Strengthening

Climate
Resilience
Office of Civil Defense, Philippines SCR
Case Study
Summary
PHILIPPINES

Which of the three pillars does this

project or policy intervention best
illustrate?
Tackling Exposure to Changing
Hazards and Disaster Impacts
Enhancing Adaptive Capacity
Addressing Poverty, Vulnerability and
their Causes

The READY project is in line

with the national governments
priorities for disaster prepared-
ness, mitigation and response.
Moreover, the project currently
addresses the Hyogo Framework
for Actions identified priorities for
action. As this is employing a multi
-hazard approach, it significantly
includes hydro-meteorological haz-
ards assessment and promotes Natural disasters know no bounds or limits, but, preparing our communities for its ill-
community preparedness actions effects is our responsibility regardless of culture and ethnicity. Thus, this project is in re-
for those most at risk to the dan- sponse to the need for a more rational and effective basis for contingency and long term develop-
gers and negative impacts of the ment planning and most importantly, increasing the capacities of our communities to prepare for and
changing climate. respond to natural disasters and ultimately, develop adaptive capacity to address climatic risks. The
Hazards Mapping and Assessment for Effective Community-based Disaster Risk Man-
The outputs of this project -- spe- agement or READY Project aims to develop a systematic approach to community based disaster
cifically the hydro-meteorological risk management through: (1) scientific multi-hazard mapping as the first step to risk assessment; (2)
related hazard maps, i.e. flood/ community based disaster preparedness; and (3) initiation of mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction
flashfloods, rain-induce landslide, into the development planning process of the local government units.
and storm surge -- feeds into the This project is most applicable to communities which are prone to natural disaster due to its geologic
local / municipal / provincial studies setting such as the Philippines. Most specifically, it is applicable for developing countries where DRRM
and analysis of options for climate has started to gain momentum along with efforts to promote Climate Risk Reduction. In the Philip-
change adaptation. The learned and pines, the project addresses the problem of disaster risk management both at the national and local
acquired experience of communi- level. At the national level, the project aims to institutionalize and standardize DRM measures and
ties in the observation of their own processes by different organizations involved its delivery as such while management of the timing of
early warning system for floods and project implementation and engagement with local government have been prioritized. At the commu-
the conduct of drills help them nity level, it aims to address the non-availability of hazard maps, the lack of community based hazard
develop their resilience to better monitoring and warning systems and the need to build up the capacity of community leaders to imple-
adapt to the climate-induced envi- ment activities and measures for disaster reduction . It also aims to empower the most vulnerable
ronment. municipalities and cities in the country and enable them to develop effective disaster risk management
plans.
The Project targets 27 high risk provinces in the Philippines vulnerable to natural hazards. It is funded by the Australian
Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The imple-
menting agency is the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the Secretariat and operating arm of the National Disaster Coordi-
nating Council, while the responsible partners are the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS),
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAGASA), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).
 Below: Some examples of the IEC materials
produced under the project

The READY project has three main com- Component II: Community-based
ponents which articulate the processes of Disaster Preparedness
how DRR is implemented as designed by
the key players. Its partnership built 1. Development of Information, Education
through the years has been the driver in and Communication (IEC) strategies and
pushing for the achievements of its objec- materials for specific target groups
tives.
The result of the Projects mapping are
The three main components are: presented to the concerned local govern-
ment units (LGU) to inform disaster risk
Component I. Multi-hazard identifi- management and development planning. In
cation and assessment preparation of the IEC event, LGU coordi-
nation is promoted where maps undergo
(hazard maps produced in the 27 target prov- peer review, dry run for lectures are held,
inces). Natural hazards posing risks to con- and training on how to conduct effective
cerned communities are documented in IEC with media/press beefing/conference
the form of multi-hazard maps. These and the review/report of activity. Partici-
maps are peer reviewed by the multi- pants in the IEC Workshops include local
agency mapping group (which includes leaders (province, municipalities, cities &
PHIVOLCS, PAGASA, NAMRIA, and villages) and teachers. The Project has also
MGB) together with the executing agency developed standardized IEC materials such
which is OCD. Once revised and finalized as posters and flyers user-friendly techni-
these are then converted into digital for- cal terms for each hazards.
mat with all data and analysis integrated by
NAMRIA. The integrated maps will then 2. Establishment of Community-based
be presented to concerned local govern- Early Warning System
ment units (LGUs) through the conduct of
IEC campaigns. Updates and further tech- The community based early warning sys- set disasters like floods/flashfloods and
nical comments are then integrated for tems (CBEWS) for floods and tsunami is a tsunami.
the finalization and printing of the maps low-cost, non-structural mitigating system
which are distributed to target LGUs, gov- that empowers the concerned community In all CBEWS activities, memoranda of
ernment offices and decision makers. to plan and act in the event of sudden on- agreements are forged between READY
agencies (PAGASA, OCD, PHIVOLCS,
MGB ) and local communities for sustain-
ability. Under the said agreements, the
LGUs provide financial allocations for the
operation and maintenance of the CBEWS
to ensure sustainability of the system.

A. Community-based Flood Early Warning

System (CBFEWS)

For flood hazards, a community based and

river basin approach is employed and a
network of rainfall and water level moni-
toring gauges in the river basin of concern
is installed. The communities covering
each basin are linked together under one
CBFEWS with strategically installed rain
gauges and water level monitoring sys-
Above: some examples of the finished multi-hazard maps
produced under the project tems. The warning set up is based on the
Below: Some examples of the IEC materials
produced for tsunami hazards

ity assessment involving site investigation, Component II: Initiation of main-

gathering of community maps, identifica- streaming of disaster risk reduction
tion and evaluation of evacuation sites and into the local planning process.
routes and determination of tsunami sign-
age location. IEC campaign are conducted Capacity Building takes place through
a few days before the tsunami drill, when Training workshops on the use of a hazard
information on earthquakes and how and risk assessment software (REDAS).
these can generate tsunamis and on pre- Developed by PHIVOLCS in 2002-2004
paredness activities are taught during under the DOST-Grant-in-Aid project, the
these IEC. The whole community is in- REDAS (Rapid Earthquake Damage As-
volved in the evacuation drills and in the sessment System) is a seismic hazard simu-
conduct of an on-site assessment -- done lation software that aims to produce haz-
immediately to improve the effectiveness ard and risk maps immediately after the
of the exercise. occurrence of a strong earthquake or for
a potentially damaging earthquake
A set of preparedness activities that (scenarios). Other hazard maps produced
teaches barangay stakeholders information under the project are incorporated into
on tsunami and appropriate response to the REDAS software. The software con-
its hazard are also executed. tains a database of earthquakes and also of
critical facilities and elements at risk
C. IEC campaign conducted for 27 provinces (schools, bridges, urban areas, houses).
The risk database can be updated by local
The READY Project Team is directly re- government. LGUs were trained on how
sponsible for the design and user friendly to use the REDAS risk assessment tools.
publication on natural hazards in the coun- Target officials trained include Planning
source, path and depositional area. Site try. Designs have been standardized for Officers, Disaster Coordinating Council
surveys, installation of monitoring facilities, the reproduction of posters and flyers. (DCC) members. The modules includes
measurement of the depth or carrying Mapping results and IEC materials are dis- map reading and functionality of REDAS
capacities of rivers to establish flood seminated province-wide as part of IEC (e.g. sorting, query, database building, etc),
warning levels, on-site and formal training campaigns with IEC materials covering basic concepts on land use planning, and it
of observers and volunteers and pilot test- disaster risk mitigation. In addition, hazard also trained Community Officials on how
ing of the systems through flood drills. signage (i.e. floods, tsunami, landslides and to build their own hazard and risk data-
Procedures and activities undertaken in- rock fall) are installed and special IECs for base. This GIS software serves as the
clude: Volunteers identified by the LGU rain-induced landslide and flashflood haz- tools of local planners and disaster risk
officials are mobilized to conduct early ards are also being conducted. managers utilized for land use planning,
warning readings. The volunteers/ contingency planning as well development
observers are trained to observe and of preparedness plans in their respective
transmit the data to the Disaster Opera- Below: During the Tsunami Drill localities.
tion Centers (DOC) of the city/ Assessment and Evaluation
municipality/village. The observed data is
the basis for the LGUs to issue flood
warnings, together with the weather fore-
casts from the local PAGASA station.

B. Community-based Early Warning

System for Tsunami

For tsunami hazards, CBEWS, training of

trainers for local planners and disaster risk
managers are conducted, signage is in-
stalled, evacuation maps are made and
tsunami drills are undertaken in pilot sites
recommended by the experts in consulta-
tion with local officials in concerned LGUs.
Preparatory activities include site suitabil-

3
Project Impacts
The READY Project has become a catalyst in realizing the National Economic and the De-
velopment Authority (NEDA) of the Philippines endeavor on mainstreaming DRR & CCA
in its Physical Framework Planning. It has triggered sustainable partnerships with the sci-
entific and engineering community, both from the government and private sector, bridged
the gap of science-based tools for decision-makers/takers, development planners and DRR
Managers. It further demonstrates to the international partners that government agencies
involved in the project can deliver and prudently use the funds that it entrusted, thus,
trust and confidence of international & regional bilateral/multilateral partners in projects
implementation has been enhanced resulting in a generation of innovative ideas towards
DRR implementation and widening the scope of partnerships for more relevant programs.
Most importantly, there is increased recognition, at all levels, that DRR strategies are in-
deed interlinked with CCA and it is the most basic applied discipline in pushing for pro-
gressive development, in almost all sectors.

The READY Project is continuing its implementation in the remaining provinces to be cov-
ered and its methodologies and strategies have been recognized such that its template has
been adopted for the greater Metro Manila area and recognized and at the regional arena.

Lessons Learned
A multi-hazard approach and tapping expertise of multi-agencies are effective strate-
gies to ensure holistic and effective hazard mapping and public education campaigns.

Development of sustainable community-based early warning systems especially for

sudden-onset natural hazards is an effective way to empower communities in disaster
risk mitigation. However on the ground, nurturing of concerned agencies during the
course of project implementation is needed.

Effective and sustainable DRM in the community level must always have LGU support
to succeed.

Local technical expertise exists in the field of hazard mapping and must be engaged/
explored.

It is best to tap local experts for IEC campaigns as they are more familiar with local
needs and can relate more with local people Resources:
"Hazards Mapping and Assessment for Effective Commu-
nity-based Disaster Risk Management or READY Pro-
It is important to link non government organizations (NGO) in ensuring sustainable ject,, Lenie Alegre, OCD
disaster risk mitigation efforts.
The READY Project, Disaster Reduction Hyperbase (DRH-
Asia), http://drh.edm.bosai.go.jp/

This case study summary was published through the Strengthen-

ing Climate Resilience programme for the SCR Regional Consul-
tation in Bangkok, Thailand, 22-23 July 2010.
For more information on this project,
Strengthening Climate Resilience (SCR) is a DfID funded programme that aims to please contact:
enhance the ability of governments and civil-society organisations in developing countries to
OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE
build the resilience of communities to disasters and climate change as part of their development
NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATING
work. The programme seeks to develop a climate smart approach to managing disaster risk
COUNCIL (NDCC)
and development with the aim to protect society from the threats posed by climate change.
Camp Aguinaldo
For more information on SCR, please contact Mr. Atiq Kainan Ahmed, Plan International, Quezon City, Philippines
Asia Regional Office, email: [email protected]
MS. LENIE D. ALEGRE
Project Monitoring Officer
email: [email protected]