Phillipines Flashcards
(20 cards)
Where is the Phillipines located?
Archipelago of over 7,600 islands in south East Asia
Vulnerability to hazards according to UNDRR
According to UNDRR over 60% of land and 75% of its population are exposed to multiple hazards
How many people live in the Philipines?
Home to 100 million people
Economic status of Philipines?
Newly industrialised economy with 4th largest economy in South East Asia
21.6% live below the poverty line
Why is the Philipines so vulnerable?
Located on the Pacific ring of fire so vulnerable to Earthquakes, Volcanos and Tsunamis and positioned on Western Pacific Plate which makes in vulnerable to tropical storms
What makes earthquakes so frequent?
Located on the Philipines sea plate and Eurasian plate boundary making earthquakes more frequent
from 2000-2017, 17 earthquakes of at least 6mW have occurred
Examples of earthquakes
1976 Moro Gulf Earthquake (Mindanao)
- 7.9 mW triggered tsunami
- 8,000 killed
1990 Luzon Earthquake
- 7.8 mW caused ground rupturing and soil liquifaction
- Over 6,000 killed
2013 Bohol earthquake
- 7.2 mW earthquake caused 200 deaths, 800 injuries and building damage
How many active volcanos are there?
23 active volcanos
What examples of volcanic activity are there?
Mount Pinatubo
- 1991 eruption was 2nd largest in 20th century
- 850 died to lahars
- 500,000 lived within 40km
- global temperature dropped 0.5 C due to ash
- Formed typhoon Yunya which caused Lahars killing 850
Mayon Volcano
- most active volcano in the philipines with 50 eruptions past 400 years
- known for lahars where volcanic ash mixes with rainfall
- erupted 2018
Taol volcano
- located in caldera lake (collapsed volcano chamber) making it highly dangerous (phreatomagmatic eruption)
- 33 eruptions
- 6,000 deaths
Why are typhoons so frequent in the philipines?
Large coastal areas and on the pacific typhoon belt
9-10 typhoons per year
Examples of Typhoons
Super typhoon Haiyan 2013
- one of strongest typhoons
- 6,300 deaths and 4 million displaced
- $5.8 billion in damages
- Caused a 7-metre storm surge in Tacloban
Typhoon Mangkhut 2018
- Category 5
- 130 deaths
- 3 million affected
- $627 million in damages
- triggered landslides, trapping miners
Historically, what has the disaster management policy been
Historically the Philipines has relied on a reactive approach focusing on emergency aid and short-term forecasting and evacuation
Problems
Rapid urbanisation has led to uncontrolled development in vulnerable areas
deforestation increases landslide and flood risk
government lacks resources for prediction
top down management
Risk reduction
Philipines National Red Cross (PNRC) works with foreign aid organisations to improve preparedness
co-operation with gov for funding mitigation
train local volunteers in disaster response
land use mapping to identify high risk areas
physical mitigation - sea wall for coastal protection
community education and early warning systems
Legislation and policy change
Government introduced risk reduction laws but implementation inconsistent
70% disaster funds allocated for long-term mitigation
30% for emergency response
But little gov can do as face new hazard constantly
Resilience
Strong social cohesion and cultural resilience
After Typhoon Haiyan 2013 survivors in Tacloban used boats and makrshift tools to rescue others before aid arrived
Barangay system
- each barangay manages local hazard responses with annual evacuation drills, maintaining shelters and issuing alerts
Adaptation
Traditional housing development
- In rural and flood prone areas people build ‘bahay kubo’ which are elevated stilt houses made of bamboo to avoid flood damage
- low-cost quick to rebuild
Climate resilient contruction
- Post-Haiyan reconstruction promoted elevated concrete homes with typhoon proof roofing, storm shelters and deeper foundations
Mangrove restoration
- in Leyte local governments and NGO’s implemented mangrove reforestation to reduce coastal erosion and absorb storm surges
Agriculture
- farmers switching to salt-tolerant rice varieties to mitigate salinization from El Nino events
Mitigation and Management
Philipine institute of volcanology and seismology
- monitors 24 active volcanoes and seismic activity and issues alerts
- during 2018 Mayon eruption 75,000 evacuated due to early alerts
Philipine weather bureau
- uses satellite and international forecasting to track typohoons and monsoons
- Sends alerts to millions of residents
- partnered with schools for education and awareness and community based warning
Legislation and governance
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2010
- mandates every local government must create a local disaster risk reduction and management plan
- promotes shift from reactive to proactive planning
Foreign Aid
UK provided £77 million for food medical and emergency shelter and rebuilding after typhoon Haiyan
UN gave $790 million humanitarian appeal
Build back better campaign promoted hazard resistant infrastructure
