Summary Report of the training
on Disaster Risk Reduction &
Management-Climate Change
Adaptation
Annual DISOP Training 2015
Legazpi City, Albay
November 23-25, 2015
Annual Capability Building of Partners 2015
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Climate Change Adaptation
November 23-27, 2015, Legazpi City, Albay
Thirty-three (33) delegates from 10 current partners of DISOP attended the activity. Two
representatives came from Heifer International-Philippines. One participant came from
the Mindanao Humanitarian Action Network against Disaster (MiHANDS), a partner of
Entraide et Fraternite (EF) who is also one of the Belgian actors operating in the
Philippines. The training was facilitated by Dr. Sharon Taylor, PRRM-CBIS Assistant
Director and Dr. Cedric Daep of the Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office
(APSEMO).
The training was conducted with the following objectives:
1) extract and share DRR-CCA experiences from the partners who have been doing
DRR-CCA activities in their project;
2) understand more about DRR-CCA to clarify terms and concepts;
3) learn “how to facilitate a DRRM plan” at the community or LGU level involving
several stakeholders; and lastly to learn and identify CCAM practices.
During the training, five presenters shared their experiences on DRRM-CCA. Common to
the five presentations was on preparedness, emergency response and contingency
planning.
Another commonalities were the DRRM trainings and the knowledge
management which is not just seminar but where you get it and how you disseminate the
information.
After the presentation, the following observations and learnings had
transpired in the open forum, to wit:

DRR training must be in close coordination with the LGUs and other
government agencies to avoid duplication, prevent confusion and
inconsistencies of the government mandates;

All components of DRR should include education;

At the barangay level DRR preparedness, organize only the seven committees
that are necessary (warning, communication, evacuation, transportation,
security, health/medical and relief committees).
Keep things very
simple…don’t complicate.

In coastal areas, apply developmental work during preparedness—teach the
fishermen how to rescue or keep their boats from disaster.

Hazard map is very important because it is the basis for generating risk map.
The risk map should properly identify high, medium and low risks because it
becomes the basis in the recovery and rehabilitation;

In terms of housing, “cuatro aguas” roofing design is ideal. One of the corner
of the roof should be facing the Northeast or Southwest because normally the
strength of the typhoon is coming from the Northeast.

PAG-ASA forecasts only the wind direction and where it goes, it does not
calculate the water/rainfall that the typhoon brings;
Some of the highlights and learnings of the training were the following:
 A comprehensive understanding of the DRRM Act (Republic Act 10121)
which is a new approved law that repeals PD No. 1566. Under RA 10121, the
approach has changed to a bottom-up and participatory approach towards
disaster risk reduction.
 RA 10121 adopts and adheres to the principles and strategies consistent with
the international standards set by the Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA)
as its basis.
 RA 10121 mandates the inclusion of DRR and Climate change budget in the
local budget or in the annual development/investment plan of the LGUs.
 LGUs are also mandated to create by way of an Executive Order or a
Resolution the reconstitution of the LDRRMC which should include the
accreditation of CSOs or NGOs in the locality.
 A comprehensive orientation to the community-based approach to DRRM.
That it should be participatory, responsive, integrated, proactive,
comprehensive,
multi-sectoral,
multi-disciplinary,
empowering
and
developmental.
 Everyone knew that the earth is warming and will be warmer in the years to
come. What we need to understand is that with the kind of changes around
us, how does it affects us and how do we mitigate it.
 That funds for DRRM activities are available but we need to be consistent with
the laws and policies of the government to access that funds.
 Paramount importance of preparedness and mitigation.
 Importance of existing and lacking data, work on what is available during
planning.
 Importance
of
coordination,
leadership
and
governance
during
implementation.
 Global warming, climate science, conduct of simulation is very important.
The training also broadly discussed the processes involved in community-based risk
assessment and the various tools to use during assessment. In addition, the speakers also
tackled the discussion about contingency planning-its elements, processes and cycles.
In here, participants learned that for each catastrophe, a corresponding contingency plan
should be made. Besides, when formulating a contingency plan, always plan for the worst
scenario and the plausibility or probability of each scenario should be communicated to
other offices to assess the urgency and preparedness actions.
To concretize the discussion on DRRM-CCA, the participants went for a community visit
at
a) Barangay Oro Site, Legazpi City, Albay;
b) Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) and
c) at the relocation site in Barangay 56, Taysan, Legazpi City, Albay where 6,000
families were relocated. The group also had the chance to visit two (2) of the 6
evacuation centers constructed in 2013 with grant assistance from Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Aside from the inputs of the speakers, several reference materials in electronic copies and
some on hard copies were also given to the participants. These materials will eventually
guide the NGOs in formulating an integrated and participatory approach in DRRM
planning.
Realization/Challenges:

Layman’s term of conducting a DRR training…to make it simple, practical and
understandable to the beneficiaries or communities.

Documentation of useful indigenous knowledge as an important part in
preparedness and early warning device.

Communication and communication protocol as a very important element in
DRR.

Using appropriate language and proper description of terms in weather
forecasting (i.e. storm surge as tsunami-like so that people understands well
thus appropriate actions will be taken)

In preparedness and contingency planning, always prepare or expect for the
worst scenario to happen.

In disaster, knowledge management is very important…where to get the exact
and correct information and how will you put it into use.

In recovery after disaster, bring cash, not goods.
Prior to the conclusion of the training, the partners discussed and level-off about the
indicator (OVI) in the Specific Objective regarding the integration of natural resources
plan in the barangay local development plan. The partners agreed that once a resolution
is passed to the LGU regarding any NRM plan, it is already considered integration in the
local development plan. It is however much better if budget appropriations from the LGU
is made once the plan is adopted.
The training ended with the distribution of certificates of attendance to the participants.
Addendum: The training about DRRM-CCA had provided plenty of reference materials.
These materials can also be downloaded in e-copies at the Download site of the disop
webpage.