Disaster Risk Reduction Project proves its worth

The Project

The Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc. and Diakonie – Germany have implemented a partnership project from August 2011 to January 2013 entitled “Reducing Risk, Promoting Peace” – An Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction, Recovery and Peace Program in Central Mindanao. The project combines disaster preparedness, recovery support, and empowerment of communities affected by human-induced and natural disasters in the Province of Maguindanao. It starts with building the capability of KFI as the proponent organization, and then that of its partner municipalities such as Mamasapano, Datu Salibo, Shariff Saydona and Rajah Buayan in the area of disaster risk reduction, management and civilian protection.

In general, the project is aimed at increasing the communities’ capability to respond to the risks of natural and human-induced calamities, which in the context of Maguindanao, more specifically refers to perennial flooding, landslides and the seemingly unending cycle of violence.

As initial step for the attainment of the project goal, the project team conducted series of DRR trainings during the 1st Quarter project implementation – August 2011 and also for the month of November 2011. As project strategy, the project conducted Training of Trainers for 20 KFI staff in Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) on September, then, also DRR trainings for the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) of the four project site municipalities.

The trainings conducted during the six (6) quarters of project implementations were Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Hazard Mapping, Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis, Conflict Management, Climate Change Awareness and Community Orientations of these trainings in 58 barangays of four municipalities covered by this project.

The project was implemented with the support and cooperation among local government units of each municipality. Additionally, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) who supervised all the programs and policies mandated by the government on the issue of DRR has made the project ran smoothly for the entire duration of the project period. It has done jointly with project implementation especially on a kind of interventions to undertake to avoid duplication of activities to be conducted and programs to be implemented. Other line agencies as well, made their commitment to go in hands with its implementation such the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology, Philippine Red Cross – Cotabato Chapter, PAGASA and Department of Science and Technology among others.

Its Implementation

The project team conducted series of formal and casual consultation meetings with various stakeholders. These purposely verified the actual necessities of the target areas, assessed the security of the areas as measure to ensure the safety of the Project Staff, and established working rapport with projected beneficiaries and even the residents of the adjacent areas.

Moreover, courtesy call had been conducted during the consultation meeting to tender the compulsory courteousness to the LGU officials, and to initiate coordination and linkage for future partnership and/or collaboration.

After the courtesy call to all LGUs concerned, the Project Launching in each municipality had conducted. This served as the venue for confirmation of the official commencement of the project implementation, sharing of the vital project information, i.e., the goal and objectives, strategies and duration, the appropriate forum to clarify project limitations to avoid false expectations from the project beneficiaries, affirmation of previously articulated acceptance, support, partnership and collaboration for the project implementation – to influence co-ownership of the project and introduction of the Project Staff.

In consideration to the recent approval of the Republic Act 10121 on May 27, 2010 – the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, all of the target municipalities were categorically unaware of the new law, thus, the structures were not yet organized or if there is, it is un-functional [like the case of Rajah Buayan]. Hence, the Project Team organized and/or reactivated the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) in each municipality. The MDDRMC of each municipality will be considered as the Core Group and Quick Response Team.

The Formation of Community Based Communication and Information Systems and Local Communication Teams (CBCISLCT) were conducted jointly during the Core Group Formation. The composition for this is constituted by MDDRMC plus the Barangay Captains of each municipality. The objective in organizing the CBCISLCT is for the fast and efficient reporting and transmittal of disaster incidence report to the MDRRMC and to the OCD for proper action. Each of the project site municipalities were able to make policies through Executive Orders and Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Resolutions supporting and/or complementing the implementation of DRRM and their respective DRR Contingency Plans. First, the Chief Executive or Mayor of each municipality issued an Executive Order for the creation and/or re-activation of the MDRRMC. Second, another Executive Order for the creation of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) with permanent position Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer and with corresponding staffs and, third, a SB Resolution adopting the drafted DRR Contingency Plan of each municipality.

With the new paradigm of Philippine Laws pertaining to DRR, referral system became more unified and standardized wherein the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) is the direct agency to be referred and the OCD will be the facilitator in information dissemination and actions directors including the monitoring.

In adherence to R.A. 10121, the project was able to established referral mechanism for response, preparedness, prevention, mitigation, rehabilitation and recovery through government agencies.

Goals reached and their Impacts

With the positive result of Bangsamoro Framework Agreement between MILF and GPH, it lessened the occurrence of man-made calamities in the project areas. Moreover, the mandate of the government in the compliance and implementation of Republic Act 10121 – DRRM Act of 2010 and Republic Act 9729 – Climate Change Act of 2009 strengthened the local communities’ proactive involvement. Thus, vulnerable families during this event decreased either. According to the local DSWD and DILG reports,

within the project period and in an event of natural and human-induced calamities, the decline number of casualties is evident. Subsequently, even the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council –Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RDRRMC-ARMM) reported a “zero” casualty on the lives of constituents during the onslaught of typhoon Pablo which brought huge destruction on agriculture and properties to some areas in the province of Maguindanao.

With the general objective to enhance the capacity of the four municipalities in the Province of Maguindanao to effectively and efficiently respond to and reduce the effect and impact of natural and human-induced disasters, capacity building program and lobbying initiatives conducted. Several trainings related to DRR conducted and attended by the core group/quick response team and community members. In addition to that, tapping the MDRRMC members to be the Quick Response Team of their respective municipality was organized and met at least once monthly. In response, local authorities designated the team as the command center during the occurrence of calamities in a 24-hour monitoring and operations.

Aside from the installation of community based communication and information systems, DRR Plan formulated in each of the four Municipalities. This came to actuality because of the trainings and workshops catered by this project among target participants.

Local communities as recipients of the project were informed of the DRR issues. As to the result is concerned, it increases the resiliency of the people in the community in confronting disaster. They have become aware of what to do and what is not to do during the occurrence of calamities. Thus, it reduces the casualties and to some extent lessens its impact to vulnerable individuals.

Knowing the effects of climate change, people in the community as well as the local leaders are work in hands in identifying the causes of such phenomenon and in find ways in preventing its formidable impact to their livelihood, daily activities and to their susceptible lifestyle. Observed behavioral changes occurred specially on its adaptation concern, i.e. the local leaders initiate to promote organic farming, strengthening of proper waste disposal ordinance in the locality, and planning for the tree growing activities for future undertakings.

As part of the concern of this project is to promote peace so as to the response on the human-induced calamities confronted in the project areas, local leaders become vigilant to the occurrence of such skirmishes because of “rido” or family feud. Thus, they themselves take into account some peacebuilding strategies on conflict transformation to find means for conflict resolution. Instances happened in areas of Datu Salibo and Mamasapano wherein two conflicting families declared war against the other brought tension to local residents. Because of the intervention of community leaders of two barangays, resolution was made between and among them. Consequently, the conflict resolved.

All throughout the project period, good to say that smooth application of the activities was done relevant to the very need of areas covered. With the inputs gained from each workshop and several activities of the project, each municipality has established preparedness and mitigation plan on how to confront disasters relevant to what they really need in the area. It strengthened also the awareness and cooperation not just on the part of community leaders but most especially to the people in the community.

The communication and information system helped the locality in dissemination of information and warnings from barangay to LGU up to the Provincial DRR and OCD and made the quick response

possible. Nevertheless, accurate information well established and timely. Moreover, it provided also a more creative and indigenous way of warning system in informing people of the possible eventualities to occur.

Consequently, communities are more prepared than before in the context of calamities. However, with its positive result, further skills training and workshops recommended for more proactive role of the community in an event of disasters in the locality.

Looking forward

The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) issue is totally new to KFI thus, this pilot project with Diakonie is very important. Lessons were learned along its implementation. Significant learning for us is how to deal with the root and the primary cause of the disasters experienced by the four recipient municipalities or even by the entire island of Mindanao which is man-made in nature, the issue of peace and order.

The customary partnership has established of this project. Thus, this brought to a more fruitful attempt in reducing risks among the target communities. In this case, strengthening their capacities and expansion communities for future projects will be reasonable to flourish either. Moreover, KFI is planning to submit another proposal for the sustainability of the project and for its expansion to neighboring towns complementary to what we have already been started in this project.