Vertical and horizontal accountability on disaster preparedness and response of two highly urbanized cities in Metro Manila, Philippines

This paper focuses on the accountability of disaster preparedness and response of two cities in Metro Manila, Philippines. The paper draws a lesson from the experiences of two highly urbanized cities in Metro Manila and how coordinated efforts in disaster preparedness and response among the members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (CDRRMC) were accounted for. This paper provides a deeper understanding of how city governments fulfill their commitments and responsibilities to disaster victims during disaster preparedness and response. This study utilized key informants interviews and focus group discussions among key members of CDRRMC and review of existing laws and relevant policies. The upward vertical accountability is well established as this involves members of the City DDRM Councils as the council members are accountable to their respective City Mayors. Downward vertical accountability is not well defined as this refers to the accountability of DRRM frontline service workers to the disaster victims. The horizontal accountability among members of the City DRRM Councils is yet to be established as this involves different department heads who are at the same level of power and authority. The paper provides fresh insights on the vertical and horizontal accountability in disaster governance of cities in Metro Manila

Ethnic transformation of a Bajau community in Batangas City (part 2): Final report

This research is the second phase of a study entitled Ethnic transformation of a Bajau community in Batangas City, which deals with the ethnic transformation of the Bajau community in their new environment. The study provides a fresh perspective on the ethnic transformation that happened among Bajaus in a non-Bajau territory. The transformation focuses on the Bajaus\u27 economic activities as well as conflict management in relation to their dependence on the sea for livelihood. It seemed that boat-buildng is the only remaining skill of the Bajaus as they have found a purpose other than fishing: pearl vending. Since fishing is no longer a viable source of income due to lack of water space and urbanization, Bajaus in Batangas have shifted to other sources of livelihood such as cooked food vending, opening a beauty parlor and barber shop, and getting formal employment. Bajaus in Batangas continue to adopt the process of managing conflict back in Mindanao. The insecurity of Bajau tenure in the community serves as a form of social control for them not to engage in troubles or conflicts especially with non-Bajaus. Early Bajau settlers have participated in the previous national and local election. Adult Bajaus are more of followers and supporters than leaders while young Bajaus have demonstrated leadership potential. This study is a descriptive research. It utilized interviews with key informants and focused group discussion (FGD) with Bajau leaders, and representatives from the city government and NGOs based in Batangas City

Social preparation processes in ecological solid waste management initiative: Experience of faith-based organizations

One of the health and environmental problems that has reached alarming proportions in most cities of developing countries is the irrational generation and management of solid waste. Many attempts are geared towards technology intensive solutions which are usually expensive and do not suit the culture and practice of a particular city or community. There is a need therefore to look into ways on how to respond to this problem in an innovative manner and with more participation from both male and female residents of the community. This paper focuses on the experiences that were documented through a project in one of the cities in the Philippines that made use of faith-based organization as institution in order to address health and environmental hazards of solid waste. A multi-sectoral committee was organized in partnership with various stakeholders resulting in some community models like the local churches as frontliners in providing basic services on waste management. Further, the report looks into the factors that contributed to and hindered the implementation of the project. The documented project aims to increase the level of environmental awareness and to improve the solid waste management practices of male and female residents of selected communities from a middle-income residential subdivision. The clean recyclables were donated to the different local churches that enabled the purchase of different musical instruments, and equipment such as photocopier and multimedia projector. The project experienced was not without difficulties and problems. The lessons and reflections derived from the project could be useful for the policy making body like the Sangguniang Panglunsod (City Council) and the City Solid Waste Management Board (CSWMB) to maximize the benefits of the strategy and what to avoid in the process. The paper highlights the process of project implementation. Project implementers, partners and other stakeholders were interviewed and existing documentations and reports were reviewed in order to prepare documen

Environmental governance on solid waste management in the Philippines

This examination of environmental governance focuses on Social Private Partnerships (SPPs) in solid waste management. The study looks into the trajectory of environmental governance, the roles and the specific tasks particularly in the performance of Non-State Actors roles and the accountability involved. The research took as a case study of solid waste management implementation in the City of Santa Rosa, Province of Laguna under the social private partnerships highlighting non-state actors such as the NGOs, churches, academic institutions, and industries that are engaged in partnerships. The study made use of data from surveys, focus group discussions and interviews to determine the strengths and weaknesses of different partnership arrangements in the implementation of SWM City of Santa Rosa. The thesis puts forward some recommendations for improvements of partnerships in environmental governance, particularly in the area of law, policy, education and research. For instance, there are recommendations re requirements to document activities, submit reports, auditing, monitoring of partner participation , improving incentives for good accountability and clarifying legal requirements. The overall conclusion is that, for successful environmental governance in this field, a combination of partnership arrangements could promote improved incentives and accountability among non-state actors

From response to responsibility: An academe-industry partnership on solid waste managament in the Philippines

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, a shift in environmental governance began to focus on advocates for effective environmental management by looking into communities and local institutions as important actors involved int he process of environmental governance. There emerged a new view in environmental governance by pinpointing three (3) social actors, the states, markets and the civil society (Lemos and Agrawal, 2006). Taking the cue from said representation lead to an examination of environmental governance by this author, in an attempt to take an in depth look on the roles, participation and accountability of non-state actors in the implementation of the solid waste management program. The paper is a portion of the author\u27s dissertation project. Further, the paper took a look also into the trajectory of environmental governance, the roles and specific tasks particularly in the performance of private sector in its pursuit of corporate social responsibility. Citing a specific example for the research, the author chose a case study, Toyota Auto Parts Incorporated and the different schools in implementation of solid waste management in the City of Santa Rosa, Province of Laguna in the Philippines which explored a least studied partnership known as the social private partnerships (SPP). Making this study unique as it tackled the actual participation of non-state actors such as the academic institutions, and industries that are engaged in partnerships. The study made use of data surveys, focus group discussions and interviews to determine the strengths and weaknesses of different partnership arrangements in the implementation of solid waste management (SWM) City of Santa Rosa. The paper concludes that, successful environmental governance requires combination of partnership arrangements to promote improved incentives and accountability among non-state actors. The paper puts forward some recommendations for improvements of partnerships in environmental governance, particulalrly in the area of law, policy, education and research

Policy advocacy campaign in the Philippines: Omnibus revisions of the Ecological Solid Management Act 2000 Republic Act no. 9003 (PACPORRA 9003)

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act 200

Towards Integration of Climate Disaster Risk and Waste Management: A Case Study of Urban and Rural Coastal Communities in the Philippines

Coastal communities are exposed to various environmental risks, including natural hazards such as storm surges and flooding. As climate change has escalated, the management of such dangers has grown in importance and urgency, particularly among states with long coast lines. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction have attracted attention from policymakers in Southeast Asia, which is one of the most disaster-prone regions. Coastal community resilience, however, is not determined by climate and disaster risks alone, but by other factors as well. Waste pollution is an environmental threat that may affect those who are dependent on marine resources. These multiple factors contribute to coastal resilience and are, in fact, addressed separately as different issues; therefore, conflicts or synergies in respective countermeasures often become oversights in the policy-making processes. Through a case study of key Philippine stakeholders, including fishing communities, we identified impacts of climate change, natural hazards, and waste on the livelihoods of community residents and the interplay among these factors. We aim to better understand the situation on the ground and contribute by improving policy recommendations for coastal communities. An integrated approach to enhance coastal adaptation is critical for maximising the effectiveness of the limited resources of communities