The document summarizes the community-level disaster response system in the Philippines. It notes that the Philippines experienced 24 natural disasters in a year, making it the hardest hit country. It then discusses the prevailing view that disaster management has not been a high priority for the Philippine government and responses have been reactive. However, communities developed coping mechanisms and citizen-based approaches to disaster management. The document advocates transforming communities from risk to resilience by building capacity and supporting people's organizations through networking and experience sharing.

1. Culture of Disaster or Preparedness?
Showcasing the
Community-level Disaster
Response System in
the Philippines
P.M. Orencio
GSES
Hokkaido
University

2. Introduction The Philippines led the list of natural
disaster events with 24 disasters
occurring in a year, thereby making
the country as the hardest hit in
terms of calamities.
Criteria used for defining the natural
disasters
• events where 10 or more people
are killed;
• 100 people or more are affected;
• state of calamity was declared;
and
• there’s a call for international
assistance.
14 out of the 24 disasters that hit the
country last year were classified as
We are Number 1! meteorological, 9 were hydrological,
and 2 were geophysical.

3. Prevailing view on disasters and disaster
management in the Philippines
1. Disaster management has not been high in the priorities of the
Philippine Government
2. Government’s response to disasters is limited to emergency
relief, rehabilitation and mitigation are undertaken rarely
3. Response to disasters is inadequate
and reactive, both at national and local
level such that:
• not integrated in the development
planning process
• inadequate hazard monitoring and
forecasting
• limited funds allocated for disaster
management Culture of disaster

4. We are still on the “traditional” approach
for disaster management
1. Disaster response is focused on the
hazard and the disaster event itself.
2. Emergency assistance was
developed based on sense of urgency
and minimal people participation.
3. Perception that recovery problems
can be solved primarily through
outside aid. Dysfunctional
institutions

5. With Government’s neglect, community
developed its coping mechanisms as
adaptation strategy to disaster
1. Community worked together
2. The birth of citizen based community
development approach
• vulnerable or marginalized sectors are at
the heart of the development agenda
• reliance on the capability of the people
to remedy their disaster situation
• considers people’s participation essential
to disaster management
• organizing vulnerable sectors into
disaster response organizations Culture of resilience

6. Transforming at-risk communities to
resilient communities
H= hazard
V= vulnerability
C= capacity

7. Sustaining alternatives to “traditional”
disaster management systems
1. People’s organizations must be continuously
supported through activities that are not
always considered disaster responses, but are
essential in the process of capability building.
2. Strengthen the networking of organized
communities to address equally
vulnerable communities to particular
hazard and its effects
3. Experience sharing to express common
concerns and demands
The CBDR system in a way is developmental in nature, since the responses
strengthen people’s existing coping strategies and their capacities.

8. Thank You!