A Documentation of the 10-Point Checklist for

Making San Francisco, Camotes Resilient to Disasters

Sasakawa Award Nomination Submission

February 2011

Municipal Profile

The Municipality of San Francisco, which is among the four municipalities that constitute the Camotes Group of Islands in Central Philippines, has high vulnerability to multiple geohazards. Such hazards include typhoons, floods, landslide and strong monsoon winds. Moreover, communities are also vulnerable to fires as most houses are made of light materials.

As a third class municipality, San Francisco faces an additional challenge of the economic impacts of calamities and disasters. With a population mainly dependent on the sea and land for sustenance, strong winds and heavy rains greatly affect their ability to pursue their respective livelihoods especially in fishing and farming. Being an island municipality, access to supplies from the mainland of Cebu Province is made more difficult during stormy weather, thus aggravating the vulnerabilities of the people of San Francisco.

Figure 1. Profile Map of the Municipality of San Francisco

Figures 2-8. Municipal Hazard Maps

Common hazards that affect communities

Flooding

Typhoons and Monsoon Winds

Given their high vulnerability to multiple hazards, the Municipality of San Francisco believes that making their island resilient to disaster is an important agenda for the Local Government. And key to building resilience is empowering people through providing the environment for communities to create local and practical solutions to achieve Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) objectives.

The Ten Point Essentials: San Francisco is getting ready

Essential # 1:

Put in place organization and coordination to clarify everyone’s roles and responsibilities.

Institutionalized the Purok System in

implementing the DRRM program of the municipality. The Purok system builds on existing indigenous social organization (the sub-village) for mobilizing local resources in creating local and practical solutions to address community needs.

There are 120 existing purok organizations in 15 barangays comprising the entire municipality. A purok is a small geographical unit in a village inhabited by not less than 20 households. A purok is named after a prominent landmark, event in history, tree or plant.

Created the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO) and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (LDRRMC). These are the lead agencies responsible for the implementation of climate change adaptation measures and the disaster risk reduction plans and programs of the municipality.

Launched campaigns to create public

awareness of DRRM programs and activities from the purok level to the municipal level involving purok coordinators, community rescue groups, barangay or village officials and different leaders of various people’s organizations.

Conducted Disaster Risk Reduction -related activities in communities and in schools through the LDRRMO in coordination with religious sectors, Department of Education (DepEd), Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Councils), Camotes Islands Emergency Response Team (CiERT) and Plan International. Priority is given to youth organizing and education in order to involve them in creating and implementing DRR plans and programs that address the impact of climate change in their villages.

Organized the business sector in San Francisco to institute programs that

promote DRR in their business establishments and workplaces.

Conducted and led DRR activities in coordination with local government units in Region VII (Central Visayas) for the formulation of a regional DRRM plan.

Participated in National and International coordination meetings such as the Small

Group Discussion/Consultation for the National Climate Change Action Plan on February 09, 2011 at Mabini Social Hall, Mabini Hall, Malacanang Compound, Manila and the Coordination Meeting with the Leagues for Global Campaign on Making Cities Resilient held on 10 February 2011 at NDMC Conference Room, Quezon City attended by San Francisco Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano.

Outcomes: • Increased level of awareness on impacts of

and community response to disasters among different groups in the municipality.

• Organized rescue volunteers in eleven (11) out of fifteen (15) villages to respond to emergencies.

• Fifteen Sangguniang Kabataan councils formulated a one-year DRR plan and corresponding set of activities last February 20, 2011. The said plan is an outcome of the education campaigns to motivate youth leaders to be more involved in DRR.

• Integrated DRR programs and activities in schools.

• Formulated and approved a Municipal Five-Year Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Plan is (see attached Attachment 2 -file municipal DRRMP)

• Mainstreamed DRRM in the different government offices and agencies in the

municipality through the LDRRMP.

Essential # 2: Assign a budget and provide incentives for homeowners, low-income families,

private sector to invest in risk reduction.

• Allocated the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund in accordance with the Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act. Seventy percent (70%) of the budget is allotted o mitigation and community preparedness while the remaining thirty percent (30%) goes to the Quick Response Fund. (see Attachment 3- Budget Plan)

• Provided financial assistance to

vulnerable families through the purok system’s Capital Build Up (CBU) program. The CBU builds on communal cooperation and indigenous self-help mechanisms of the community by putting up an amount agreed on by residents as initial capital for emergency purposes. The Municipal Mayor initially allocated Php 300,000.00 (USD 6,000) for this program. The municipality also gave out cash awards to the purok that created the most effective DRR program in each village.

• The Department of Agriculture released almost Php 1 Million (USD 20,000) as

livelihood assistance to the farmer and fisherfolk associations.

• Sourced out additional funds from the Provincial Government for financial assistance to support DRR activities in San Francisco.

• Tapped the resources of the business sector to provide assistance for

emergency needs of disaster-affected families.

• Provided funds for the protection of marine and upland resources, implementation of sustainable solid waste management, construction and maintenance of DRR-related infrastructure, and employment of additional personnel for DRR implementation.

Outcomes:

• Enabled the effective operation of the

LDRRM office through fund allocation and employment of additional personnel.

• Increased fluid assets of the puroks by

more than Php 120,000 (USD 2,400). This savings scheme serves as a post-disaster assistance fund for the community.

• Established small enterprises in villages which enabled residents to acquire

livelihood support materials.

• Resulted in implementation of resource conservation and protection programs such as mangrove reforestation, watershed rehabilitation and marine protected area monitoring. Moreover, it also resulted in community-based solid waste management implementation.

Essentials # 3:

Update data on hazards and vulnerabilities, prepare and share risk assessments.

• Conducted hazard assessment in all villages in partnership with Plan International, the Office of Civil Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the local DRR practitioners.

• Shared DRR information and hazard assessments with heads of schools in the municipality.

• Commissioned an expert from the Netherlands to conduct Water Source and System Assessment.

• Disseminated DRR information and risk assessments through the purok system. With the limited access to information and communication technologies such as the internet, cellphones and radios, the purok coordinators are the couriers of information to the residents.

• Initiated information sharing on risk and hazard assessments among different government offices at the regional and provincial levels.

• Created community-based hazard maps installed in strategic and visible areas.

Outcomes:

• Produced comprehensive and municipal-wide risk assessments shared with different offices, agencies and communities.

• Came up with a report on the water source and system assessment in San

Francisco.

• Incorporated DRR data and risk assessment in the purok DRR plan and activities.

• Produced hazard maps in eleven coastal barangays. These were created by the

residents themselves, integrating local knowledge on geohazards in the purok information system.

• Identified communities vulnerable to natural hazards such as floods, landslides,

droughts and typhoons.

• Enabled school administrators to formulate plans on how to make their school safer and disaster-resilient.

Essential #4 Invest in & maintain critical infrastructure

• Built and maintained DRR buildings and infrastructure such as gymnasium, wet market, seawall, flood control dam, and drainage/line ditch canal.

• Installed solar panels to provide

energy to communities without access to the power grid.

• Opened new access roads,

including farm-to-market roads, with improved drainage systems.

• Built a concrete bridge which connects Poro and Pajican

Islands in San Francisco replacing the old wooden bridge.

• Paved roads with warning signs to ensure safety of

motorists.

• Conducted annual inspection and assessments of all public facilities through the Municipal Engineering Department.

Outcomes:

• Increased confidence in the reliability of municipal infrastructure to reduce disaster risks.

• Ensured that safety standards are strictly adhered to.

Essential # 5: Assess the safety of all schools & health facilities and upgrade these

as necessary.

• Conducted DRR orientations in schools.

• Created hazard and vulnerability maps in schools in partnership with Plan International.

• Integrated DRRM and Climate Change education in the curriculum for elementary and secondary schools.

• Conducted annual school drills in cooperation with Plan International and the local Fire Department to prepare students for any eventual calamities.

• Trained the Rural Health Unit staff and Village Health Workers on the basics of Health Emergency Response and DRR. The Municipality has also accredited indigenous health practices related to DRR.

• Instituted the Local Health Ambassadors Program in each village to train community people at the purok level to address health-related issues.

Outcomes:

• Educated students and teachers on appropriate response to emergency situations. Risk assessment and planning in schools are done regularly.

• Enabled students and teachers to become resource persons on DRRM and climate change adaptation in the communities.

• Established rescue and emergency teams composed of teachers and students to complement the Camotes Island Emergency Response Team.

• Produced advocates of DRR among schoolchildren who are at the same time

involved in environmental protection programs.

Essential #6: Enforce risk-compliant building regulations & land use planning

principles, identify safe land for low-income citizens

• Implemented the San Francisco Camotes Master Development Plan (SFCMDP) covering a period of 15-20 years which promotes sustainable solutions to economic and environmental issues/concerns. The plan incorporates hazard and risk assessments of the area into its general development agenda.

• Enforced strict land use regulations and

building, health and safety codes as prerequisites to issuance of building permits.

Outcomes:

• Integrated DRR into the SFCMDP. • Issued permits only to those who complied

with the safety building and zoning regulations of the Municipality.

• Constructed risk-compliant buildings

Essential #7: Ensure education programmes & training on disaster risk reduction

are in place in schools and local communities

• Implemented the Disaster Prevention through Coastal Resource Management (DPCRM) program in schools and coastal communities in partnership with Plan International.

• Conducted a Simplified Disaster Risk Reduction Training in schools and

communities. This was carried out by Plan International with the cooperation of the Local Government of San Francisco.

• Accomplished municipal-wide Water and Sea Rescue Training including in partnership with Plan International.

• Integrated DRR and climate change

adaptation trainings in community-based solid waste management.

• Disseminated IEC materials in schools on

DRR.

• Conducted community-based swimming lessons for young people and children.

Outcomes:

• Increased the level of awareness and participation of students and teachers in SRR activities such as coastal clean-ups, mangrove reforestation and tree-planting and other related community campaigns.

• Integrated DRR consciousness-raising in community festivals called fiestas. They creatively introduce DRR in dance contests, pageants and other entertainment activities.

• Organized community-based rescue volunteer groups which are recognized as the emergency response arm of the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council.

Essential #8: Protect ecosystems and natural buffers to mitigate hazards, adapt

to climate change.

• Adopted the Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (EGWEN) Program and implemented the coastal resource management program.

• Established and maintened six marine sanctuaries as well as set up a bird

sanctuary.

• Set up sustainable solid waste

management facilities run by the communities.

• Banned the use of compressors in

fishing.

• Conducted monthly tree-planting activities with the youth and schoolchildren.

• Carried out yearly coastal clean-ups

with the participation of the youth.

• Promoted sustainable farming and fishing methods to ensure food security of the most vulnerable.

• Ensured rehabilitation and

protection of watershed areas.

• Conducted mangrove reforestation activities.

• Strictly implemented environmental ordinances and

laws.

Outcomes:

• Garnered awards from the Province of Cebu consistently for its environmental programs especially in its implementation of the solid waste management program.

• Increased fish catch and agricultural yields.

• Augmented the income of vulnerable families.

• Cleaned up the coastal areas and streets.

• Provided an evidently clean and healthy environment for the communities, marine and other wild life.

• Increased number of migratory birds in the area.

• Resulted in an increased number of people participating in environmental programs of the municipality.

• Created more marine protected areas.

• Increased the number of eco-tourists due to the municipality’s effective environmental protection programs.

• Improved compliance to environmental ordinances and laws.

Essentials # 9:

Install early warning systems & emergency management capacities

• Tapped traditional early warning systems developed by local residents.

• Installed a digital and manual rain gauge sponsored by Plan International.

• Organized the Camotes Island Response

Team (CiERT)-San Francisco.

• Installed WIFI in the municipal hall to keep the LDRRMO updated on the current weather situation.

• Conducted typhoon drills in the most

exposed and vulnerable villages.

Outcomes: • Trained residents including children in

flood-prone areas in reading the rain gauge device thus making them more prepared for floods and typhoons.

• Equipped the CiERT with skills, knowledge and tools to make them more responsive to emergencies.

• Integrated tsunami and typhoon alert in weather forecasting.

Essential #10: After any disaster, ensure that the needs of the affected population

are at the centre of reconstruction

• Formulated barangay contingency plans in eleven coastal villages and some communities which are prone to storm or tidal surges have been transferred to safer grounds.

• Identified temporary evacuation

centers such as the municipal gymnasium, churches and the Cebu Technological School.

• Established the Women and Children

Protection Unit (WCPU) to ensure that the rights and welfare of women and children are upheld and protected during and after disasters.

• Trained staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the

municipality in providing psycho-social services to victims of disasters.

• Ensured that there is enough supply of rice in times of disasters secured from the National Food Authority.

Outcomes:

• Provided services to women and children through the WCPU equipped with trained and capacitated staff

• Identified resettlement areas as a result of the community contingency plans