The United Nations may reassess the standard toolkit for humanitarian aid and development programming used in other countries to better align it with the distinctive circumstances in the Philippines.
A UN country team has started a paradigm shift in investing in resilience building that includes enhancing national and local capacities to cope with, adapt to and recover from present and future shocks.
The Philippines is the most prone to natural hazards in the world, and such risks are becoming more intense due to climate change.
The UN has been working alongside the authorities in the Philippines to prepare for a wide range of disasters, as the UN resident coordinator in the country, Gustavo González, explains in his blog ahead of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on October 13.
The Philippines, with its 7,100 islands and many coastal cities, has always been extremely vulnerable to intense weather events and natural hazards. Each year there are some 20 typhoons, and many can transform into super typhoons, which are very destructive extreme weather events.
There are also around 20 active volcanoes across the country, and according to experts, the UN can expect a 7.2 magnitude earthquake at any time.
The Philippines ranks number one globally in the World Risk Index, which measures vulnerability and exposure to natural extreme events.
However, the extent of the country’s vulnerability is not well known outside the region, according to the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator.
Gonzalez said the UN’s approach in the country also must take into account regional differences.
In his blog during his visit to an area affected by Super Typhoon Odette in 2021, Gonzalez assumed that it would share the same cultural identity and political dynamics as other parts of the country, but this was far from the case.
Even on a tiny island you can be confronted with totally different socioeconomic realities, in locations just a few kilometers apart
“While one community may ask for mobile phones to rapidly re-establish communications and put solidarity in motion, the neighbouring community may require livelihood support or just some materials to start rebuilding their homes,” he said.
“I remember one inspirational local leader on Dinagat island who was very clear about the priorities of her community following a super typhoon. She respectfully questioned some of our standard and globally practiced humanitarian interventions. She argued that some items were superfluous, while highlighting gaps in other areas, and requested a customized response to improve the effectiveness of the response,
What we learn from such experiences is that building resilience starts by recognizing the invaluable capital of knowledge, skills and assets that a community can offer. The people affected are in the best position to decide what they need and where the UN can add value in the aftermath of a disaster,” he added.
Portraying affected communities just as a combination of needs and vulnerabilities, according to him, is oversimplifying a complex reality. Developing the humility to listen, discover and genuinely engage with communities is an absolute requirement.
Preparation
Building resilience and preparedness remains the most cost-effective way of addressing natural hazards like earthquakes, floods or typhoons. In the Philippines, an ongoing decentralization process provides local municipalities with a major role in assessing risks and planning for disasters, as well as in developing early warning systems.
Gonzalez visited a UN Development Program and UN Habitat-supported project in Albay province in the shadow of the Mayon Volcano, where communities were learning to fly state-of-the-art drones.
The digital mapping of disaster-prone areas provides essential information for the planning and risk assessment to better predict, prepare for, and mitigate the negative impacts of disasters and other natural hazards.
In Mindanao, Gonzalez met the Bajaus, a group of seafaring indigenous people whose houses were severely damaged by Super Typhoon Odette in 2021. Supported by UN Habitat, members of the community rebuilt their houses according to traditional construction practices and using locally available materials.
Recognizing and incorporating local ingenuity has been critical to develop tailor-made solutions. Their houses are now more likely to survive a typhoon, Gonzalez said. UN News
