Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) and Local Governance

This project centres around community participation and interpersonal communication to engage the full range of stakeholders in disaster preparedness. The project created a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of Dagupan City heads and staff who are also members of the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC). CDP then offered CBDRM Participatory Risk Assessment (PRA) Training of Trainers (ToT) for the city officials, who in turn provided training to communities. the TWG and CDP promoted CBDRM and governance in the 8 most vulnerable communities first, then within the remaining 23 barangays of Dagupan City.

These personnel visited the villages to address their vulnerability to hydro-meteorological hazards, enabling them to see for themselves the plight of the villagers. Open dialogues allowed members of these vulnerable communities to air their grievances and sentiments to the city government officials who, in turn, explained the various issues faced by the city. The goal was to foster a collaborative atmosphere so that the communities would be empowered to implement a number of disaster mitigation activities in consultation with the city officials. For example, through this process, a day for "River Clean Up and Mangrove Revegetation" was organised in the city. The revitalisation of Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils (BDCCs) was implemented by the community members themselves with guidance from the TWG and CDP.

Children and youth were engaged in awareness raising through the institutionalisation of a school "Disaster Safety Day", which was celebrated in all schools in Pangasinan Province (where Dagupan City is located); it will be marked on July 16 annually. As part of this day, earthquake and evacuation drills are carried out in various schools. The "Disaster Safety Day" was extended into a month-long event called "City Wide Disaster Consciousness Month" in 2006.

Risk Management.

As a result of the above-described activities, disaster risk reduction (DRR) plans were developed by 8 of the vulnerable communities and integrated into the City Disaster Risk Reduction Plan.

CDP explains that the convergence of a community-level approach and the city government's participation fosters enduring sustainability and ownership. According to the CDP, a key success factor of this project was the city mayor's continuous support to the larger programme. In addition, the organisation stresses that building linkages with both local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) helps in resource mobilisation and in enhancing partnerships.