The 18th International Planning History Society Conference -Yokohama, 2019
After recent disasters in Japan and the United States, government acquisition of residential land... more After recent disasters in Japan and the United States, government acquisition of residential land has played a larger and increasing role within and in relation to housing recovery support programs. With different historical, legal, and governance contexts, residential buyouts are shaped by the respective policies of each country. Framed by earlier precedents, this paper explains the development and implementation of residential buyout programs used after recent disasters: the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in Japan and 2012 Superstorm Sandy in New York City and New York State in the United States. Through a comparison of roles of buyout in relationship to other aspects of postdisaster housing reconstruction and recovery support, some similarities are identified in the challenges of implementation, as well as uniquely different issues faced by the affected communities and households in each case.
This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. Note that The ... more This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. Note that The World Bank does not necessarily own each component of the content included in the work. The World Bank therefore does not warrant that the use of the content contained in the work will not infringe on the rights of third parties. The risk of claims resulting from such infringement rests solely with you. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Contents vii 4.3 Reducing housing costs and improving livability in Vancouver 4.4 Integrating land-use and transit policy planning in India xi Acknowledgments T his book was written by Hiroaki Suzuki and Kanako Iuchi of the World Bank and Robert Cervero of the University of California at Berkeley. It draws on in-depth case studies of Ahmedabad, India, and Bogota, Colombia, and two shorter case studies on Guangzhou, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
L'intégration des politiques en matière de transports et d'aménagement du territoire à l'appui d'... more L'intégration des politiques en matière de transports et d'aménagement du territoire à l'appui d'un développement urbain durable
has helped nonprofit organizations overcome planning challenges with technical assistance provide... more has helped nonprofit organizations overcome planning challenges with technical assistance provided in client based workshops. Over the Fall semester of 2005, 12 graduate students undertook the task of creating a Strategic Land Protection Plan for the Southern Madison Heritage Trust (SMHT), a land trust based in Hamilton, NY. SMHT was founded in 1999 as a direct result of the comprehensive planning process undertaken by the village of Hamilton. Citizens formed a land trust as a way to maintain the momentum for natural resource protection and farmland preservation that the municipal planning process had generated. Strategic Land Protection Plan for the Southern Madison Heritage Trust. History/Demographics INTRoDuCTIoN-HISToRy The Southern Madison Heritage Trust serves six towns in Madion County. The development of southern Madison County, which consists of the towns of Hamilton, Madison, Eaton, Georgetown, Lebanon, and Brookfield (figure A1), has always been linked with the landscape. Located at the geographic center of New York, the area is southeast of Syracuse, southwest of Utica, and northeast of Binghamton. The Chenango, Otselic, and Unadilla Rivers flow beneath the steep hills that typify the Appalachian Uplands. This unique landscape was created by glacial advancements that affected the northern United States. The sedimentation that resulted from the last glacial shift consisted of a mixture of soil types and plant seeds that spread across the area to form thick forests of spruce, deciduous hemlock, and pines. 1 Early Settlement The Oneida Indians are native to southern Madison County and relied on the thick forests and fresh streams for food and other necessities. These qualities made the land attractive to newcomers arriving from Europe. The state of New York began acquiring American Indian land in 1768, and in 1788 Governor George Clinton bought what is now southern Madison County as part of a purchase that included land on both sides of the Chenango River. The land purchased by Clinton was surveyed and divided by 1790 and became known as the Chenango Twenty Towns. The towns were sold at an auction to speculators and investors looking to make a profit. The settlers of southern Madison County, many of whom hailed from New England, came in search of better farmland. The influence of New Englanders on the development of southern Madison County can be seen at the village of Hamilton that developed around a central green space. 2 The region's first settlers arrived in what is now Brookfield in 1791. The steep hills, thick forests, and rich valley soil they encountered could be found all across southern Madison County. In fact, those who scouted the land in what is now the Town of Madison had to climb trees in order to see the surrounding hills and streams. The early pioneers cleared the forests to build log cabins and plant crops among the stumps. 3 As the area became more populated a formal governmental structure emerged. Madison County, named for the nation's fourth president, was officially formed on March 21, 1806. At this time Southern Madison County consisted of Brookfield, Hamilton, and DeRuyter. Hamilton was divided into Eaton, Hamilton, Lebanon, and Madison in 1807 and Georgetown was created from DeRuyter in 1815. 4 agriculture and Transportation From the first days of settlement, agriculture has been central to the history, economy, and cultural heritage of southern Madison County. The first major crops were corn, flax and wheat. 5 Towards the middle of the nineteenth century flax and wheat progressively declined and the production of wool, barley, milk, cheese and butter became more prominent. In 1810, Curtis Hoppin introduced the first sheep into Madison County from Massachusetts. Woolen factories were built in the county and winters were spent in the farmhouse spinning fabric 6. The towns of Brookfield and Madison quickly became the county leaders in the production of wool. 7 Sheep did not remain popular for long and by the 1860s dairy farming and hops had become the dominant sectors of agriculture. During the nineteenth century New York State became nationally known for the production of hops. Accounting for five-sevenths of national hop output, New York State had become the nation's leading producer of hops by 1849. This flower, which adds bitterness to malt liquor, was first introduced to Madison County in 1808 by James W. Cooledge. 8 Brookfield, Eaton, and Hamilton were among the county's leading producers of hops, and by 1879 Madison County produced nearly four million pounds of hops to become the third largest producer in New York State.
Approximately 2 years have passed since the catastrophic damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan, w... more Approximately 2 years have passed since the catastrophic damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on November 8, 2013. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate what actually happened during the Haiyan event, by examining observations and literature reviews. Our questionnaire survey results were analyzed to understand availabilities of opportunities to participate in disaster-related education programs and drill to local residents both before and after Haiyan. Following our analysis, we conclude that there were few opportunities for local residents to take part in disaster-related activities in the highly damaged areas in Leyte before Haiyan. After Haiyan, many opportunities for training were provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and city and barangay officials. Residents leant about possible typhoon impacts during Typhoon Haiyan, and the educational activities that took place afterwards, facilitated successful evacuation during Typhoon Ruby. Based on our overview of Typhoon Haiyan and characterization of the human damage incurred by the storm surge in the target area, we recommend some future steps that contribute to reduce the risks posed by natural disasters in the Philippines.
Journal of The American Planning Association, Oct 2, 2014
Problem, research strategy, and findings: The number of people displaced either temporarily or pe... more Problem, research strategy, and findings: The number of people displaced either temporarily or permanently from natural disasters has been increasing at an unprecedented rate. As a result, there is a growing need for a systematic framework of resettlement planning after disasters, to either rebuild in place (in situ) or to relocate, and whether to do so independently or collaboratively with their neighbors. To gain an in-depth understanding of how resettlement is advanced, I focus on a region in Chuetsu, Japan, supplemented with cases in New Orleans (LA) and Tohoku, Japan. Results suggest that resettlement decisions, processes, and outcomes reflect both larger socioeconomic trends and interactions between governments, communities, and households. Although the governments' speed of resettlement planning and implementation initially set the pace, informal communication within communities most influenced decision making. In addition, inherent community dynamics, especially styles of communication, directly influenced resettlement decisions and outcomes. Takeaway for practice: Although every disaster is unique in its context, communities are the key players in determining resettlement outcomes. Key points of consideration include: a) resettlement decision processes vary based on the inherent characteristics of communities; b) government officials often emphasize speed, even though it undermines overall quality of rebuilding; c) reestablishing livelihoods of equal or greater satisfaction to that before the disaster is important; and d) local communities are often capable of identifying and acting for their needs, regardless of governmental intentions. Planners need to support the establishment of a system in which communities are empowered by governments to make the most suitable decisions for sustainable livelihood recovery.
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Natural Hazard Science, Jan 25, 2019
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines is one of the most haza... more Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines is one of the most hazard prone countries in the world. The country faces different types of natural hazards including geophysical disturbances such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, meteorological and hydrological events such as typhoons and floods, and slow-onset disasters such as droughts. Together with rapidly increasing population growth and urbanization, large-scale natural phenomena have resulted in unprecedented scales of devastation. In the early 21st century alone, the country experienced some of the most destructive and costliest disasters in its history including Typhoon Yolanda (2013), Typhoon Pablo (2012), and the Bohol Earthquake (2013). Recurrent natural disasters have prompted the Philippine government to develop disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) strategies to better prepare, respond, and recover, as well as to be more resilient in the face of natural disasters. Since the early 1940s, the governing structure has undergone several revisions through legal and institutional arrangements. Historical natural disasters and seismic risks have affected and continue to threaten the National Capital Region (NCR) and the surrounding administrative areas; these were key factors in advancing DRRM laws and regulations, as well as in restructuring its governing bodies. The current DRRM structure was instituted under Republic Act no. 10121 (RA10121) in 2010 and was implemented to shift from responsive to proactive governance by better engaging local governments (LGUs), communities, and the private sector to reduce long-term disaster risk. This Republic Act established a national disaster risk reduction and management council (NDRRMC) to develop strategies that manage and reduce risk. Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 was the most significant test of this revised governance structure and related strategies. The typhoon revealed drawbacks of the current council-led governing structure to advancing resilience. Salient topics include how to respond better to disaster realities, how to efficiently coordinate among relevant agencies, and how to be more inclusive of relevant actors. Together with other issues, such as the way to co-exist with climate change efforts, a thorough examination of RA 10121 by the national government and advocates for DRRM is underway. Some of the most important discourse to date focuses on ways to institute a powerful governing body that enables more efficient DRRM with administrative and financial power. The hope is that by instituting a governing system that can thoroughly lead all phases of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, the country can withstand future—and likely more frequent—mega-disasters.
International journal of disaster risk reduction, Jun 1, 2018
For many coastal destinations, its geography provides a variety of intrinsic resources that serve... more For many coastal destinations, its geography provides a variety of intrinsic resources that serve as the foundation of its tourism industry, while simultaneously exposing the area to natural hazard risks. Although literature in the fields of tourism and disaster management have identified the accommodation industry's potential in contributing towards disaster preparedness, very few hotels were designated as evacuation buildings during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Utilizing a mixed methodology of surveys and interviews, this research investigated the state of disaster management collaboration between local governments and hotels. Three Japanese cities were selected due to similar population sizes, presence of a tourism economy, and a history of tsunami vulnerability. Interviews revealed a number of common barriers hotels faced in adopting disaster preparedness initiatives, such as evacuation training, maintaining emergency supplies, and communicating hazard risks to tourists. The presence of a destination marketing organization in one city, contributed towards improved collaboration between the public and private sectors, allowing stakeholders to overcome some of the financial, knowledge, and human resource limitations facing them.
The concept of ‘building back better’ is being mainstreamed in international development to minim... more The concept of ‘building back better’ is being mainstreamed in international development to minimize future devastation from natural disasters. This paper reports on presentations and discussions from the Second International Symposium on Recovery after Mega Disasters: People, Community and Planning, held March 16, 2015 during the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. International experts, including practitioners and researchers, presented varied recovery efforts and insights. The three following principles emerged from the symposium. 1) Relocation, compact (re)development, renewable energy, and flood controls are key policy focuses in recovery plans, and require careful individual and community involvement, planning designs, and information sharing. 2) Identifying unique local resources is key for successful recovery and can help formulate innovative strategies. 3) As rebuilding that considers local culture, systems, and groups aids in resilient recovery, planning practitioners need in-depth understanding of local contexts to derive better solutions. Given these three principles, participants agreed that at its core, the concept of ‘building back better’ requires tailor-made planning designs and processes.
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to show that the Philippines is often described as the melti... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to show that the Philippines is often described as the melting pot of natural disasters (typhoons, floods and torrential rains). As part of the Pacific ring of fire, the Philippines is also prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In the current disaster management scheme, the poor are likely to be put last. Conventional risk reduction mitigation methods (such as land use and building codes) are failing. A paradigm shift is needed-one that enables poor communities to maximize their limited resources and contribute to risk reduction. Design/methodology/approach-Interviews and field investigations were conducted between 2001 and 2006 in three case study neighborhoods in Metro Manila to understand the risk components that exist and the resources (or lack of) for dealing with them. Findings-Field surveys highlighted three major risk components: liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), illegal electrical connections, and residential buildings. Mitigation efforts need to be implemented by: developing hybrid community organizations; minimizing direct physical damage; developing neighborhood cooperatives through microfinance schemes; and developing an in-kind community insurance system. Originality/value-While this research focused on earthquake impact mitigation, the inquiry and findings with respect to the urban poor in high risk areas, have applicability to other localities in the developing world. Furthermore, Manila's situation is not unique. Disaster threats, rapid substandard urban development, growth in the number of the poor, and degradation of social capital, are phenomena present in other parts of the developing world. In such settings, traditional mitigation approaches are difficult to carry out effectively as well.
Abstract Over the past decade, post-disaster recovery efforts have increasingly aimed to relocate... more Abstract Over the past decade, post-disaster recovery efforts have increasingly aimed to relocate communities, with the idea that well-designed plans and implementation will lead to increased resilience. While the rationale has been that relocating away from hazards will reduce the risk of future devastation, in practice relocation has long been the least favored policy option. Communities targeted for relocation are often disadvantaged to begin with, and relocation disturbs their social networks and economic well-being, pushing them further into destitution. In light of this, it is important to understand good relocation governance, particularly ways in which local governments carry out relocation with local actors, and especially considering increasing rates of post-disaster relocation efforts. This paper focuses on three recovery cases – earthquake and tsunamis in Tohoku (Japan), storm surge in Leyte (the Philippines), and volcanic eruption in Yogyakarta (Indonesia) – to examine different governmental approaches to community relocation. Specifically, it explores how program design and governance structure impacts implementation and success of community relocation, and how that effects community engagement and the ultimate outcomes of relocation in a long-term. Cross-comparison analysis of governance suggests six findings. First, housing programs that existed pre-disaster are the most likely mechanisms to be used for community relocation post-disaster, as it is difficult to quickly reconfigure relocation programs. Second, governance structure and stability greatly influence the relocation process, which in turn affects social networks and sentiments of those relocating. Third, the way in which incentives are allocated affect the responsibility of recipients toward relocation actions. Fourth, governments' monitoring of community relocation could influence projects' speed, but not the quality of resettlement outcomes. Fifth, the way governments and communities approach relocation are largely a result of their local culture, thus, considering and adapting the local philosophy increases community buy-in. Lastly, actively involving communities in relocation governance is important for their continued investment in the new sites. In sum, a revised model of governance supporting holistic “life rebuilding”, rather than solely “rehousing”, in the societal system is critical, and stresses the importance of governance structured to center communities within the decision-making process.
Hotels can play a role in disaster risk management of coastal destinations. Matsushima's hotels a... more Hotels can play a role in disaster risk management of coastal destinations. Matsushima's hotels and town support collaboration but differed on its outcomes. Stakeholders differed that collaboration gave equal opportunities and sufficient time. Stakeholder involvement was not broad enough and agreements didn't meet every need. Desire to mimic Okinawa's approach but stakeholders felt resources were lacking.
The 18th International Planning History Society Conference -Yokohama, 2019
After recent disasters in Japan and the United States, government acquisition of residential land... more After recent disasters in Japan and the United States, government acquisition of residential land has played a larger and increasing role within and in relation to housing recovery support programs. With different historical, legal, and governance contexts, residential buyouts are shaped by the respective policies of each country. Framed by earlier precedents, this paper explains the development and implementation of residential buyout programs used after recent disasters: the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in Japan and 2012 Superstorm Sandy in New York City and New York State in the United States. Through a comparison of roles of buyout in relationship to other aspects of postdisaster housing reconstruction and recovery support, some similarities are identified in the challenges of implementation, as well as uniquely different issues faced by the affected communities and households in each case.
This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. Note that The ... more This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. Note that The World Bank does not necessarily own each component of the content included in the work. The World Bank therefore does not warrant that the use of the content contained in the work will not infringe on the rights of third parties. The risk of claims resulting from such infringement rests solely with you. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Contents vii 4.3 Reducing housing costs and improving livability in Vancouver 4.4 Integrating land-use and transit policy planning in India xi Acknowledgments T his book was written by Hiroaki Suzuki and Kanako Iuchi of the World Bank and Robert Cervero of the University of California at Berkeley. It draws on in-depth case studies of Ahmedabad, India, and Bogota, Colombia, and two shorter case studies on Guangzhou, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
L'intégration des politiques en matière de transports et d'aménagement du territoire à l'appui d'... more L'intégration des politiques en matière de transports et d'aménagement du territoire à l'appui d'un développement urbain durable
has helped nonprofit organizations overcome planning challenges with technical assistance provide... more has helped nonprofit organizations overcome planning challenges with technical assistance provided in client based workshops. Over the Fall semester of 2005, 12 graduate students undertook the task of creating a Strategic Land Protection Plan for the Southern Madison Heritage Trust (SMHT), a land trust based in Hamilton, NY. SMHT was founded in 1999 as a direct result of the comprehensive planning process undertaken by the village of Hamilton. Citizens formed a land trust as a way to maintain the momentum for natural resource protection and farmland preservation that the municipal planning process had generated. Strategic Land Protection Plan for the Southern Madison Heritage Trust. History/Demographics INTRoDuCTIoN-HISToRy The Southern Madison Heritage Trust serves six towns in Madion County. The development of southern Madison County, which consists of the towns of Hamilton, Madison, Eaton, Georgetown, Lebanon, and Brookfield (figure A1), has always been linked with the landscape. Located at the geographic center of New York, the area is southeast of Syracuse, southwest of Utica, and northeast of Binghamton. The Chenango, Otselic, and Unadilla Rivers flow beneath the steep hills that typify the Appalachian Uplands. This unique landscape was created by glacial advancements that affected the northern United States. The sedimentation that resulted from the last glacial shift consisted of a mixture of soil types and plant seeds that spread across the area to form thick forests of spruce, deciduous hemlock, and pines. 1 Early Settlement The Oneida Indians are native to southern Madison County and relied on the thick forests and fresh streams for food and other necessities. These qualities made the land attractive to newcomers arriving from Europe. The state of New York began acquiring American Indian land in 1768, and in 1788 Governor George Clinton bought what is now southern Madison County as part of a purchase that included land on both sides of the Chenango River. The land purchased by Clinton was surveyed and divided by 1790 and became known as the Chenango Twenty Towns. The towns were sold at an auction to speculators and investors looking to make a profit. The settlers of southern Madison County, many of whom hailed from New England, came in search of better farmland. The influence of New Englanders on the development of southern Madison County can be seen at the village of Hamilton that developed around a central green space. 2 The region's first settlers arrived in what is now Brookfield in 1791. The steep hills, thick forests, and rich valley soil they encountered could be found all across southern Madison County. In fact, those who scouted the land in what is now the Town of Madison had to climb trees in order to see the surrounding hills and streams. The early pioneers cleared the forests to build log cabins and plant crops among the stumps. 3 As the area became more populated a formal governmental structure emerged. Madison County, named for the nation's fourth president, was officially formed on March 21, 1806. At this time Southern Madison County consisted of Brookfield, Hamilton, and DeRuyter. Hamilton was divided into Eaton, Hamilton, Lebanon, and Madison in 1807 and Georgetown was created from DeRuyter in 1815. 4 agriculture and Transportation From the first days of settlement, agriculture has been central to the history, economy, and cultural heritage of southern Madison County. The first major crops were corn, flax and wheat. 5 Towards the middle of the nineteenth century flax and wheat progressively declined and the production of wool, barley, milk, cheese and butter became more prominent. In 1810, Curtis Hoppin introduced the first sheep into Madison County from Massachusetts. Woolen factories were built in the county and winters were spent in the farmhouse spinning fabric 6. The towns of Brookfield and Madison quickly became the county leaders in the production of wool. 7 Sheep did not remain popular for long and by the 1860s dairy farming and hops had become the dominant sectors of agriculture. During the nineteenth century New York State became nationally known for the production of hops. Accounting for five-sevenths of national hop output, New York State had become the nation's leading producer of hops by 1849. This flower, which adds bitterness to malt liquor, was first introduced to Madison County in 1808 by James W. Cooledge. 8 Brookfield, Eaton, and Hamilton were among the county's leading producers of hops, and by 1879 Madison County produced nearly four million pounds of hops to become the third largest producer in New York State.
Approximately 2 years have passed since the catastrophic damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan, w... more Approximately 2 years have passed since the catastrophic damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on November 8, 2013. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate what actually happened during the Haiyan event, by examining observations and literature reviews. Our questionnaire survey results were analyzed to understand availabilities of opportunities to participate in disaster-related education programs and drill to local residents both before and after Haiyan. Following our analysis, we conclude that there were few opportunities for local residents to take part in disaster-related activities in the highly damaged areas in Leyte before Haiyan. After Haiyan, many opportunities for training were provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and city and barangay officials. Residents leant about possible typhoon impacts during Typhoon Haiyan, and the educational activities that took place afterwards, facilitated successful evacuation during Typhoon Ruby. Based on our overview of Typhoon Haiyan and characterization of the human damage incurred by the storm surge in the target area, we recommend some future steps that contribute to reduce the risks posed by natural disasters in the Philippines.
Journal of The American Planning Association, Oct 2, 2014
Problem, research strategy, and findings: The number of people displaced either temporarily or pe... more Problem, research strategy, and findings: The number of people displaced either temporarily or permanently from natural disasters has been increasing at an unprecedented rate. As a result, there is a growing need for a systematic framework of resettlement planning after disasters, to either rebuild in place (in situ) or to relocate, and whether to do so independently or collaboratively with their neighbors. To gain an in-depth understanding of how resettlement is advanced, I focus on a region in Chuetsu, Japan, supplemented with cases in New Orleans (LA) and Tohoku, Japan. Results suggest that resettlement decisions, processes, and outcomes reflect both larger socioeconomic trends and interactions between governments, communities, and households. Although the governments' speed of resettlement planning and implementation initially set the pace, informal communication within communities most influenced decision making. In addition, inherent community dynamics, especially styles of communication, directly influenced resettlement decisions and outcomes. Takeaway for practice: Although every disaster is unique in its context, communities are the key players in determining resettlement outcomes. Key points of consideration include: a) resettlement decision processes vary based on the inherent characteristics of communities; b) government officials often emphasize speed, even though it undermines overall quality of rebuilding; c) reestablishing livelihoods of equal or greater satisfaction to that before the disaster is important; and d) local communities are often capable of identifying and acting for their needs, regardless of governmental intentions. Planners need to support the establishment of a system in which communities are empowered by governments to make the most suitable decisions for sustainable livelihood recovery.
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Natural Hazard Science, Jan 25, 2019
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines is one of the most haza... more Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt, the Philippines is one of the most hazard prone countries in the world. The country faces different types of natural hazards including geophysical disturbances such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, meteorological and hydrological events such as typhoons and floods, and slow-onset disasters such as droughts. Together with rapidly increasing population growth and urbanization, large-scale natural phenomena have resulted in unprecedented scales of devastation. In the early 21st century alone, the country experienced some of the most destructive and costliest disasters in its history including Typhoon Yolanda (2013), Typhoon Pablo (2012), and the Bohol Earthquake (2013). Recurrent natural disasters have prompted the Philippine government to develop disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) strategies to better prepare, respond, and recover, as well as to be more resilient in the face of natural disasters. Since the early 1940s, the governing structure has undergone several revisions through legal and institutional arrangements. Historical natural disasters and seismic risks have affected and continue to threaten the National Capital Region (NCR) and the surrounding administrative areas; these were key factors in advancing DRRM laws and regulations, as well as in restructuring its governing bodies. The current DRRM structure was instituted under Republic Act no. 10121 (RA10121) in 2010 and was implemented to shift from responsive to proactive governance by better engaging local governments (LGUs), communities, and the private sector to reduce long-term disaster risk. This Republic Act established a national disaster risk reduction and management council (NDRRMC) to develop strategies that manage and reduce risk. Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 was the most significant test of this revised governance structure and related strategies. The typhoon revealed drawbacks of the current council-led governing structure to advancing resilience. Salient topics include how to respond better to disaster realities, how to efficiently coordinate among relevant agencies, and how to be more inclusive of relevant actors. Together with other issues, such as the way to co-exist with climate change efforts, a thorough examination of RA 10121 by the national government and advocates for DRRM is underway. Some of the most important discourse to date focuses on ways to institute a powerful governing body that enables more efficient DRRM with administrative and financial power. The hope is that by instituting a governing system that can thoroughly lead all phases of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, the country can withstand future—and likely more frequent—mega-disasters.
International journal of disaster risk reduction, Jun 1, 2018
For many coastal destinations, its geography provides a variety of intrinsic resources that serve... more For many coastal destinations, its geography provides a variety of intrinsic resources that serve as the foundation of its tourism industry, while simultaneously exposing the area to natural hazard risks. Although literature in the fields of tourism and disaster management have identified the accommodation industry's potential in contributing towards disaster preparedness, very few hotels were designated as evacuation buildings during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Utilizing a mixed methodology of surveys and interviews, this research investigated the state of disaster management collaboration between local governments and hotels. Three Japanese cities were selected due to similar population sizes, presence of a tourism economy, and a history of tsunami vulnerability. Interviews revealed a number of common barriers hotels faced in adopting disaster preparedness initiatives, such as evacuation training, maintaining emergency supplies, and communicating hazard risks to tourists. The presence of a destination marketing organization in one city, contributed towards improved collaboration between the public and private sectors, allowing stakeholders to overcome some of the financial, knowledge, and human resource limitations facing them.
The concept of ‘building back better’ is being mainstreamed in international development to minim... more The concept of ‘building back better’ is being mainstreamed in international development to minimize future devastation from natural disasters. This paper reports on presentations and discussions from the Second International Symposium on Recovery after Mega Disasters: People, Community and Planning, held March 16, 2015 during the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. International experts, including practitioners and researchers, presented varied recovery efforts and insights. The three following principles emerged from the symposium. 1) Relocation, compact (re)development, renewable energy, and flood controls are key policy focuses in recovery plans, and require careful individual and community involvement, planning designs, and information sharing. 2) Identifying unique local resources is key for successful recovery and can help formulate innovative strategies. 3) As rebuilding that considers local culture, systems, and groups aids in resilient recovery, planning practitioners need in-depth understanding of local contexts to derive better solutions. Given these three principles, participants agreed that at its core, the concept of ‘building back better’ requires tailor-made planning designs and processes.
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to show that the Philippines is often described as the melti... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to show that the Philippines is often described as the melting pot of natural disasters (typhoons, floods and torrential rains). As part of the Pacific ring of fire, the Philippines is also prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In the current disaster management scheme, the poor are likely to be put last. Conventional risk reduction mitigation methods (such as land use and building codes) are failing. A paradigm shift is needed-one that enables poor communities to maximize their limited resources and contribute to risk reduction. Design/methodology/approach-Interviews and field investigations were conducted between 2001 and 2006 in three case study neighborhoods in Metro Manila to understand the risk components that exist and the resources (or lack of) for dealing with them. Findings-Field surveys highlighted three major risk components: liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), illegal electrical connections, and residential buildings. Mitigation efforts need to be implemented by: developing hybrid community organizations; minimizing direct physical damage; developing neighborhood cooperatives through microfinance schemes; and developing an in-kind community insurance system. Originality/value-While this research focused on earthquake impact mitigation, the inquiry and findings with respect to the urban poor in high risk areas, have applicability to other localities in the developing world. Furthermore, Manila's situation is not unique. Disaster threats, rapid substandard urban development, growth in the number of the poor, and degradation of social capital, are phenomena present in other parts of the developing world. In such settings, traditional mitigation approaches are difficult to carry out effectively as well.
Abstract Over the past decade, post-disaster recovery efforts have increasingly aimed to relocate... more Abstract Over the past decade, post-disaster recovery efforts have increasingly aimed to relocate communities, with the idea that well-designed plans and implementation will lead to increased resilience. While the rationale has been that relocating away from hazards will reduce the risk of future devastation, in practice relocation has long been the least favored policy option. Communities targeted for relocation are often disadvantaged to begin with, and relocation disturbs their social networks and economic well-being, pushing them further into destitution. In light of this, it is important to understand good relocation governance, particularly ways in which local governments carry out relocation with local actors, and especially considering increasing rates of post-disaster relocation efforts. This paper focuses on three recovery cases – earthquake and tsunamis in Tohoku (Japan), storm surge in Leyte (the Philippines), and volcanic eruption in Yogyakarta (Indonesia) – to examine different governmental approaches to community relocation. Specifically, it explores how program design and governance structure impacts implementation and success of community relocation, and how that effects community engagement and the ultimate outcomes of relocation in a long-term. Cross-comparison analysis of governance suggests six findings. First, housing programs that existed pre-disaster are the most likely mechanisms to be used for community relocation post-disaster, as it is difficult to quickly reconfigure relocation programs. Second, governance structure and stability greatly influence the relocation process, which in turn affects social networks and sentiments of those relocating. Third, the way in which incentives are allocated affect the responsibility of recipients toward relocation actions. Fourth, governments' monitoring of community relocation could influence projects' speed, but not the quality of resettlement outcomes. Fifth, the way governments and communities approach relocation are largely a result of their local culture, thus, considering and adapting the local philosophy increases community buy-in. Lastly, actively involving communities in relocation governance is important for their continued investment in the new sites. In sum, a revised model of governance supporting holistic “life rebuilding”, rather than solely “rehousing”, in the societal system is critical, and stresses the importance of governance structured to center communities within the decision-making process.
Hotels can play a role in disaster risk management of coastal destinations. Matsushima's hotels a... more Hotels can play a role in disaster risk management of coastal destinations. Matsushima's hotels and town support collaboration but differed on its outcomes. Stakeholders differed that collaboration gave equal opportunities and sufficient time. Stakeholder involvement was not broad enough and agreements didn't meet every need. Desire to mimic Okinawa's approach but stakeholders felt resources were lacking.
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Papers by Kanako Iuchi