A holistic approach to disaster resiliency

Natural disasters come and go, and it is the communities that are left to deal with the consequences. We know all too well that the worst of these calamities leave a trail of casualties, render the survivors homeless, destroy key infrastructure, and disrupt the delivery of goods and services.

We saw this again with Typhoon Odette, which tragically struck our country a few days before Christmas this year.

Every time a disaster befalls us, we see the valiant efforts of Filipinos to rebuild their communities and economy. In a statement entitled “Disaster resilience is key to building back better,” the Philippine Business for Environmental Stewardship (PBEST) expressed that “We have always somehow managed to pull through — but we would have done better if we had necessary protection and preparedness in place.”

Mitigating climate change and implementing climate action are thus not isolated efforts. It requires a holistic effort involving government, the private sector, civil society, and the communities.

Government should be able to enable seamless coordination among national and local agencies and units. This is where the whole-of-government approach is best applicable. The Departments of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Agriculture (DA), and Interior and Local Government (DILG), among others, should perform the role of first responders on different fronts.

For instance, should roads and bridges become impassable, the DPWH must be able to mobilize immediately to repair and clear transportation routes and provide alternative passages if such are heavily obstructed. For DILG and DSWD, constant coordination and communication should be established with LGUs in terms of evacuation, relief provision, and rescue operations.

Case in point is when power and telecommunications services were put out of service by Odette’s destructive force — two closely linked services that are indispensable in our lives and more so for disaster response and relief operations — the response teams of these utilities are themselves confronted with daunting mobility obstacles in the wake of the devastation.

The role of national agencies as the first responder is equally shared by the local government units (LGUs). Grounded in the communities, LGUs are directly concerned in providing the immediate preparation and precaution for typhoons. Emergency evacuation and the readiness of relief provision should always be ensured for the communities and targeted populations.

LGUs, in particular, should also be at the frontline of clearing operations for power and telecommunications lines that are critical to the dissemination of information and news, provision of relief services, and the availability of electricity. Another aspect where LGUs perform a decisive role in times of calamities refers to the establishment of early warning systems, strict implementation of evacuation protocols, and building resilient evacuation centers that are complete with supplies and able to withstand super typhoons. Hence, the role of the National Government is to empower LGUs by investing in their capacity building and disaster readiness.

In this sense, local and national synergy that demonstrates a strong collaboration among government units, agencies, the private sector, and civil society is essential in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

With regard to the delivery of public goods during and after a ravaging typhoon, we are reminded of the intricate relationship between two sectors — power and telecommunication. As PBEST aptly puts it, “One of the many lessons that can be learned is that power and telecommunication are intimately related, and the disruption of one — or both — of these services could deal a serious blow to recovery, relief, and rehabilitation efforts.”

PBEST adds: “At the ground level, government policies should be geared to strengthening our electric cooperatives who are nearest to the ordinary Filipinos in the communities and are familiar with their daily needs and demands. The private sector can complement this effort by providing the expertise and investments needed for their efficient and effective operations.”

As to the national effort of addressing the adverse impact of climate change, the country’s commitment to climate action is demonstrated by the following: 1.) ratification of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol in 2016 and the Paris Agreement in 2017 by the Philippine Senate; 2.) the Climate Change Act of 2009 or R.A. 9729 and its amendment in 2012 under R.A. 10174; 3.) the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change; 4.) the Philippine Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development; 5.) the National Climate Change Action Plan, and, 6.) the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

Noteworthy in the said commitments are the emphasis on resilient communities and the framework for climate action, and the annual provision of funds, i.e., the People’s Survival Fund (PSF) amounting to P1 billion.

First and foremost, the anchor of any climate advocacy or action should be the establishment of resilient communities because the effectiveness of climate adaptation and mitigation actions are dependent on them. Second, the PSF should be reviewed in order to determine its utilization and continuation. And third, environmental stewardship, green economy, and waste management are the components of a sustainable society.

These numerous commitments to climate action highlight the importance of private sector interventions in relief, rebuilding, and recovery operations. Civil society groups, philanthropic organizations and international aid also assume a distinct role in the said interventions.

The holistic effort to build resilient communities and government, galvanized by an active private sector and civil society, is the country’s first line of defense against climate change adversity.

Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit is the president of the Stratbase ADR Institute.