PROVINCE OF ALBAY PHILIPPINES: RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGE OF DISASTER RISK

REDUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

Case Study

INTRODUCTION

According to the Albay Gov, The province of Albay is located in the Bicol region, on the eastern
side of the island of Luzon, it is located at the southern tip of Luzon Island, about 550 kilometers south
of Manila. The name Bicol first came to be recognized as the title of the biggest and longest river in the
area. The river emerges from the outflow of lakes and springs from the provinces of Albay, Camarines
Sur and Camarines Norte and create a wide stream that exits in the San Miguel Bay, off the shores of
Camarines Sur. Bikolanos are the people of the area, and Bikol is the language they use. Based on the
2015 census, Albay has a total population of 1,312,309 and a total of 277,127 households which gives
Albay an average household size of 4.7.

Albay's main industry is agriculture, which grows crops such as coconut, cotton, sugar, and
abacá. Handicrafts are the primary source of income in rural areas. It continues to play a significant role
in the province's small-scale manufacturing. Other sources of income include forestry, cement
manufacturing, and paper production. One of the major sources of income in rural areas is the
production of abacá items such as Manila hemp, hats, bags, mats, and slippers. Along both coasts of the
province, fishing is the primary source of income (Albay Government).

THE CASE
A. Historical Antecedent of the Case
The province of Albay is approximately experience 19-21 typhoons per year, an estimated 3-5
are “major direct hits on [the] Province of Albay.” Since the majority of storms approach the Philippines
along the Pacific Typhoon Belt (i.e. from east to west), Albay’s location is particularly vulnerable to being
hit by the brunt of approaching storms. Generally, storms lose speed and destructive force as they pass
over land and other obstacles (Lauren Pongan 2015). Bicol’s second largest province, 2,552-square-
kilometer Albay has been known as the “Vatican of Disasters of the Philippines” because of the many
typhoons, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and landslides that hit it most of the year. “As a result,” Salceda
said, “the people of Albay have been vulnerable to persistent poverty, low economic income, and
climatic and geological hazards. (Joey Sarte Salceda, 2012)”
The main cases of albay are In the Philippines, there are 19 to 21 typhoons each year, with 3-5
big direct hits on Albay. Around 198,000 households are in danger of being destroyed by the wind
destruction's , and at least 350,000 people should evacuate. Mayon Volcano Eruption threatens 3 cities
and 5 municipalities 127 villages or 11,000 to 12,000 families threatened by landslides About 300,000
population out of 1.2M threatened by tsunami Eight municipalities and two cities threatened by Flood.
These are one of the programs of albay that can help the albay became a successful provinces in terms
of natural disasters preparedness:

According to Phivocs, REDAS (Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System is a software

program) created by PHIVOLCS in 2002 as one of a DOST GIA project. REDAS was originally conceived for
use in earthquake hazard and impact assessment, other multi-hazard maps including hydro
meteorological hazards such as floods, storm surge and rain-induced landslides are already incorporated
into the software and can likewise be displayed by users. It was developed by PHIVOLCS and it is now
being shared to local government units as a tool for emergency preparedness, contingency planning and
more importantly for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into the local development planning process
(PHIVOLCS-DOST, 2008).

Ten Million Mangrove Trees project to protect the Coastal areas of Albay - The National Union of
Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Albay chapter intensified its mangrove reforestation project by
planting at least 10,000,000 mangrove trees in all over Albay. City of Albay is known for being at risk of
big waves, tsunamis and other natural disasters that might harshly affect their community, so the city of
Albay decided to put up this project in order to manifest the use of Mangrove forest as a shield for the
upcoming natural disasters/calamities.(Connie Callipay, 2018)

B. Goals/Objectives of the Program/Project

Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment system
 to provide real-time simulated earthquake hazard information
 to serve as a tool for planning and development of land use, by local government units in
order to alleviate potential earthquake damage
 to integrate a cross-platform information in order to assess flood and severe wind impact
damage, as well as crop damage assessment thereby expanding the use of REDAS to
determine the effects of other natural calamities.

Ten Million Mangrove Trees project to protect the Coastal areas of Albay
 To use the mangrove forest as shield against storm surge, big waves, tsunami and other
calamities occurring in intense number.
 to successfully plant plenty of mangrove trees all around the coast of albay
 Aside from disaster risk importance, mangroves also serve as spawning grounds for fish so
planting more mangrove trees will help to improve the fish catch in some way, so this project
also aims to maximize the number of fishes caught surrounding the coast of albay..
 C. Components of the Program/Project.
I. Organization and structure

Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System

Dr. Orlando F. Balderama Dr. Armando Q. Ganal

Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. Dr. Orlando F. Balderama
Dean of College of Dean of College of
Director of Phivolcs, Executive Director of
Engineering of ISU Engineering of ISU
PCIEERD
Regional Director of
DOST 1,

Ten Million Mangrove Trees project to protect the Coastal areas of

Albay

City of Albay is known for being at risk of big

The National Union of Journalists of the
waves, tsunamis and other natural disasters
Philippines (NUJP) Albay chapter intensified
that might harshly affect their community, so
its mangrove reforestation project by
the city of Albay decided to put up this
planting at least 10,000,000 mangrove trees
project in order to manifest the use of
in all over Albay
Mangrove forest as a shield for the upcoming
natural disasters/calamities.

II.Funding III. Inter-agency IV. Local people’s V. Approaches and

support linkage/s participation Strategies
1. REDAS (Rapid - Department of - Department of The role of the The project made
Earthquake Damage science and science and residents in the successful through the
Assessment System) Technology- Technology- community in help of the people at
PHILVOCS PHILVOCS formulating this the community of Albay,
- A2C2 ( Albay in - A2C2 ( Albay in project is they are the speakers and
Action on Climate) Action on Climate) helping the each trainees of conducting
Dr. Renato - Dr. Renato other to conduct training. Additionally
Solidum Jr - Solidum Jr - seminars and they this project is made
 Director of Phivolcs Director of Phivolcs are participate in the possible through the
Governor Joey training. funding of Department
Salcedo – Mayor of of science and
Albay Technology-PHILVOCS,
- The Department A2C2 ( Albay in Action
of Science and on Climate) and Dr.
Technology- Renato Solidum Jr. ,
PHILVOCS; Director of Phivolcs .

2. Ten Million - Office of Civil - The National Residents lend a The project made
Mangrove Trees Defense (OCD)- Union of Journalists helping hand in successful through the
project to protect the Bicol Regional of the Philippines executing the help of the people at
Coastal areas of Director Claudio (NUJP) Albay project by helping the community of Albay,
Albay Yucot said they chapter the administration and The National Union
support the NUJP's Rhaydz Barcia, plant mangrove of Journalists of the
mangrove NUJP Albay chapter trees in Albay’s Philippines (NUJP) Albay
reforestation president coast areas chapter, additionally
project. - Office of Civil this project is made
* April Alejo - a Defense (OCD)- possible through the
local resident Bicol Regional funding of Office of Civil
Director Claudio Defense, Ms. April Alejo,
Yucot and also the
April Alejo- a local participation of Director
resident Claudio Yucot.

D. Strengths and Weakness of the Program/Project

STRENGTH WEAKNESSES
1. REDAS (Rapid Earthquake Damage The project has institutional Not all the residents can access the
Assessment System) support to provide free training, project because not all have smartphones
and since it is a mobile in their own and not all the residents
application, residents can get know how to access the online
earthquake information in near- application.
real time. Residents are also
taught how to create their own
exposure database using an
Android application.
2. Ten Million Mangrove Trees project to The project does have all the how they will get the correct amount of
protect the Coastal areas of Albay. means to successfully manifest man power in planting the mangrove
and accomplish the project it trees in addition they also have to
has the funding and the support administer how long will this project last
of local government. and will the funding still continues in that
period, regardless of this weaknesses I
can say that this project has an benefit in
terms of manifesting it successfully
CONCLUSIONS

To start with the conclusion, I just want to state my insights first. In this activity I somehow

able to picture this activity as preparation for our future work, basic researching and all

RECOMMENDATIONS

To Government - para makapag invest sila for the calamities na nangyayare dito sa pilipinas,

not only governor salceda but yung iba din na governor lalo nat prone din sila sa mga bagyo, earthquake

because of the fault line, floods and landslides . to innovate new program yung mga governor and

gawin nilang references yung sa albay.

To other provinces- para sa preparedness and awareness din ng mga prrovinces na kapag

dumating yung calmaities. And para maging maayos din yung provinces dahil sa mga new programs

To institutions - kasi nakakatulong sila sa mga provinces na prone like pwede sila makipag

partnership sa other instutions like CCA, A2C2 and others.

To other countries - sa mga country na wala pang solutions sa mga cases nila ng calamaties,

pwede silang makipag ugnayan sa mga institutions and sa mga programs para maging maayos ang

country nila.
REFERENCES

Province of Albay. Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan. 2009

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. “PHIVOLCS Provides REDAS Software and Trainings
to Local Government Units”; December 2009. (http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=267:phivol cs-provides-redas-software-andtrainings-to-local-
government-units- &catid=54:news&Itemid=26)

Department of Energy “Members of the Energy Family Undergo REDAS Training”, September 11, 2019.
Members of the Energy Family Undergo REDAS Training | Department of Energy Philippines
(doe.gov.ph)

Connie Calipay , “NUJP steps up mangrove reforestation project in Albay”; July 2, 2018 retrieved from
NUJP steps up mangrove reforestation project in Albay | Philippine News Agency (pna.gov.ph)

(N.d) “republic of the Philippines PROVINCE OF ALBAY region V – Bicol” retrieved from
http://albay.gov.ph/

Joey Sarte Salceda, “Adaptation Practices of Albay” (powerpoint presentation, Richmonde Hotel, Metro
Manila, Philippines, February 11, 2012)

The Philippine Star, 11 Feb 2016 “Albay’s climate change program becomes model for other provinces”
retrieved from Albay’s climate change program becomes model for other provinces - SEARCA

Lauren Pongan (2015), Participatory Development and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in the
Philippines: TheCase of Albay Province

Case Study (2009), “PROVINCE OF ALBAY PHILIPPINES: RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGE OF DISASTER
RISK REDUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION” pdf.

(n.d) INNOVATIONS INDISASTER RISK REDUCTION ANDCLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION Albay Province,
Philippines, ( power point albay province ) https://hls-esc.org/documents/4hlsesc/2B%20-%20Albay.pdf