Philippines multi-hazardous case study

• Context 

  • 7600 islands
  • Over 100 million people
  • 4th richest economy in SE Asia
  • Newly industrialised country
  • Imbalance in wealth distribution
  • 21.6%  below poverty line (mainly rural)
• On western rim of pacific ring of fire → earthquakes and volcanic activity
• Typhoons cross from the Pacific towards SE Asia (most exposed country in world to tropical storms)
• Storms bring flooding and threat of landslides
• This all hinders government attempts to reduce poverty and no of people and assets exposed to hazards
• Cost to economy estimated 0.55 of national GDP, indirect and secondary impacts further increase this cost
• Earthquakes are common. Between 2000 and 2017, 17 earthquakes with magnitude of at least 6.0Mw. Cause death and building damage.
• Earthquake example is 1990 Luzon - 7.8 - over 1600 dead
• Many active volcanoes on its islands (23 or 24). 3 of these have a history of violent eruptions.
• Mayon is the most active volcano. Erupted nearly 50 times in last 400 year. Most destructive event in 1814. Last eruption 2018. Noted for lahars with volcanic ash mixing with heavy rainfall from tropical storms to produce rivers of mud
• Tropical storms. Numerous storms cross the country every year bringing with them a risk of severe flooding, landslides and lahars if combined with volcanic eruptions. Most fatalities in the Philippines are from storm surges.
• Typhoon Mangkhut, Sept 2018, Powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone. Caused extensive damage. Strongest typhoon to make landfall in Philippines since Haiyan (2013). 3rd strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2018
• Risks

  • Vulnerable to main types of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and typhoons.
  • These are linked to secondary hazards → tsunamis, landslides/mudslides, flooding, fires, lahars (often recognised as hazard in their own right)
  • Earthquakes → tsunamis, fires, landslides and crime (looting)
  • Heavy rainfall (associated) with typhoons → flooding, landslides
  • Volcanic ash + heavy rain → lahars
• Past 2 decades, over 300 natural disasters. Filipino officials insist that the typhoon hazard is becoming more severe (due to climate change)
• In the past: Filipinos have flocked to low lying areas for cheap crowded housing. Link with poverty and vulnerable to natural disaster. Rapid urbanisation increased the problem. Tightly packed, flimsily constructed housing
• Environmental degradation such as deforestation has added to problem (steep, unprotected slopes leading to rapid runoff, flooding and the potential for landslides)
• Rely on response/reactive approach. Should be taking proactive approach (mitigation) - eg. land use planning, construction and other preventative measures
• Widespread emphasis on post-disaster relief and short term preparedness (forecasting/evacuation) rather than mitigation and post-disaster support for economic recovery
• Currently: centralised top down administrative system, rather than community based giving raise for local initiatives helping vulnerable communities cope with hazards when they occur
• • Bottom up - Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC)
• Philippines National Red Cross (PNRC)

  Programmes at community level aim to reduce impacts of natural disasters by encouraging people to collaborate in protecting their lives and resources upon which they depend.
• PNRC addressing following areas.

  • Cooperation and partnership with government bodies in order to gain financial support for mitigation measures and to ensure programmes have long term sustainability
  • Training local volunteers in disaster management
  • Identifying mitigation measures which could be physical (sea walls, dykes), health related (clean water supplies) or planning tools (land-use plans, evacuation plans
  • Dissemination of info to whole community
• UN claims Philippines has some of the best risk reduction laws in the world, but most still on paper
• With over 7600 islands, too much responsibility falls to local governments where money isn't always wisely spent
• Recent gov legislation calls for 70% of disaster spending to be used on long term plans, only 30% to emergency aid