International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR)
Country Profile
Population: 109,774,529
Major Threats: Typhoons, Storms, Floods, Landslides, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, Drought
Populations Affected: Urban & Rural Poor, Farmers, Coastal Communities
Locations Affected: All
Industries Affected: Agriculture, Fishing, Manufacturing
Compounding Issues: Urban Migration, Poor Land-use Planning Environmental Degradation, Climate Change
World Risk Index Ranking: 9
Global Climate Risk Index: 17
The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to disaster and climate change. With over 7,000 islands and over 36,000 kilometers of coastline, nearly everyone – 74 percent of the population – and everywhere – 80 percent of the land area – is vulnerable to disaster, with the capital of Manila considered at “extreme risk.”
Typhoons and storms, which make up 58 percent of all disasters in the country, related flooding (25 percent), and landslides (six percent) pose the greatest threats to the country. Storms surpass all other disasters in terms of the number of fatalities, people affected, and economic damage. Though less regular than hydrometeorological disasters, earthquakes (five percent), volcanic eruptions (five percent), and drought (< one percent) can also have devastating effects. Cumulatively, these disasters cause an average of over 1,000 deaths per year.
The Philippines Government, INGOs, and local NGOs are all attempting to address climate change and disasters at various levels. However, many of the resources put aside for this purpose are re-directed to emergency response when disasters strike, such as Typhoon Yolanda (known as Haiyan internationally) in Nov. 2013 and the flash floods caused by Typhoon Sendong (Washi internationally) in Mindanao in Dec. 2011.
Attempts to defend the nation against disasters are complicated by social forces, such as high poverty, urbanization in coastal regions, and environmental destruction, including illegal mining and logging. However, spurred by the nearly existential threat to the country from disasters, many expert groups have successfully implemented various disaster preparedness and risk reduction programs in the Philippines at the community level.
The Filipino population and economy are growing rapidly, especially in urban centers, where over 65 percent of the country lives, 45 percent of it in poverty. While the urbanization policy has been good for economic growth, it has also increased the vulnerability of its 25 largest cities, most of them on riverbanks and coastlines. Urban vulnerability is made worse by poor housing conditions and the low adaptive capacity of the urban poor.
As stated by Antonia Loyzaga of the Manila Observatory, “the Philippines is an archipelagic country with a declared government policy that supports the urbanization of coastal cities to spur economic growth. Hyper-concentrating people and economic resources in coastal areas – without investing in the institutional capacity to build a shared understanding of the science of integrated risks from climate change and geological hazards – is a recipe for disaster.”
Outside of the cities, the farmers and fishermen are most affected by natural disasters. With one-third of the population working in agriculture, natural disasters also threaten food security and major sources of livelihood.
Droughts, floods, and cyclones affect the agricultural sector, farmers’ livelihoods, and fishermen. Frequent storms increase the salinity level of irrigated land, leaving it unfit for agriculture, while warmer ocean water damages coral reefs, the feeding grounds for many species relied upon by local fishermen.
Environmental degradation, including logging, and mining, also exposes communities to higher risks. Specifically, these factors contributed directly to the devastating flash floods that struck Mindanao in 2011.
The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Rising sea levels are a direct threat to approximately 70 percent of the 1,500 municipalities in the Philippines, many of which may need to relocate. Climate change has also increased the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
Studies and climate change simulations show that rainfall will increase in intensity during the wet season in the Central Visayas and Southern Tagalog provinces. The country is also expected to experience longer dry seasons, exacerbated by El Nino Southern Oscillation in Mindanao.
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