Session 11 - Planning Issues and Problems

Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

Focus : 2006 Guinsaugon, Southern Leyte Tragedy
Based on Case Study Findings (2010)

Dr. Zenaida A. Manalo

School of Urban and Regional Planning
University of the Philippines

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This power point presentation was designed exclusively for Plan 201 and cannot be copied
and used, in part or whole, for other purposes.
 Definitions

Climate Change
A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human
activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in
addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.

Climate Change Adaptation

Actions taken to help communities and ecosystems cope with changing
climate condition.

Source : UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

LEGAL FRAMEWORK :
RA 9729 (2009) – Philippine Climate Change Act
____________________________________________

Salient Features of the Law :

 Climate change was mainstreamed into the government

formulation of programs and projects, plans, strategies and
policies. It called for the State to integrate the concept of climate
change in various phases of policy formulation, development plans,
poverty reduction strategies, and other government development
tools and techniques. This is to ensure that government plans
and actions are founded upon sound environmental considerations
and sustainable development principles.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK :
RA 9729 (2009) – Philippine Climate Change Act

 Created the Climate Change Commission (CCC) – this was

established as the lead policy making body on all concerns
related to climate change. It was tasked to coordinate, formulate
and, monitor and evaluate programs and actions on climate
change. Its primary goal was to formulate the National
Framework Strategy on Climate Change.

It is an attached agency to the Office of the President and is

composed of related government agencies, LGUs, and
representatives from the academe, business sector, and NGOs.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK :
RA 9729 (2009) – Philippine Climate Change Act

 Led to the formulation by the CCC of the National

Framework Strategy for Climate Change (NFSCC) – this is a
road map for national programs and plans towards more
climate risk- resilient Philippines. Its goal is to build the
adaptive capacity of communities, increase the resilience of
natural ecosystems to climate change, and optimize
mitigation opportunities towards sustainable development.
NFSCC serves as the framework for the formulation of
climate change action plans, both at the national and local
levels.
 Definitions
Disaster Risk
Potential disaster losses in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services,
which could occur in a particular community or society over some specified future
time period.

Disaster Risk Reduction

The concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts
to analyze and manage the causal factors of disaster by reducing exposure to
hazards, lessening vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land
and the environment, and improving preparedness for adverse events.

Disaster Risk Management

The systematic process of using administrative directives, organizations and
operational skills, and capacities to implement strategies and policies, and to
improve coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards and
the possibility of disaster.

Source : UNISDR – UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

LEGAL FRAMEWORK:
RA10121 (2010) – Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management (DRRM) Act
______________________________________________
 Salient Features of the Law:
Sec 11 – mandated all provinces, cities and municipalities
to establish a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management (DRRM) Council .
Sec 12 – called for the creation of a Local DRRM Office to
formulate a comprehensive and integrated local DRRM
Plan.

 RA 10121 amended PD 1566 (1978) which transformed

the DRRM of the country from disaster relief and response
towards disaster risk reduction.
RA10121 (2010) – Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management (DRRM) Act

 Puts more emphasis on strengthening the people’s

capacities to absorb stress, maintain basic functions
during disasters and bounce back better from disasters.

 The DRRM Act centers on a pro-active way of addressing

disaster thru a framework that:
 prioritizes on community level DRRM focusing on
the most vulnerable sectors (the poor, the sick, people
with disabilities, the elderly, women and children);
RA10121 (2010) – Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management (DRRM) Act

 recognizes the important role of local communities and

seeks to strengthen their capacities;

 subscribes to the bottom up and participatory approach;

 addresses the root causes of disaster risks.

 Aims to build the resilience of the nation and communities to

disaster and reduce vulnerabilities and risks to hazards.

 Focuses on : Risk Assessment, Knowledge Management, Disaster

Preparedness and Disaster Response.
MAJOR REFERENCES:

Climate Change Commission (2014). Supplemental Guidelines on Mainstreaming

Climate and Disaster Risks in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan

Climate Change Commission (2010). Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2028.

Climate Change Commission (2009).National Framework Strategy on Climate

Change, 2010-2022

NEDA (2008). Disaster Risk Reduction Mainstreaming Guidelines

RA 9729 – Climate Change Act of 2009

RA 10121 – Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010

CASE STUDY:
The Story of Bgy Guisaugon, St. Bernard, S. Leyte*
Bgy Guisaugon is one of 16
villages in the 4th class Municipality
of St Bernard, Province of Southern
Leyte. In 17 February 2006, after
two weeks of heavy rains, a portion
of Mt Kan-abag collapsed, covering
Bgy Guisaugon with tons of rocks,
mud and debris, burying at least
1,000 people, leaving behind 28
Injured and 410 registered
survivors. 480 hectares of land
were nearly wiped out.
______________________________________________________________________________
•Published in 2010 through the Strengthening Climate Resilience Program for the SCR Regional
Consultation in Bangkok, Thailand, 22-23 July 2010. The Program is supported by the Institute of
Development Studies, Christian Aid and Plan Philppines.
Environmental Profile of Bgy Guinsaugon
St. Bernard, Southern Leyte
The landslide occurred along the steep
fault scarp of the Philippine Fault Zone.
Southern Leyte lies along the active
Philippine Fault Line very near the
Philippine Trench and is located within
the “Ring of Fire”. Guinsaugon was right
at the foot of the scarp, directly along the
path of the downward moving mass of
earth. The avalanche was triggered by
heavy rainfall and a 2.6 magnitude
earthquake. Based on geo-hazard maps,
St. Bernard was confirmed to be
vulnerable to typhoons, flooding,
earthquakes, tsunami, liquefaction and
storm surge.
Pro-Active Disaster Risk Reduction/
Management Approach
DRRM Action Plan :
 Reactivated the St. Bernard’s Municipal Disaster Coordinating
Council (MDCC);
 Conducted a series of training programs on disaster preparedness,
participatory risk assessment and mitigation, emergency response,
municipal and barangay contingency planning;
 Updated the CLUP using identified risk factors based on the
results of multi-hazard mapping and based as well on the capacities
and vulnerabilities of communities and municipalities;
 Relocated communities in danger zones to areas less prone to
hazards;
 Established a Flood Early Warning System with the assistance
of GTZ;
 Conducted regular flood-tsunami-landslide-earthquake drills;
DRRM Action Plan :
 Set up the St. Bernard Emergency
Response Unit;
 Constructed gabion (large wire baskets
filled with rocks) to stabilize shorelines and
slopes as flood mitigation measure;
 Used coconet (tough netting made of
coconut husks to anchor the soil ) on
mountain steep slopes in order to lessen
landslides in St. Bernard;
 Undertook dredging of Lawigan River;
 In partnership with Gawad Kalinga,
established permanent relocation sites for
households living along riverbanks and
along the coast, areas which are
vulnerable to storm surge and tsunami.
Ridge to Reef Approach in protecting and
conserving Natural Resources

CCA (Climate Change Adaptation) Action Plan :

 Established mangrove greenbelt and undertook rehabilitation of

mangrove areas to mitigate typhoon surge;
 Implemented restoration and conservation of the eco-system like
reforestation and assisted natural regeneration projects like agro-forestry
and bamboo plantation;
 Promoted alternative livelihood like planting of fruit trees and bamboo
plantation as a mitigation measure against soil erosion;
 Undertook the rehabilitation of irrigation systems to increase rice
production to address the basic food needs of the rural households;
 Harnessed the youth in averting climate risks by involving them in
the planting of mangroves, trees and bamboo.
The Story of Bgy Guisaugon, St. Bernard
Southern Leyte : The Lessons Learned
 Multi-sectoral participation – all sectors of the community participated
actively in the formulation of the Barangay Development Plan. Farmers,
businessmen, women’s groups, seniors and others were obliged to
attend the Land Use-based Barangay Development Planning workshop.

 Listening to the voice of the most vulnerable – They adopted the

rights-based approach where the less fortunate and most vulnerable
(children, elderly, people with disabilities, those living in danger zones)
are given the first priority to be served;

 Accountability and transparency – foremost is to beneficiaries and to

donors as well (CARE Philippines, GTZ, Philippine National Red Cross
Plan Philippines).
The Story of Bgy Guisaugon, St. Bernard
Southern Leyte : The Lessons Learned

 Advocacy and enabling legislations – the mainstreaming of DRR

and CCA in the local development planning has been achieved
through the ELA (Executive-Legislative Agenda). There was a
suggestion that a resolution be passed by the Sanggunian Bayan
authorizing the local Chief Executive to engage in partnerships with
civil society organizations concerning DRR and CCA activities.

 Political will – the Mayor and the municipal officials must demonstrate
strong and determined commitments to implementing DRR and CCA,
without bias to any political affiliations or socio-economic divisions.
Additional Information :

In 2008, St Bernard received the Gawad Kalasag

Award, an annual Presidential Award given to the
municipality/city/ province which has the most
exemplary Disaster Coordinating Council and for
having the best DRRM Program in the country.
 Philippines Resilient Cities Award 2014

 Making Cities Resilient Campaign was launched by UNISDR in 2010.

 Philippines Resilient Cities Award 2014 was launched by Sen Loren Legarda
during the Philippines Resilience Forum last 13 October 2013. Search for
Role Model City in Urban Resilience is on-going this year.

 Recognizes communities that have excelled in disaster risk reduction and

climate change adaptation through
 compliance with laws such as Solid Waste Management Act, Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Act and Climate Change Act;
 successfully implemented land use planning;
 made necessary investments to reduce disaster risks;
 demonstrated excellence in the adoption and implementation of the
Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient (UNISDR 10-pt checklist)*.

 Applicants may be a city administration or a local government.

* Source: UNISDR Toolkit for Local Government.