DUMAGUETE The City of Gentle People: Climate

Change Adaptation & Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Initiatives of

Dumaguete City, Philippines

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Brief Description of the City• Dumaguete is a city in the Philippine province of

Negros Oriental. It is the capital, principal seaport, and largest city of the province.• Dumaguete is referred to as a university town

because of the presence of four universities and a number of other colleges where students of the province converge to enroll for tertiary education.• The city is also a popular educational destination for

students as well as businessmen from the surrounding provinces and cities in the Visayas and Mindanao region, plus foreign/local tourist & retirees who have made Dumaguete City their home.

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Demographic Profile of the City:• Total land area is 3,426 hectares divided into

30 barangays, with a total population of 150,000 which increases to more than 200,000 during weekdays and school days. • 54% (1,850 hectares) is classified as RESIDENTIAL• 25% (856 hectares) AGRICULTURAL• 8% (274 hectares) COMMERCIAL• 6% (205 hectares) Open spaces/Conservation• 4% (137 hectares) Institutional• 2% (69 hectares) used by Small-scale Industries• 1% (35 hectares) classified as Tourist Commercial

Hazard Profile of the City (Typhoon)• As a result of Global Warming & Climate Change many coastal cities and

municipalities in the Philippines are now frequently visited by typhoons more particularly in Dumaguete during the months from October to February where it passes through between the Visayas & Mindanao area. • From 2011 up to the present, three significant typhoons passed through

the city and the province which brought with it significant damage to the area.• On December 17, 2011 almost 50% of the entire population of the city

was affected by floods brought about by Typhoon SENDONG. Total estimated damages from the typhoon on infrastructures, agricultural crops and livestock, livelihoods, lifelines and properties was around 60 million pesos as recorded by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) of Dumaguete City.

Hazard Profile of the City (Typhoon)• Almost a year later, Typhoon PABLO struck

Dumaguete City on December 4, 2012. • The typhoon hit with maximum sustained

winds of 175 kilometers per hour• More than 1,400 families were affected, 73

houses totally damaged and over 1,300 homes considered partially damaged. Again the total cost of damage from Typhoon PABLO was estimated around 40 million pesos.

Hazard Profile of the City (Flooding)• Dumaguete City is located in the

downstream of 2 major river system. Out of 30 Barangays 12 are consistently affected by floods of 0.5 to 2 meters high.• Based on the Philippine population

census, more or less 4,000 families are severely affected by typhoons every year.• The flooding category of Dumaguete City

varies from slow onset to very rapid occurence (Flash flood).

Hazard Profile of the City (Earthquake and Tsunami)• Nearly two months after being devastated by Tropical Storm SENDONG, Dumaguete

City in Negros Oriental was one of the areas where the magnitude 6.9 quake that hit the Visayas region was strongly felt on February 06, 2012 at around 11:45am. • Several houses, buildings and major bridges collapsed, while others sustained

damages in vast areas in the northern province near the epicenter. • The earthquake also caused big cracks on major highways and triggered numerous

landslides burying houses and people. • The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued a level 2

tsunami alert, indicating that the public should be on the lookout for "unusual waves", but did not call for any evacuation. Despite this, most residents of Dumaguete City made a mad rush for higher ground to the mountain town of Valencia believing there was going to be a Tsunami.

Hazard Maps:

The Comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

Disaster Risk Ranking

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Disaster Risk Ranking (scale of 0-10)

Degre of Disaster (scale of 0-10)

LDRRMO STRUCTURE:COORDINATION

COMMAND

Level 1: Regular execution of Disaster Mitigation, Prevention and Preparedness activities

Level 2: Isolated Emergency situation response structure

Level 3: Major Disaster Response structure using the Incident Command System (ICS)

Our Financial Capability for DRR and CCA:

5% LDRRM Fund 5-Year Projection: Dumaguete City

YEAR 5% LDRRMF 70% DRR Operational Budget

30% QRF

2013 22,650,000 15,855,000 6,795,000

2014 24,250,000 16,975,000 7,275,000

2015 26,450,000 18,515,000 7,935,000

2016 28,500,000 19,950,000 8,550,000

2017 31,000,000 21,700,000 9,300,000

TOTAL Php 132,850,000 Php 92,995,000 Php 39,855,000

The 5-Year LDRRM/CCA Plan Core Programs:

• 1) Disaster Prevention Program - Focuses on health, public awareness, research and structural component of disaster risk reduction and management;• 2) Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change Adaptation Program - Aims to protect the

environment and the adaptive measures to the changing climate, physical infrastructure construction and rehabilitation;• 3) Vulnerability Reduction Program - Gives emphasis on the installation and sustaining the

existing initiatives of localized early warning system, enhancing and upgrading DRRM related equipment;• 4) Disaster Preparedness Program - Focuses on two aspects: First, upgrading the internal

system and second, the organizational development of the LDRRM Council and the LDRRM Office; • 5) The Disaster Response Program - Centers on how to utilize the Quick Response Fund (30%

QRF) in an efficient and effective manner during a disaster.

Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation Budget distribution of the City of Dumaguete.

10%

34%

15%

11%

30%Disaster Prevention Program

Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change Adaptation Program

Vulnerability Reduction Program

Disaster Preparedeness Program

Disaster Response Program

Critical needs that have been addressed for the

City’s disaster preparedness…1. WATER • 1 unit 12,000 liter Stainless Water Supertanker with 2 high volume water

pumps for potable water delivery & fire assist.• 3 units Fiberglass water tanks at 3,000 liters capacity each.• PROVINCE has 3 big units Mobile Water Filtration System with high purified

water output capacity.2. POWER • 6 sets Power generators at 10 kva each for Evacuation areas.• 1 set Power generator 400 kva at City Hall. • 1 set 6 kva at City Health office & 1 set 8 kva at DRRM office.

3. COMMUNICATION • All 30 brgys have VHF Base radios & handsets with direct link to City Police HQ.• DRRM Office has 2 VHF Base radios with repeater antenna & Rescue 348

personnel with handsets.• DRRM Office vehicles (3 Rescue, 2 SAGARR, 1 Ambulance, 1 Dumptruck for

relief supplies) have Base radios, as well as Mayor’s office, Engineering office & Public market.• SMART Comm INFOBOARD for DRRM office’s Emergency Alert TEXT BLAST.• 2 sets SATELLITE PHONES.

4. TRANSPORT • City government vehicles & heavy equipment will have additional support

from the Province & Private sector if the need arises.

5. EVACUATION AREAS • PRIMARY Evacuation areas are barangay designated places/buildings within

the barangays for small & manageable emergency situations.• SECONDARY Evacuation areas like the Sports complex, Stadium & big Private

schools are for clusters of 3 to 5 barangays in medium/large Emergency situations (see Response Protocol).

• TERTIARY, are permanent & developed Evacuation Sites at the City high school (200 families capacity) & Barangay Talay area (1000 families & 300 ft above sea level).

These permanent evacuation sites will have proper electrical & water supply, kitchen, male/female toilets & baths for longer duration of stay of more than 1 week.

6. Pre-positioned Emergency Relief • Non-perishable relief items good for 1000 families are stored at the DSWD

building (Big water pail with blanket, towel, slippers, eating utensils & toiletries, sanitary napkin, T-shirts & underwears etc).

• MOA with private sector for Rice, Canned/Food supplies on short notice.• Barangays have their respective community kitchens, facilities & personnel.• On-going meetings held with Civic & Religious organizations for them to help

set up soup kitchens in various strategic sites during the critical first 2 days of a disaster event which will serve free hot coffee, Choco drink and Soup 2x/day.

7. DRRM Office / RESCUE 348 • Has 4 units Rubber boats with outboard motors & Scuba gears, Lifevests, 6

units Chainsaws, Ropes & Rescue equipment, Emergency lights, Medical kits.• Annual trainings have been conducted for Rescue 348 volunteers in Water

Search & Rescue (WASAR), Basic Life Support & First aid, High angle rescue & Ropemanship etc.

8. DRRM Office has clear agreement with Bureau of Jail Management on handling & temporary holding areas for detainees & mental cases during a disaster.

9. Resettlement of informal settlers/families in flood prone areas, although a bit slow & problematic due to not so readily available or expensive lots for housing, are in progress with around 200 families resettled so far.

10. Flood Early Warning systems & protocols are in place. Coordination & Responses have been tested in actual emergencies.

Additional key areas of concern that needs to be addressed: • More Heavy Equipment to respond to regular river siltation caused by perennial floods/flash floods

along our twin watersheds (Okoy and Banica) & for clearing/cleaning immediately after a major disaster, & additional Rubber boats with outboard motors/trailers;

• Mobile Kitchens & Water Filtration System, Portable Toilets to provide humane support to 25,000 evacuees during major disasters, and 20 ftr Container vans for the immediate storage of food & relief supplies near evacuation areas;

• 50,000 pcks Meals Ready to Eat or MREs (5yrs shelf life) to feed 25,000 pax (x2) immediately on the first day of a disaster event;

• Shelter Box (tent, blanket, towel, mosquito net, toiletries, kitchen utensils etc) for 2,000 families;• Additional Fire truck with Boom ladder for high rise buildings & Small Penetrator Fire trucks for

tight areas during fires and Fire coats, Gears & Self Contained Breathing apparatus, & Collapsed building rescue equipment;

• More VHF Radio Handsets, Emergency handcranked dynamo FM Radio/Flashlite for distribution to Barangays & Evacuation centers;

• HD CCTVs to install at critical flood monitoring stations of the City.

Our City is doing its best...

BUT a lot MORE needs to be DONE!!!THE MORE REASONS THAT

WE NEED TO WORK HARDER.