Community-Based Disaster Risk Management in Flood and Landslide-Prone Areas: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Residents in Bukidnon

Abstract

Appropriate implementation of community-based disaster risk management is desirable as flooding and landslide in Bukidnon is becoming more hazardous intensified by climate change, poor drainage, and expanding agricultural industries. The lived experiences of the residents in flood and landslide-prone areas in the province during the year 2017-2018 provides the empirical basis for strategies to enhance the implementation of Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM). The study utilized an interpretive phenomenological research method. The instruments used in the study were the motive questions for the focus group discussion (FGD) and key informant interview (KII) guide questions. There were one hundred fifty (150) participants coming from the six (6) barangays of the (5) five municipalities identified as prone to flooding and landslide. Findings showed that the existing risk management practiced by the residents and the local government unit (LGU) is the top-bottom approach. The coping strategies used were risk communication and relief assistance from LGU. A comparison of the existing approach to the Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) approach revealed that in CBDRM, a community can be organized to experience a ‘real community’ participation to avoid and reduce the damage caused by flooding and landslide. The involvement of vulnerable people with the determination of roles and responsibilities before, during, and after flooding and landslides would make them realize the significance of their active participation for resiliency. Thus, a CBDRM model was developed so that at-risk communities can actively engage in the identification, planning, analysis, monitoring, and evaluation of disaster risks to reduce their vulnerabilities and enhance their capacities. An extension activity is proposed to implement the CBDRM model.