This study aimed to assess through the Climate Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) the climate hazards faced by Naga City and the social vulnerabilities of the city’s households. 

Science and Technology Track

The data generated are all based on climate and disaster risk assessment (CDRA) as recommended in the HLURB guidelines that mainstreams climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction into the comprehensive land use plan which is a tool that can help address climate change impact. Various hazards are characterized such as the 5-year return, 25-year return flood hazards, projections of temperatures that may lead to extreme heat index in certain areas as manifested by urban heat island phenomenon, projection of rainfall amount that may impact population in terms of erosion, flooding, or drought and many others. The S&T team also incorporated the vulnerability of various sectors as identified by the ADNU Social Science Team.

This part aims to answer the following questions: What are the climate hazards that affect Naga City? What part of its population or what members of its stakeholders are susceptible to these hazards? How can the LGU respond to these imminent threats and develop a resilient populace and identify priority decision areas? How can the LGU incorporate development goals and objectives while reducing risks and vulnerabilities?

Science and Technology Track

The study specifically aims to answer the following questions: (1) how are socially vulnerable households in Naga City characterized? (2) what is the degree of social vulnerability of the city households? (3) where can the socially vulnerable households of the city be located? (4) Is there a difference in the characteristics of socially vulnerable households in the city in the two periods?

The initial results of social vulnerability study inform that there is a need to improve the economic capacity and waste management practices of the Naga City households to mitigate the negative impact of hydrometeorological hazards that may cause flooding. Education, training, and values formation can be both short-and long-term pathways to reduce the social vulnerability of Naga City residents. The demographic composition of Naga City where females and the young are dominating in number has to be given serious attention by DRRM planners especially during emergency situation. The Naga City government may need to rethink their program of distribution of lots to the poor and instead re-channel funds to make sturdy and durable housing materials more available to poor households. 

The research collaboration with the IDRC-CCARPh paved the way to private-public partnership mainly between the academe (Ateneo de Naga University) and the  local government unit (City of Naga).   Under Leadership and Governance, and  in pursuit of interdisciplinarity to achieve science-based planning and decision making, the data generated was mainstreamed to local leaders (6-8 council representatives  and gatekeepers from each of the 27 barangays). All these provided local government policy makers with a solid risk assessment to decide on the most appropriate programs for a more resilient city.

The Coastal Cities at Risk in the Philippines (CCARPH) is a program driven to help local government units become resilient by using innovative tools and make science-informed decisions to enable them to bounce forward after disasters. In the City of Naga, the three themes or focal areas of the CCAR Project in collaboration with the Ateneo de Naga are Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Leadership and Governance. The data collated and outputs produced by the CCARPH-ADNU subproject were not simply turned-over to city officials but brought to the primary impacted units, which are the 27 barangays of the City of Naga, in the pursuit of interdisciplinarity and use science-based planning and decision making.  The data generated (hazard maps for the physical sciences and social vulnerability index based on CBMS) also provide the local government policy makers  solid risk assessment and the most fitting and appropriate programs for a more resilient city.

The CDRA process being adopted by the Philippine government recognizes that there are varying degrees to which people are susceptible to the effects of natural hazards based on their ability to cope with it (HLURB, 2015).  Social vulnerability, however, is partially the product of social inequalities which are social factors that influence and shape the susceptibility of various groups to harm and govern their ability to respond (Cutter et al., 2003). It is then the argument of this study that while Naga City is an established component city, there remain households which are socially vulnerable.  It is important that they be characterized to inform the city government of their situation and location for appropriate strategic preparation.

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Ilo-Ilo City CDRA 🔗 | Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment for a Resilient Iloilo City

RELATED SITES

Ateneo Innovation Center →

Climate and Disaster Resilience Laboratory →

SOSE Arise →

Department of Physics →

Department of Environmental Science →