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Contextualising disaster resilience in archipelagic environments

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Dexter Toyado and Aljon Francis Koji Elegado from Catanduanes State University join Deborah Tangunan from University College London to conduct secondary analysis of the World Risk Poll resilience data in the Philippines, comparing local risk data and geographic risk information to support evidence-based decision making for disaster preparedness for the island of Catanduanes.

£2.8 million £2.8 million

invested to date by Lloyd's Register Foundation into projects to put the World Risk Poll into action.

What problem is your project aiming to address?

The C2C project addresses the significant challenge of enhancing disaster resilience in Catanduanes, an island in the Philippines highly susceptible to climate-induced hazards like typhoons, storm surges, and landslides. These frequent and intense disasters threaten the economic stability, safety and wellbeing of the island's residents, particularly those dependent on abaca farming and fisheries.

Despite the Philippines’ overall high resilience identified in the 2021 World Risk Poll, specific geographic and socio-economic conditions of Catanduanes necessitate targeted strategies to enhance local resilience. Our project seeks to identify and address gaps in existing disaster resilience measures by contextualising them within the unique environmental and socio-economic dynamics of the island, ultimately improving disaster preparedness and response.

How are you going to go about this?

Our strategy involves two key work packages. Work package 1 focuses on creating a risk map for Pandan, Catanduanes, by analysing the World Risk Poll data alongside local factors. This includes importing and analysing resilience data from the Gallup World Poll, consulting with local stakeholders to refine survey tools, and collecting resilience data from vulnerable communities. The outcome will be a detailed risk profile that identifies areas needing intervention.

Work package 2 is centred on enhancing support programs. This will involve engaging local stakeholders through focus group discussions, planning and implementing disaster risk management training, and formulating policy recommendations. The project will conclude with the creation of a five-year sustainability and resiliency roadmap and ongoing impact assessments to ensure lasting benefits for the community.

Who will this make safer, and how?

C2C will make coastal communities in Catanduanes, particularly those in Pandan, safer by enhancing disaster resilience through informed policymaking and community engagement. By collaborating with Local Government Units (LGUs) and NGOs, the project will translate research findings into science-based policies that improve disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and evacuation processes. These efforts aim to reduce fatalities and injuries during disasters.

Additionally, the project will focus on improving infrastructure resilience, safeguarding homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from destruction. Training sessions and educational outreach will empower local stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to disasters.

Ultimately, the project seeks to create safer, more resilient communities by addressing the specific vulnerabilities of Catanduanes and integrating both scientific and traditional knowledge into disaster risk reduction strategies.

How does the World Risk Poll data enable this project? What can you do with it that you couldn’t otherwise?

The World Risk Poll plays a crucial role in addressing the need for enhanced disaster resilience by providing its extensive dataset, and specifically its classification of the entire Philippine archipelago in experiencing high disaster occurrence while demonstrating high resilience. This classification provides a foundational understanding of the broader risk landscape in Catanduanes.

This comparative analysis is crucial for contextualising disaster resilience, as it allows us to identify gaps, strengths, and areas for improvement in the province's resilience strategies.

By analysing the Poll data alongside locally collected information, we can assess the effectiveness of existing resilience measures and develop targeted interventions to enhance resilience within vulnerable sectors. It also enables us to recognise the unique environmental and socio-economic dynamics of the island, which are essential for tailoring effective resilience-building measures to its specific needs and challenges. 

Who do you want to talk to, to enhance the impact of this project?

To enhance the impact of C2C, we aim to engage with LGUs, NGOs, and community stakeholders, including farmers, fisherfolk, and coast guards. We will also target the academic community through open-access publications and conference presentations. Engaging these groups through focus group discussions, training sessions, and tailored outreach programs will help translate our research into actionable policies, improve disaster preparedness, and foster resilience within the communities of Catanduanes. 

To find out more about this project, get in touch with the project team at: [email protected].

(Header image: Shutterstock: joshimerbin)

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