Assessing the role of social capital in reducing vulnerability to climate-related hazards in Alabat, Quezon, Philippines / Jobert Gulfan Lomboy ; Rodel D. Lasco, chair, advisory committee.

Date

6-2016

Abstract

Threats from changing climate increases the vulnerability of society and environment. Social capital is a critical factor in disaster resilience because the communities have to adapt, learn, and reorganize after a disaster. Understanding social capital and investing on it can strengthen the society's resiliency to any perturbations. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the social capital and its role in reducing the vulnerability to climate hazard of the island municipality of Alabat, Quezon, Philippines. Social capital was assessed using seven indicators, namely, Group and Network (GN), Trust and Solidarity (TS), Collective Action and Cooperation (CAC), Information and Communication (IC), Social Cohesion and Inclusion (SCIn), Peace and Order (PO), and Empowerment and Political Action (EPA) with a total of 37 variables using index approach to assess quantitatively and qualitatively the social capital. Vulnerability from climate-related hazard follows the IPC framework with its Sensitivity (health, water and housing), Exposure (typhoon, rainfall, temperature, sea level rise, and elevation) and Adaptive Capacity (social capital with a total of 37 variables. Principal Component Analysis was ran to determine weight loading for each of the variable. The adaptive capacity (social capital was statistically assessed suing correlation to determine association with vulnerability. Results showed that majority of barangays (78.95%) in the area have very high levels of social capital. Correlation showed that Group and Network (r=0.686, p< 0.01), Trust and Solidarity (r=0.616, p< 0.01), Information and Communication (r-0.639, p< 0.01), and Empowerment and Political Action (r=0.705, p< 0.01) were found to have a strong, positive relationship with Social Capital and they are highly significant. Regression analysis showed that empowerment and political action indicators was found significant at 0.10 level and the model explains the 65.20% of the variations from the mean. Majority of the barangays (73.84%) in the area was found to have medium level of vulnerability. Correlation revealed sea level rise, elevation, water, housing, collective action and cooperation, and social cohesion and inclusion variables were found to have a positive association with vulnerability and highly significant at 0.01 level. Further analysis (regression) revealed that sea level rise and elevation were significant in the calculation of vulnerability with its positive cofficients. Variables of sensitivity were found not significant. Under the adaptive capacity, collective action and cooperation, information and communication, social cohesion and inclusion, and peace and order were found significant and have negative coefficients which indicate as means to reduce vulnerability. Adaptive capacity (social capital was found to have a negative and highly significant relationship with vulnerability at 0.01 level. Thus, as social capital increases the vulnerability declines.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Rodel D. Lasco

Committee Member

Isabelita M. Pabuayon, Enrique P. Pacardo, Carmelita M. Rebancos, Rodel D. Lasco

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 996 2016 E8 L66

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