INSTITUTIONALIZING DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

1. INSTITUTIONALIZING DISASTER RISK REDUCTION “Building a Local Government Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction” - Consultative Meeting Barcelona, 22-23 May, 2008 CEDRIC D. DAEPAlbay Public Safety & Emergency Management Office Province of Albay, Philippines

2. Province of Albay CONTEXT Located in the Southern part of Luzon about 500 kilometers SSE Of Manila Philippines. It is geo-graphically located within the ring of fire and the typhoon belt region Bicol Region Philippines Mayon Volcano

3. Disaster Risk and Vulnerability – PROFILE & TRENDS • 19 to 21 occurrences of typhoon per year in the Philippines of which 3-5 hit the Province of Albay. • About 198,000 houses threatened by wind destructions and at least 350,000 people have to evacuate. • Mayon Volcano Eruption threats – 3 cities and 5 municipalities • 127 villages or 11,000 to 12,000 families threatened by landslides • About 300,000 population out of 1.2M threatened by tsunami • Eight municipalities and two cities threatened by floods.

4. WHAT has been done so far to address the issue? • Institutionalized Provincial Disaster Management Office and the Provincial Disaster Operation Center • Established Early Warning System, Communication Protocol and Evacuation Procedures at the community level. • Organized Local DCCs and redefined the functional roles and responsibilities of the DCC members and task unitsEstablished Policy on Operational Control and Protocol • Hazard awareness through Community-Based trainings and seminars • DRR integration to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan

5. What have been the GOOD PRACTICES… • Institutionalization of the Albay PDMO now APSEMO • Community-Based Early Warning System, Communication Protocol and Evacuation Procedures • Good working relationship between APSEMO, Warning Agencies and the Local Media • Established Disaster Operation Center as the hub of action and the center of emergency coordination and communication

6. The Guiding Principles… • Institutional not personality oriented • Permanent Solution not Temporary • Early evacuation is better than rescue • Disaster Proofing approach • -CLUP = Disaster Risk Reduction • -No or selective investment in High Risk Zone • -Maximum Protection in the low to moderate risk zone • -Safe zone as the site for the new development • Investments

7. … and the LESSONS LEARNED • LGU as the first line of defense • Warning Equipment is vital in saving life • Without communication support warning and evacuation fails • Early warning and evacuation system = Zero Casualty • Pre-positioned organic resource capability=quick response • Building-back better not building-back-elsewhere • DRR measures = Economic Investments

8. … and the LESSONS LEARNED • Help must be linked to initiative. Protracted relief could breed mendicancy, stunt local initiative and suppress native creativity • Demand driven vs. donors driven • Disaster Risk Reduction Plan must be considered basic input in the Regional Development Master Plan • Rehabilitation should be pursued in the context of development strategy

9. What are the CHALLENGES ahead? • Uncertainty – lessons’ learned • Short-term thinking – multi-hazard approach and hazard assessment and contingency plan be done every after a calamity • Complexity – data base and information readiness • Institutional Structure – need to promote and sustain better institution of LGUs • Financing frameworks – need to integrate DRR budget to the regular appropriations

10. … and HOW to address them? • Political leadership not political will • Multi-stakeholder approach • Legislative support from the national and local government • Established implementing guidelines in integrating DRR to the CLUP • Technical assistance to the Local Government Units • DRR must be an integral part in planning and programming of the local authorities.

11. CONLUSIONS • DRR is global, • Institutionalized • and is a way of life

12. Thank You