`

Part I – Leveling (Definition of Technical Terms)

Damage and Needs Assessment
(also called damage assessment and needs
analysis.) The purpose of a damage
assessment and needs analysis (DANA)
process is to describe, as quickly and
objectively as possible, the health impact of
an adverse event, while considering the
response capacity of the sector and
ascertaining what additional resources are
required to address immediate and future
effects.

Gabion A cage, cylinder, or box filled with rocks,

concrete, or sometimes sand and soil for
use in civil engineering, road building,
military applications and landscaping.

Quarrying The business, occupation, or act of

extracting useful material (such as building
stone) from quarries

Republic Act 10121 (Philippine An Act Strengthening the Philippine

Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Management Act of 2010) System, Providing for the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management
Framework and Institutionalizing the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Plan, Appropriating Funds
Therefor and for Other Purposes.

Riprap Rock or other material used

to armorshorelines, streambeds, bridge
abutments, pilings and other shoreline
structures against scour and water or ice
erosion.

1 COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION
 Part II – Content Analysis

A. Objectives of the Paper

Non-
Government
Organizations

Civil Society People's

Organizations Organization

CBDRRM
Framework

Local
Academic
Government
Institutions
Units

Figure 1: The CBDRRM Framework as used by various stakeholders in the community.

The paper seeks to share the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Framework as it is being implemented by the various stakeholders of the
community such as the following:

• Non-Government Organizations

• People's Organization

• Local Government Units

• Academic Institutions

• Civil Society Organizations

COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION 2
`

B. Salient Features (Highlights)

Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework:

Lessons from Implementation

I. Foreword

A. Abstract
i. Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM)
Framework as implemented by various stakeholders
ii. Development workers’ engagement in projects and activities under each
major phases of the framework
iii. Participatory processes under each phase of the framework

B. Introduction
i. Recall of typhoons that hit the Southern Luzon
ii. Stating the objectives of the paper

II. Community-Based DRRM Framework

I. Historical Background
i. In the past, various NGOs and Pos in the Philippines responded to
disaster through disaster relief operations and disaster preparedness
activities.
ii. Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC) spearheaded the
promotion of citizenry-based development-oriented disaster response.
iii. Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) was organized as a resource
center for community-based DRRM (1999).
iv. Philippine Disaster Management Forum (PDMF) advocated the
community-based DRRM forum (2002), spearheaded in the advocacy
for the passage of a new law on disaster risk reduction.
v. PDMF, et. al. formed the Disaster Risk Reduction Network Philippines
(DRRNetPhils) which promoted community-based disaster
preparedness and risk reduction projects and activities.
vi. A more comprehensive community-based DRRM framework was
developed to guide their work.

II. The Framework

i. Phases of the Framework
a. Prevention and Mitigation
b. Disaster Preparedness
c. Emergency Response
d. Recovery and Rehabilitation

ii. Objectives of the Framework

a. Increase capacities
b. Decrease vulnerabilities

3 COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION
 III. Republic Act 10121
IV. Short Title: Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010
V. Long Title: An Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management System, Providing for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Framework and Institutionalizing the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Plan, Appropriating Funds Therefor and for
Other Purposes.
VI. Passed into law on May 27, 2010
VII. The act addresses disaster responsibly and proactively through a
framework which recognizes important roles and participation of different
sectors of the community
VIII. Community-Based DRRM is a process in which at-risk communities are
actively engaged in the identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring and
evaluation of disaster risks in order to reduce their vulnerabilities and
enhance their capacities and where the people are at the heart of the
decision-making and implementation of DRRM activities.
i. Adherent to the ff. international laws and protocols:
a. Millennium Development Goals
- MDG #7 (environmental sustainability)
b. Hyogo Framework for Action
- Five priority areas
1. Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a
local priority with a strong institutional basis for
implementation.
2. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and
enhance early warning.
3. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a
culture of safety and resilience at all levels.
4. Reduce the underlying risk factors.
5. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective
response at all levels.
c. ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and
Emergency Response
- Vision: disaster-resilient nations and safer communities
- Goal: substantially reduce loss of life
- Objectives: capacitate, assist and enhance

III. Building Disaster-Resilient Communities Project

A. Project Categories
i. PA1: Advocacy
ii. PA2: Enhancement of early warning system
iii. PA3: Enhancement of livelihood

B. Project Examples
i.Social Action Center at Infanta, Quezon (PA2)
ii.Reduction of Flood Risk in Bicol River Basin II (PA2)
iii. Mainstreaming DRR Pilot Projects (PA1)
iv.BDRC Project in Brgy. Sianon, Badiangan, Ilo-ilo (PA3)

COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION 4
 `

IV. Innovations in Disaster Response

A. Background
i. Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) on September 2009
ii. Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation works.

B. College of Social Work and Community Development

i. Conduct of relief operations and rehabilitation works
ii. Conduct of damage needs assessment
iii. Provision of relief packs gave due consideration to gender, older
persons and environmental sustainability.
a. Inclusive of food for three days, clothes, and hygiene kits.
b. Contains the ff. items:
1. Female underwear and sanitary napkins
2. Extra food and clothing for the elderly
3. Using t-shirt from relief goods for packing

V. Participatory Process in Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation

A. Background
i. In November 2004, four strong typhoons successively hit the
Philippines.

B. Participatory Process in Gen. Nakar

i. Relief efforts poured in Gen. Nakar
ii. Support from international NGOs
iii. Rehabilitation of potable water system

C. General Nakar Development Initiatives, Inc.

i. Efforts focused towards rehabilitation of water system
1. Access to safe, potable drinking water
2. Decrease in incidence of water-borne diseases
3. Community participation and accountability for the usage and
management of potable water systems
ii. Activities include the ff:
1. Mobilization
2. Set up implementation and management schemes
3. Water system installation
4. Monitoring and Evaluation
iii. Participation of communities and beneficiaries
1. GENADEV acted as facilitator
2. Neighborhood Association provided labor counterpart
3. Barangay. Officials for coordination
4. Municipal Officials as technical support

5 COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION
 C. Assessment, Conclusion and Recommendations

ASSESSMENT

After the efforts extended by the author to have a thorough and extensive study on
the implementation of the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Framework, the following are the assessment made in relation to the gathered
information on the aforementioned framework:

A. Prioritization of livelihood concerns

a. Cash-for-work
b. Food-for-work

B. Cost-efficient scheme
a. Employment and Income
b. LGU saves on infrastructure expenses

CONCLUSION

Thus, the author concluded that:

 Coordination with various actors and complementation of their roles are crucial to
achieve the goals of increasing people’s capacities and reducing their vulnerabilities.

RECOMMENDATIONS

After the efforts extended by the author to have a thorough and extensive study on
the implementation of the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Framework, the following recommendations are set forth:

I. Government to lay down enabling mechanisms for Disaster Risk Reduction

i. Putting in place responsive national laws and local ordinance

ii. Establishing offices and committees for DRRM from the national to
local levels
iii. Funding for program implementation
iv. Establishing partnerships with other countries

II. NGOs and Pos should play critical roles in community-based programs

i. Coordination
ii. Complementation

COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION 6
`

Part III – Learnings and Reflection

The paper presented the community-based disaster risk reduction and management
(CBDRRM) framework as it is being implemented by various stakeholders, such as non-
government organizations, people’s organizations, local government units, academic institutions
and other civil society organizations. The engagements of the development workers in projects
and activities under each major phase of the framework are discussed. For preparedness and
mitigation, projects that build disaster resilient communities are highlighted, focusing on early
warning systems, advocacy with local governments and building sustainable livelihoods. For
disaster response, having a damage and needs assessment (DANA) and preparing a more
gender-sensitive and older persons-sensitive relief kit are presented as experienced during
relief operations after typhoon Ondoy. For rehabilitation and recovery, participatory processes
engaged in re-building potable water supplies are discussed.

Upon reading and analyzing the content of the article presented by the author regarding
the Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework, I came into a
deep realization of the things that I learned and the newfound knowledge that I gathered upon.
In the first part of the material, I learned that there are two major objectives set forth by the
proponent of the framework: one is to increase capacities of the community to be resilient
amidst natural or man-made disasters, and two is to decrease vulnerabilities of the community
for any adverse or detrimental effects they might face as an aftermath of the disaster. Reflecting
on this point, it is a critical part of the framework that it must respond to the capacities and
vulnerabilities of the community in order for them to be more resilient in facing life’s adversities.

Furthermore, it is also imperative to conduct damage and needs assessment to describe

the health impact of an adverse event, while considering the response capacity of the sector
and ascertaining what additional resources are required to address immediate and future
effects. By doing so, the community is preparing itself for any untoward incidents that may be
brought upon by the disaster. Conducting damage and needs assessment also identifies the
damage done by a disaster, as well as the perceived needs of the community that may be
considered as essential tools for their recovery. Reflecting on this learning, it goes well with the
saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. We should be more vigilant and
always be prepared for any untoward circumstances that is uncontrollable and unstoppable.

Moreover, participation of the stakeholders in the process of development is really a

pivotal factor for the success of a program implementation. Inclusion of community people and
mobilizing their available resources in an indigenous manner will enable participation of the
people in solving their own problems. Participation of the people in disaster preparedness,
disaster response, and disaster risk reduction is significant to enable the people, which is one of
our roles as a community organizer. Community-based disaster risk reduction and management
will be more useful, efficient, and effective if all the people in the community serve as principal
actors in the process of disaster risk reduction and management.

7 COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION
 Another important learning that I want to underscore is the strategy used by the UP-
CSWD. Provision of relief packs gave due consideration to gender, older persons and
environmental sustainability. Inclusion of female underwear and sanitary napkins in the relief
kits provided to the victims of disasters reflects the gender-sensitivity of the UP-CSWD in their
programs and projects. Moreover, the welfare of the old people was also considered as extra
food and clothing for the elderly were supplicated in the packs. Using t-shirt from relief goods for
packing is a very good idea to avoid plastic usage, which is one of the major causes why there
is rampant flooding.

Another key benefit of the framework discussed in the paper is that the framework
prioritized livelihood concerns. Livelihood concerns took priority over other needs. Thus, cash-
for-work and food-for-work is a good way of mobilizing the people while at the same time not
sacrificing their own family’s welfare. Along with this, the scheme proved to be more cost-
efficient. To the community people, this provides them with employment opportunities and
additional income, while the local government units saves on infrastructure expenses and can
use this savings for other community needs.

Recovering from a disaster is quite hard, but it becomes easier for a community to
bounce back if it is resilient and its members maintain unity and cooperation at all times.
Recovering from a disaster will be easier if you have the knowledge on how to do so. By the
framework that requires community participation, it will be easier for the community to stand up
again after being stumbled by the situation.

Above all, coordination with various actors and complementation of their roles are crucial
to achieve the goals of increasing people’s capacities and reducing their vulnerabilities.
Coordinating with each of the various parts of the society and complementing your roles to the
needs of one another will make a harmonious relationship that is pivotal for a community’s
holistic development.

In a nutshell, the paper covered lots of essential information that a community may find
useful in disaster preparedness and mitigation. Non-government organizations, people's
organizations, local government units, academic institutions, and civil society organizations
must work hand-in-hand to prepare the community as its stakeholders in any disaster that it may
face.

Despair is most often the offspring of ill-preparedness. We cannot stop natural disasters
but we can arm ourselves with knowledge: so many lives wouldn't have to be lost if there was
enough disaster preparedness. Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a
sudden, spectacular program. We must always keep in mind: It wasn’t raining when Noah built
the Ark. You need not to be faced with a disaster for you to be prepared. You need to load your
guns even you do not see a war.

COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION 8
`

9 COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM IMPLEMENTATION