Working Paper No. 2014- 06 ADAPTIVE CAPACITY AND ADAPTATION ACTIONS OF HOUSEHOLDS FOR A TYPHOON EVENT IN BULA, CAMARINES SUR, PHILIPPINES Linda M. Peñalba, Merlyne M. Paunlagui, and Samantha delos Santos Center for Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (formerly Center for Policy and Development Studies) College of Public Affairs and Development University of the Philippines Los Baños College, Laguna 4031 Philippines Telephone: (63-049) 536-3455 Fax: (63-049) 536-3637 Homepage: www.uplb.edu.ph The CSPPS Working Paper series reports the results of studies by the Center researchers and CPAf faculty, staff and students, which have not been reviewed. These are circulated for the purpose of soliciting comments and suggestions. The views expressed in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CSPPS, the agency with which the authors are affiliated, and the funding agencies, if applicable. Please send your comments to: The Director Center for Strategic Planning & Policy Studies (formerly CPDS) College of Public Affairs and Development University of the Philippines Los Baños College, Laguna 4031 Philippines Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Climate change poses serious challenges to institutions and households in the Philippines. Thus, it is important to determine its impacts on households and the corresponding adaptation actions of government, men and women to determine gender-sensitive measures that can enhance resilience and adaptive capacity of affected sectors. This research work was done in Bula, Camarines Sur. Gender-disaggregated data collected through interview and focus group discussion with husbands and wives were used to determine the impact of Typhoon Nock-ten, the household’s response strategies and the willingness of men and women to pay for different adaptation options. Data on government response actions were gathered through key informant interviews with the local government staff involved in relief and rescue operations. Gender lens was used in the analysis in order to elicit the difference between the household decision making patterns, the activities that the husbands and wives undertook, their preparedness and adaptive capacity, and their willingness-to-pay for three different adaptation options that could help them prepare for future hazards. The assistance available to households from various sources was also analyzed to determine its sensitivity to address the different needs of men, women and children. Results of the study show the gender differentiated roles of husbands and wives in responding to flooding associated with an extreme climatic event. Husbands generally took care of preparedness activities that require physical strength such as reinforcing the house and taking care of belongings and properties left behind when the family took shelter in the evacuation centers. Wives, on the other hand, were in-charge of preparing the things needed by the family while in the evacuation center such as food and clothing. More wives compared to husbands are willing to pay for disaster insurance, construction of rip rap along the river banks and relocation to other safer places. Social and economic factors such as familiarity with their present place of residence, presence of relatives and employment opportunities are the primary factors that constrained the husbands’ decision to relocate. The impact of typhoon events was found to be greater for husbands than wives largely because more husbands were generally gainfully employed while only a few of the wives interviewed earn wages. Gender analysis is important to take into account the gender differentiated role, needs, contributions and impacts of extreme climate events on men and women. Mixed method of research is also recommended to ensure that both the qualitative aspects of gender relations and the quantitative valuation of men’s and women’s role, contribution and impacts are addressed. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Rationale ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.2. Research Objectives ..................................................................................................... 2 2.0 Research Methods ........................................................................................................ 2 2.1 Study Site Selection ....................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 4 2.3 Methods of Data Gathering ............................................................................................ 4 2.4 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 5 3.0 Results and Discussion ....................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Profile of Respondents ................................................................................................... 6 3.1.1. Socio-Economic Profile .................................................................................... 6 3.1.2 Gender Division of Household Labor ................................................................ 9 3.1.3 Assistance needed and potential providers ....................................................... 10 3.2 Gender Disaggregated Analysis of the Impacts of Typhoon Juaning ............................ 11 3.3 Vulnerability of Men and Women ................................................................................ 17 3.3.1 Economic Indicator ......................................................................................... 17 3.3.2 Infrastructure Indicators .................................................................................. 18 3.3.3 Technology Indicators ..................................................................................... 20 3.3.4 Social Capital Indicators ................................................................................. 21 3.3.5 Knowledge and Skills Indicators ..................................................................... 24 3.4 Adaptation Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Typhoon Juaning............................. 27 3.4.1 Adaptation Strategies ...................................................................................... 27 3.4.2 Household Evacuation Process ........................................................................ 30 3.4.3 Assistance from External Sources ................................................................... 30 3.4.4 Perception Toward Future Risk of Typhoon and Flooding ............................... 31 3.5 Households' willingness to pay/accept for the adaptation strategies and the factors that influence such behaviour ................................................................................. 33 3.5.1 Disaster Insurance Scheme .............................................................................. 33 3.5.2 Construction of Riprap .................................................................................... 36 3.5.3 Relocation....................................................................................................... 37 3.6 Factors that Affect Respondent’s Willingness to Pay for the Various Adaptation Option .................................................................................................................... 38 3.6.1 Willingness to Pay for a Disaster Insurance Scheme ........................................ 38 3.6.2 Willingness to Contribute for the Construction of Riprap ................................ 38 3.6.3 Willingness to be Relocated ............................................................................ 40 3.7 Lessons Learned ................................................................................................... 41 3.7.1 From Typhoon Juaning and Respondents’ Suggestions ................................... 41 4.0 Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................................. 43 4.1 The Respondents of the Study ................................................................................ 43 4.2 Coping Strategies Before, During and After Typhoon Juaning .............................. 44 4.3 Adaptation Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of typhoon Juaning .......................... 45 4.4 Willingness to Pay/Accept for the Adaptation Strategies and the Factors that Influence Such Behavior ........................................................................................ 45 5.0 Recommendations to engender climate change adaptation research ................................ 46 5.1 Gender as a Unit of Analysis .................................................................................. 46 5.2 Gender as Integral Part of a Framework for Action ................................................. 47 References ............................................................................................................................. 49 List of Tables Page Table 1. Profile of respondents, Bula, Camarines Sur, 2011 ...........................................................8 Table 2. Distribution of respondents by primary and secondary occupation, Bula, Camarines Sur, 2011 .............................................................................................................................9