Rekindling Hopes, Rebuilding Lives Time Critical Debris Management Project About UNDP United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s Global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 177 countries, working Time Critical with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners. Debris Management Project In the Philippines, UNDP fosters human development for peace and prosperity. Working with central and local Governments as well as civil society, and building on global best for Typhoon Pablo practices, UNDP strengthens capacities of women, men and institutions to empower them to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and the objectives of the Philippine Mid- term Development Plan 2011-2016. Through advocacy and development projects, with Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental a special focus on vulnerable groups, UNDP contributes to poverty reduction, promoting democratic governance, fostering environmental sustainability, addressing climate change Philippines and natural disasters, strengthening peace and conflict prevention, to ensure a better life December 2012 to June 2013 for the people of the Philippines. Ground zero. This was how a local official from the town of Baganga 04 described what she saw after Typhoon Pablo (international name Bopha) wrecked havoc, destroyed properties and took the lives of many in parts Time Critical Debris Management Project for Typhoon Pablo of Southern Philippines. Baganga, a municipality in the province of Davao DOST Oriental, was the place of landfall of one of the worst typhoons to enter the country, only a year after Typhoon Sendong hit the areas of Northern Mindanao. Pablo also hit the next The massive damage and VISAYAS towns of Cateel and Boston impact was unprecedented and continued its path of “ in history of both provinces. devastation in Compostela The impact of the The level of preparedness Valley province. It damaged typhoon was so was no match to Pablo’s infrastructure and livelihood vast that it changed catastrophic magnitude. amounting to around More than changing the Php 40 billion pesos and our landscape. The landscape, it created waterways were claimed the lives of more emotional and psychological MINDANAO Boston than 2,000 people. Many rechanneled bring rifts to those who survived it Cateel houses, buildings, roads and experienced its wrath. New Bataan and bridges were destroyed. huge rocks from Government operations the mountains. Both survivors and disaster Baganga and business were severely Debris were swept responders share stories hampered. of heartbreak. But just like away from the the “Building Back Better” In Davao Oriental, a huge rivers to poblacion and Tindog Comval! (Stand number of its coconut trees, areas damaging up, Comval!) slogans one the major source of their sees while passing by A NASA image from 3rd December 2012 of Typhoon Bopha (locally known as Typhoon Pablo) making land fall in the Phillipine island of economy, were uprooted. houses, agriculture provincial roads, there are Mindanao © NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre via Flickr In Compostela Valley and livelihood.” more stories full of unbridled (License CC-BY 2.0) particularly in the town of hope. Hope to rebuild their New Bataan, landslides Mayor Lorenzo lives. Hope to reclaim their and rockslides altered the futures. Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental woke up to the face of devastation after Typhoon Pablo landscape and nearly wiped Balbin, New Bataan, brought provinces to a standstill, wreaking havoc in its path and claiming the lives of thousands. out an entire barangay. Compostela Valley It was the most destructive disaster hit the region. Townsfolk in New Bataan look up for dead family members and relatives in announcement boards after raging waters carrying huge rocks and debris wiped out this portion of Barangay Andap in Compostela Valey. Following relief and rescue already bearing the brunt of Romeo Celeste, Provincial “ assistance, one of the most the typhoon’s destruction. If Planning and Development 07 Ang mga tao naa sa labing kasubo critical needs that local left unattended, vegetative Officer of Compostela Valley, government units identified debris like uprooted coconut managing the debris is the first (People were devastated). We lost lives, after the typhoon was trees, common in both step to accessibility “otherwise Time Critical Debris Management Project for Typhoon Pablo homes, our livelihood, our farmlands and managing the amount of provinces, can pose serious relief and rescue operations debris. At the onset, massive health risks and render could be delayed” and coconut lands.” debris – fallen trees, rocks farmlands unutilized. The recovery and rehabilitation of and garbage among others – removal of debris is in fact communities will be unlikely. Lelisito Salvana, debris management focal person obstructed roads, aggravated among those immediate damage to properties and activities that needed to be – Cateel, Davao Oriental harmed the lives of those done, because according to THE PATH OF DESTRUCTION: Total damages: Php 40,227,820,474.02 Infrastructure: Php 8,804,109.282.82 Livelihood: Php 25,972,120,483.00 Social: Php 608,142,548.20 Resettlement: Php 4,843,448,160.00 Number of fatalities: 1,718 (plus 3,156 injured and 1,262 missing) Source: Post-Disaster Needs Assessment of Compostela Valley and The shoreline in Poblacion, Cateel, Davao Oriental Davao Oriental About the Project 09 Time Critical Debris Management Project for Typhoon Pablo Debris management is critical in preventing pest infestation such as the bakukang (rhinoceros beetle) which breeds in fallen coconut trees. The local government of Davao Oriental estimated that around 3.5 million coconut trees were uprooted while Compostela Valley estimates 1.27 million cubic meters of coconut trees were felled. “ Debris cleanup was one of the immediate consideration after the Compostela Valley typhoon hit because of its direct impact Davao Oriental on the health of the people.” Evangeline Nazareno, former Municipal Administrator – Baganga, Davao Oriental 10 Understanding Debris Management Protection Dike Time Critical Debris Management Project for Typhoon Pablo Debris management is vital in Creation of DM teams wastes, commercial (sand bagging / gabions) the early recovery of disaster- wastes, parts from stricken communities. Through Coordination with LGUs public facilities such early debris clearing, relief as power grids, liquid Lumber Market and rescue assistance is Conduct of pre- wastes, among others. eased and its delay prevented. deployment orientation on Because roads are cleared debris management Clearing of public from obstructions due to facilities such as cash for debris, public facilities are Mobilization of provincial, schools, public work carpentry handicrafts immediately made accessible municipal and barangay markets, bus terminals, and transportation returns debris management municipal and to normal. The displaced teams barangay halls and Shelter population also can go back major thoroughfares cash to their homes provided that Debris clearing is a critical first step for work, these are already safe for to restore government training, habitation and families can Debris cleaning and functions and aid in lots of resume their livelihood. Debris clearing – Following the the smooth delivery work clearing also prevents further provisions of the RA 9003 of relief and rescue harm to humans particularly or the Ecological Solid assistance Coco trunk Lumber as in preventing the spread of Waste Management Act, Coco lumber construction disease and pest infestation the following activities Clearing of debris in material to remaining vegetation and were done: temporary dumpsites livestock. Segregation and De-silting/clearing of The damage brought about identification of waste/ debris in creeks, rivers by Typhoon Pablo has put disaster debris – and waterways. In the development continuum The debris found New Bataan, heavy Furniture to a halt because of the can be classified equipment such as (livelihood) vast immediate needs to be into: recyclables, backhoes were used dumpsite waste composting addressed. Recovery from biodegradables, to prepare the river disaster needs to commence residual waste. for the installation of as soon as possible and Biodegradable wastes protection dykes. link efforts to current are those that can Debris management made easy: A guide to debris management activities as implemented in Compostela strategies for long-term be deposited into Vegetative/agricultural Valley and Davao Oriental development. The experience composts and used as debris clearing of Compostela Valley and fertilizer. The residual Davao Oriental generated wastes are those Clearing of vegetative innovative approaches to that are brought to debris along national debris management and dumpsites. Disaster roads yielded “lessons learned” and debris such as those good practices which can be that are a result Clearing of vegetative replicated in other areas. of Typhoon Pablo debris for pest control, includes construction sanitation and food and infrastructure production – Disposal materials, household of fallen coconut trees is critical to prevent Compostela Valley the spread of pests such as the rhinoceros Davao Oriental beetle which damages