Abstract
In 2019, the World Risk Index ranked the Philippines as the ninth riskiest country for climate-related risks and disasters. In a sense, the country has greatly improved its position in 2019, in comparison to its second rank in 2014 and third rank from 2015 to 2018. In part, this could be attributed to a plethora of community-based or “bottom up” approaches to reduce climate and disaster risks by several civil society organizations and/or community-based organizations (CBOs). This chapter documents a climate change adaptation initiative in Metro Manila’s urban poor communities that used a participatory community risk assessment (PCRA) of their communities in regard to climate disasters. This chapter argues that women’s groups in poor communities are able to pro-actively change the dynamics of power relations in accessing basic urban services. The women, in partnership, with a clinical sociology action research team from a local university, used the PCRA process (i.e., constructing risk profiles through social vulnerability analysis) to negotiate with local officials to access more resources and services. Grass-roots initiatives like conducting a PCRA with the community can be a powerful tool for community-based organizations (CBOs). The chapter ends with an update of the community’s women leaders’ mobilization of social networks during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or lockdown in March-April 2020 to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in the metropolis.
The data used in this chapter is from a transdisciplinary action research initiative carried out under the Coastal Cities at Risk in the Philippines: Investing in Climate and Resilience Project. The project was aided by a grant from the International Development Resource Centre (IDRC), Canada, and implemented by the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), in collaboration with the Manila Observatory (MO), Ateneo Innovation Center (AIC), and the National Resilience Council (NRC).
This chapter is an updated version of “Climate Change Adaptation in Metro Manila: Community Risk Assessment and Power in Community Interventions” (Porio 2014b) that appeared in Community Intervention: Clinical Sociology Perspectives (2014) edited by Jan Marie Fritz and Jacques Rhéaume.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
Urban poor families without security of tenure to their home lots can be evicted from their places of residence any time the owner wants to use, sell or take possession of the property.
- 3.
For more information, see https://www.unisdr.org/files/68265_682308philippinesdrmstatusreport.pdf
- 4.
For elaboration on the link between poverty and other climate-related hazards like typhoons, floods, sea level rise (SLR), storm surges, coastal inundation, please see Eliott (2000).
- 5.
In Asia, where large number of communities are settled along river systems like those in the Marikina-River System or the Navotas-Malabon River System are considered riverine communities.
- 6.
KAMANAVA is an acronym for the cities of Kaloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela, four of the 17 municipalities and cities comprising Metro Manila.
- 7.
This quote is excerpted from the community leader’s speech (Malou Pescador) during the culmination activity of the project (held before the community general assembly on December 15, 2012).
- 8.
This is an excerpt from an in-depth interview with the community leader, Ana Maria Lampitoc, conducted by the author on November 28, 2012.
- 9.
Community mapping is a grassroots-led, community-focused tool whereby grassroots women’s groups work to jointly analyze a specific situation or issue in their community and its direct effect on women. Community mapping is also a leadership tool because it positions individuals or marginalized groups, who are normally excluded from decision-making or research work, to lead the effort. A mapping involves community members methodically moving through an area, talking to other community members through one-on-one interviews or focus group discussions, listening to residents’ challenges and desires, and documenting the findings for future advocacy and lobbying campaigns. Community mappings have been used by grassroots women’s organizations and community-based organizations to enhance their activities. They can help organizations provide better services, create and improve linkages with government agencies and NGOs, and advocate on behalf of the community. Community mappings often lead to mobilizing community members and other stakeholders to address community needs (Huairou Commission 2007).
- 10.
Ketsana is the innternational name for typhoon Ondoy.
- 11.
Nesat is the international name for typhoon Pedring.
- 12.
These neighborhood groups are called purok. Several of these constitute a barangay (village), which is the lowest political-administrative unit of the government.
- 13.
These strategies are going to be implemented by the CB-RRMP Council, composed of the local officials, women’s leaders, neighborhood representatives, church leaders and private sector representatives.
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Porio, E. (2021). Climate Resilience Initiative in Metro Manila: Participatory Community Risk Assessment and Power in Community Interventions. In: Fritz, J.M. (eds) International Clinical Sociology. Clinical Sociology: Research and Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54584-0_14
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