Geophilosophical realness of risk: a case study in national housing authority resettlement sites in Albay, Philippines

Ana Marie R Abante

doi:10.1007/s42452-021-04442-6

Abstract

The geophilosophical realness of risk, as introduced in this study, is composed of the risk hotspot or cold spot information which are stored and sorted in hexagonal bins representing the host environment within the 25-km radius from the crater of the Mayon Volcano. The z scores measured from these hexagonal bins mimic the risk realness or risk reality phenomenon happening in Albay Province, Philippines. The objective of the study is to assess risk reality phenomena that generate risk knowledge originated from applying the seven metatheorems based on the Schoen Golden Triangle and the Fibonacci Golden Ratio. Risk assessment in this study uses the stability site selection criteria and hexagonal binning technique to store, sort, and process risk hotspot and coldspot information. This approach led to the disclosure of risk phenomenon on the 14 out of 25 resettlement sites (host environment) that remained at risk and continuously increasing the risk trend. When people are continuously allowed to occupy risk hotspots areas it hints at ineffective risk governance to neutralize the passively exposed population. This study concluded that the risk reality phenomena assessment opens new avenues for scientifically informed land use, nil exposure, and 0-risk policy in addition to the existing 0-casualty goal to get prepared with the right direction, decision and action to sensitively utilize the stable host environments aligned to improve risk governance.

Highlights

The Philippines is the third most disaster-prone country in the world, according to the World Bank, and there is a low uptake of research and analytic thinking to inform local decision making on disaster risk management
The exposed residents who were relocated to the 25 National Housing Agency Resettlement Sites in Albay showed the significance of selecting the location of the host environment with the following site selection criteria, these are safe, comfort, and accessibility
Instability in the host environment is assessed as a risk reality phenomenon suffered by resettlement sites using the Risk-Areal Differentiation principle

Summary

Introduction

The Philippines is the third most disaster-prone country in the world, according to the World Bank, and there is a low uptake of research and analytic thinking to inform local decision making on disaster risk management. According to the Bicolano historian Dr Danilo Gerona the documentation on disaster risk reduction in the Province of Albay, Philippines can be found as early as 1814, when the Mayon Volcano erupted, disrupting people’s lives, and forcing them to look for other lands suitable for settlement and agriculture which are far from the volcano but near rivers and accessible to trade and communication. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is mandated to monitor volcanic related events on gullies and barrancas within the Permanent Danger Zone. This institute together with the respective local government units which are normally affected by the volcano are alerted to be vigilant during periods of unrest and desist from entering the danger zones during eruption events. The evacuation-return behavior of farmers within a complete no-build-zone model (the Mayon 6-km Permanent Danger Zone of Albay), allowing barangay social

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