Child-Centered Disaster Risk Reduction

and Climate Action Comics Primer

This publication was supported and funded by Margaret A. Cargill
Philanthropies (MACP) as part of the UNICEF Child-centered Disaster Risk
Reduction Program implemented in the Philippines from 2014 to 2022.

This work is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

International

Author: Maricor Pauline de Guzman

Technical Direction: Kamille Ruiz
Editorial Support: Tina de Guzman and Sucelle Deacosta
Design and Layout: FM Monteverde
Comics Artwork: Aleks Zapanta

June 2022
 CCDRR SUPERHEROES:
THE STORY OF PINOY
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
AT THE CENTER OF DRR

THIS IS A STORY OF HOW TO BECOME

A CCDRR SUPERHERO

A SMART, HELPFUL..

AND RESILIENT KID EMPOWERED

BY CHILD-CENTERED DRR!

3
 EARTHQUAKES TYPHOONS

FLOODS PANDEMICS

CONFLICTS

Have you ever

experienced a disaster
in your community, like
earthquakes, floods,
typhoons, volcanic
eruptions, pandemics
or conflicts?

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
4
THE PHILIPPINES IS EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT HAZARDS BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED
IN A REGION WHERE MANY TYPHOONS, EARTHQUAKES..

typhoonbel
typhoon belt
t

AND VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS OCCUR.

climate
climate
change
change

ring
ring
offire
of fire
WE ARE ALSO DEALING WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE AND CONFLICTS IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS ENDANGERS OUR RIGHTS AS CHILDREN TO LIVE IN PEACE, WITH GOOD

HEALTH, AND SAFE FROM HARM. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EAT ENOUGH FOOD
OR DRINK ENOUGH WATER, WE STOP GOING TO SCHOOL, AND EVEN OUR MENTAL
HEALTH IS AFFECTED. MANY CHILDREN GET SICK, AND MANY EXPERIENCE
VIOLENCE DURING DISASTERS.

It’s sad, isn’t it?

But don’t
lose hope..

KIDS LIKE US CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS TO HELP PROTECT AND

STRENGTHEN OURSELVES, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES!
5
 So, how can we
help strengthen
our country?

Disaster Risk
Disaster Risk
Reduction or
Reduction or DRR
DRR

LET’S LEARN MORE ABOUT DISASTER RISK

REDUCTION, BETTER KNOWN AS DRR!

DISASTER
A serious hazardous event that disrupts the functioning
of a community or society and causes damage to people,
things, the economy, and the environment

CAPACITY EXPOSURE
The ability (strengths, characteristics, If people, structures, houses, and
and resources) of an organization, the community and its functions
community or society to manage and are located in hazard-prone areas
reduce disaster risks and strengthen
resilience

VULNERABILITY HAZARD
If a person, community or object A process, phenomenon or human
is easily harmed or affected activity that may cause loss of life,
by a hazard injury or other health impacts,
property damage, social and economic
disruption, or environmental damage

hazard x vulnerability x exposure

RISK =
capacity

DRR is an activity
and a process that aims
to strengthen our community
to prevent the loss of lives,
livelihoods and property in our
families and barangays.

EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN

KNOWING OUR STRENGTHS AND
ALSO OUR WEAKNESSES THAT WE
CAN IMPROVE SO THAT WE WON’T BE
AFFECTED BY DISASTERS.
6
 DRR • DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
has four
pillars...
• DISASTER PREVENTION
AND MITIGATION
evacuation
center
• DISASTER RESPONSE
AND EARLY RECOVERY

• DISASTER REHABILITATION
AND RECOVERY

ARE YOU READY TO BECOME Because we need

A CCDRR SUPERHERO? to be ready!

Let’s begin
our training!

AS EARLY AS NOW, LET’S BE PREPARED

FOR ANY DISASTER

PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT TO Let’s find out

PREVENT OR LESSEN THE DAMAGE how the vulnerabilities
BROUGHT ABOUT BY DISASTERS and capacities of
our community are
identified..

BEFORE, DURING, AND

AFTER THE DISASTERS
WE EXPERIENCE.

7
 Let’s also plan
how we can help
the people affected
by a disaster
right away..

And let’s
make sure we can after a
recover quickly.. disaster

RIGHT NOW, THE PHILIPPINES IS

CARRYING OUT ACTIVITIES AND
PROGRAMS TO HELP COMMUNITIES
ADJUST TO CHANGES IN OUR CLIMATE.

climate
climate
change
change This is called
climate change
adaptation.

BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE IS A

BIG THREAT GLOBALLY, THE
PHILIPPINES JOINED FORCES WITH
MANY OTHER COUNTRIES TO FIGHT
IT AND FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENT.

WE ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
MITIGATION BY REDUCING
OUR GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS, WHICH DESTROY
THE EARTH’S OZONE LAYER

8
 CHILDREN AND YOUTH CAN DO A LOT TO HELP OUR GOVERNMENT!

WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED CHILD-CENTERED DISASTER RISK

REDUCTION OR CCDRR WHERE CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE AT THE
CENTER OF THE ACTION IN STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY
AGAINST DISASTERS AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

THERE ARE GLOBAL FRAMEWORKS THAT CAN HELP US

DO THIS, SUCH AS:

Frameworks
supporting
child-centered
DRR

• UNCRC
• CHILDREN’S
CHARTER
• SFDRR

OUR RIGHTS AS CHILDREN ARE ALSO PROTECTED BY PHILIPPINE

LAWS, PLANS, AND POLICIES ON DRR AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

National laws,
policies, and
plans
• RA 10121
• NDRRMF
• RA 10821
• RA 9729
• RA 10174
• NFSCC
• NCCAP

WHEN CHILDREN AND YOUNG

PEOPLE GET INVOLVED AND
PARTICIPATE IN DRR AND CLIMATE
ACTION, WE BECOME MORE AWARE
OF DISASTERS AND CLIMATE RISKS
AND WE UNDERSTAND THEIR
EFFECTS ON OUR LIVES AND
COMMUNITIES.

9
 Most of all,
WE CAN ALSO SHARE OUR VIEWS AND we become strong and
BETTER PROTECT OURSELVES, OUR effective leaders who are
COMMUNITIES, AND ENVIRONMENT actively making positive
FROM THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF changes in our
community!
DISASTERS AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

We can make adults

better understand our OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE AND
rights and needs during UPHOLD OUR RIGHTS AND NEEDS.
disasters, to help
keep us safer!
This makes DRR
and climate action
in our community
more holistic and
inclusive!

ADULTS ALSO BETTER APPRECIATE

OUR ROLE IN DRR AND CLIMATE
ACTION, SO WE ARE GIVEN MORE..

o,
So let's g
CCDRR
oes!
Superher

JOIN US AND LET’S FOLLOW

10 THE CCDRR PROCESS!
 Let’s join and
participate in local
DRR and climate action
organizations, councils
and committees in
Let’s join our communities.
them in making
risk assestments,
where we study our
strengths and
vulnerabilities.

We can also
help them plan how to
make our community
safer and stronger.

TO DO THIS, WE
NEED TO
STRENGTHEN
OUR CAPACITIES!

PARTICIPATE IN DRR AND CLIMATE ACTION

TRAINING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
AND SCHOOLS.

When we already
have the necessary
skills, we can be actively
involved in implementing
DRR and climate action
programs for our
community

DON’T WORRY, WE ARE A PART OF

CCDRR BECAUSE IT VALUES HOW WE
LEARN AND PARTICIPATE!

11
 It also
recognizes our
specific needs and
vulnerabilities.

We are at the core

of CCDRR because
it puts our rights and
welfare first.

EVEN IF WE ARE AT THE CENTER OF

CCDRR, IT ALSO RECOGNIZES OTHER It uses
SECTORS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES accurate data
IN STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY! and detailed
study for proper
planning!

It ensures
that children’s needs
are included in
the community’s CCDRR is really
plans for.. inclusive and
collaborative!

WASH, Education, Child Protection,

Health, Nutrition, and Social Protection.
12
 Are you still
nervous? Don’t be,
you’re not alone,
many people are here
for you!

LIKE OUR PARENTS, THE SK, LOCAL AND PRIVATE

ORGANIZATIONS, AND OUR SCHOOLS!

The national and

Of course, local DRR councils
the national and local and committees will
(barangay, municipal and also make sure..
provincial) governments
are here for
you too!

that DRR and climate action laws,

programs and activites are made for
children, with children!

We salute you!
You learned
a lot.

13
 Read on for
different examples
of DRR and climate
action activities!

WASH HEALTH
Provide safe drinking water during an Train children and youth on first aid,
emergency, ensure safe and clean water prevent epidemics and pandemics, ensure
and toilets in evacuation centers, remind children with disabilities are safe, monitor
evacuees to wash hands and maintain the health of affected children and
cleanliness communities, provide psychosocial and
mental health services

NUTRITION
Have food stocks ready before an
emergency, provide nutritious food to CHILD PROTECTION
affected children and communities, Establish permanent ‘safe spaces’ for
promote breastfeeding during women and children in disaster-prone
emergencies areas, increase safety in camps and
evacuation centers through good
lighting or women and children
EDUCATION protection help desk
Include DRR in the school curriculum, train
teachers on disaster preparedness,
establish early warning systems, carry SOCIAL PROTECTION
out safety inspections in schools, provide Take advanced action to prevent disasters
temporary learning facilities during from affecting the most vulnerable people,
emergencies provide basic social services during
emergencies

Let us not forget to prepare emergency plan for WASH, Health, Nutrition, Education,
Child Protection, and Social Protection! Let us make sure that our disaster risk
reduction and climate change plans are child-centered, with adequate funding to
strengthen the facilities and mechanisms of these sectors.

Join us! A smart and

You are now helpful kid
So what are a real CCDRR empowered by
you waiting Superhero! child-centered
for? DRR!

14
 AR E
WE
S !
E ROE
H