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

2 CONTEXT Philippines Province of Albay Bicol Region Mayon Volcano 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

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