory approach in the proper knowledge transfer of flood risk communication among the stakeholders involved. Community-based policies and well-defined communication processes must be strengthened to promote inclusive approach towards effective community-based disaster preparedness and management