Post-Disaster Coping Mechanisms and the Role of Women and Children: Practices and Interventions

Professorial Chair Lecture

CARD-MRI Professional Chair

Place

Institute of Development Management and Governance, College of Public Affairs and Development, UPLB, College, Laguna

Date

7-2009

Abstract

This paper was prepared to determine the impact of and the post-disaster response/coping mechanisms of women and children to, natural disaster. Organizational interventions and the role of microfinance were also addressed.

Typhoon Reming, which hit Albay in late 2006 was the natural disaster covered. The typhoon claimed 618 casualties, totally damaged 112,107 houses, substantially damaged 100,069 houses and brought about the evacuation of 3,000 families. Damage to agriculture was P576.58 million, to public infrastructures P1.38 billion.

There was no shortage of local and international agencies, organizations and groups including the provincial and local LGUs providing relief assistance. Assistance consisted of food rations and relief goods, building materials, temporary shelter/evacuation centers, medical services, and resettlement areas/houses.

Due to the magnitude of the damage and the numbers and diversity of organizations and groups providing relief, there were problems in coordination of relief efforts. To mitigate the problem, Ayuda Albay was formed as coordinating body. The body consisted of members from almost all the groups-GOs, NGOs, POs, private sector, etc.-engaged in disaster management. Ayuda Albay adopted a Cluster Approach which proved to be effective, efficient and more systematic provision of relief and rehabilitation services. This approach could be a model for disaster management.

The women's life routine was totally upset with houses damaged, household appliances and utensils lost, livelihoods and businesses gone, privacy and incomes lost. Aside from increased workload, there was general inconvenience with cut power and piped water supplies, un-passable roads and limited transport. There was also recreation loss and the transistor radios that were battery-run served well under said conditions. Children's school schedules were upset and they were scarred with experience. Trauma was experienced by women and children.

The value of family and kin in times of calamity was validated by the response to the disaster. This was true with respect to funds for repair, reconstruction of houses, funds for resumption of livelihood, temporary shelter, and related assistance.

Today, livelihood involvements appeared to have normalized. What made this immediately possible after the disaster was the financing scheme again by family and kin, but some were also under rather usurious conditions or the 5/6 or "Bombay" scheme. Savings that women had with CARD were well recognized to have been of much help.

CARD-MRI did not provide loans but provided relief goods, suspended loans amortizations for two months and allowed the withdrawal/reduction of their compulsory savings from 20 percent to 10 percent of the amounts retained from their loans. This was consistent with the recommendation that MFIs should involve themselves in disaster relief efforts but should not provide loans or financial grants consistent with its being a credit, not a charity, organization. Moreover, CARD incorporated "disaster preparedness/management" lessons during the conduct of their weekly center meetings.

In the FGD sessions, the over-all atmosphere was already almost lighthearted. Things appeared to have normalized. Three distinctly Filipino values underlie the coping mechanisms: family, sense of joy and humor, and religiousness.

Since women are actively involved in disaster relief, reconstruction, recovery and related work, they should just as actively be involved in disaster preparedness programs like training courses, seminars, planning etc.

Finally, discussions with different stakeholders indicate a much increased awareness about disaster and its consequences. Hence, a greater readiness to prepare for and respond to such eventuality in the future can be expected.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

College

College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf)

Language

English

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