IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-1

Research articleerd

Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Managementin Banacon Island, Philippines
JOSE T. TRAVERO*Director, Regional Climate Change Center, Bohol Island State University, Philippines
Email: jose_travero@yahoo.com

MARINA A. LABONITE
Director, Research and Development Center, Bohol Island State University, Philippines

DIOSCORO A. AVERGONZADOCampus Director, Bohol Island State University, Philippines
Received 29 October 2012

Accepted 30 January 2013(*Corresponding author)

Abstract The research was conducted to determine the socio-economic and environmental
condition of the island, to understand the problems and needs of the people of a climatechange vulnerable island, to determine the level of awareness of villagers on climatechange, find out the community initiatives on climate change adaptation and mitigationand find out if disaster risk reduction management is in place in the community. Banacon
Island, the research site, has 318 households sporadically spread in a 15 hectare dry land of
the village. It has a population of 1514 (2010 data), majority (93%) has a family income ofless than P3,000 ($67) a month or less than P100 ($2.2) per day. The source of electric
power is a portable electric generator which is enjoyed by only 8% of the households andthe majority (92%) are still using kerosene lamp at night. There is no potable water in theisland. Majority of the households (85%) has no toilet, 12% has their own and 3% of thehouseholds shared their toilet. The leading causes of infant mortality are diarrhea,malnutrition and pneumonia. Only 3% of the residents are well-off while majority (87%)
are in the average level which is below the poverty line. A significant number (3%) lived
in a miserable condition. Fishing is the main source of livelihood. Fifty percent (50%) of
the residents are involved in seaweeds culture and business. Community problems are
directly related to health, sanitation, livelihood, education, source of power for electricity,
peace and order and problems with the children. Community members are aware of thechanging pattern of climate with increased temperature, extensive rainfall and sea level
rise as their indicators. Disaster risk reduction management mechanism is already in placein their locality through the village officials.
Keywords climate change, disaster risk reduction, mitigation, adaptation, empowerment

INTRODUCTION
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that the pace of climate change is very
likely to accelerate with continued greenhouse gases emission at or above current rates with
globally averaged surface temperatures estimated to rise by 1.8 °C to 4.0 °C by the end of 21stcentury (Simpson, et al 2008). It is also projected that there will be an increase in globally averaged
surface temperature of 1.4 °C to 5.8 °C over the period of 1990 to 2100 and global mean sea levelis projected to rise by 0.09 to 0.88 meter between the years 1990 and 2100 (Amadore, 2005). This
will translate to a sea level rise which is expected to threaten small islands in the Philippines and in
Bohol in particular.
It is believed that if one key aspect such as the average global temperature is altered, otherclimate elements may likewise change (Amadore, 2005). Being an archipelago, the Philippines has
one of the vast irregular coastlines in Asia. Recognizing the vulnerability of the Philippine and its
small island communities, particularly the poor, women and children to potential dangerousⒸ ISERD1

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-1

consequences of climate change (RA 9729), it is imperative for us to get the perception of the local
communities with regards to climate change. Hence, there is a dire need for us to look into thecommunity’s perception on climate change and document their mitigation and adaptation measures.
On the other hand, it is stipulated in the Climate Change Law of the Philippines that disasterrisk reduction shall be integrated into climate change programs and initiatives (RA 9729) as it isrecognized that climate change and disaster risk reduction are closely interrelated and it isconsidered that effective disaster risk reduction will enhance climate change adaptive capacity of
the community.
Assessing the impact and vulnerability to climate change and subsequently working out
adaptive needs requires good information (UNFCC, 2007). The local knowledge and informationthat are gathered in this study shall be a good input in planning a climate change resilient
community.
Project Location
The site of this project is in an island village of Banacon which is one of the 40 small islands within
the 300 square kilometer Danajon Double Barrier Reef, the only barrier reef in the Philippines andone of only three in the Indo-Pacific Region. Banacon is in the coastal municipality of Getafe,
north of Bohol. The island has a vast yet diverse and beautiful seascape sprawling along a double
barrier reef which is known for its mangrove forest, the largest man-made mangrove forest in Asia.
This mangrove has an approximate area of 425 hectares which acts as the breeding ground forfishes and other coral reef animals. It also protects the islands from the impacts of typhoons andstorms.

LEYTE
CEBU

BOHOL
Fig. 1 Location map of the research siteOBJECTIVESThis research was conducted with the following objectives:
1. To determine the socio-economic and environmental condition of the island;
2. To understand the problems and needs of a climate change vulnerable village;
3. To determine the level of awareness about climate change and find out their indicators ofclimate change;
4. To find out the community initiatives on climate change mitigation and adaptation; and5. To find out if Disaster Risk Reduction Management is in place in their community.
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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-1

METHODOLOGYThis research was done through a participatory approach. This project is part of a long term
program called Socio-economic and Environmental Education in the island of Banacon, Bohol,
Philippines. This was done in 2011 to 2012. The tools used include the focus group discussion,ranking, mapping, diagramming, time lining, seasonal calendar and a questionnaire-aided interview.
Preliminary visit was done to identify the key persons who can facilitate the conduct of the activity
and to get the needed secondary data. The usual protocol with the village officials was done. There
were 32 participants of the research process who were mostly women, health workers, fisher folks
and basic education teachers. The focus group discussion was done at the barangay hall and at theelementary school building. The interview was done in a house-to-house visit. For result validation,
the data gathered were presented back to the community particularly to the teachers of theDepartment of Education and the barangay officials.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Current Socio-Economic Realities of Banacon
A participatory resource appraisal (PRA) was conducted in the island community of Banacon tovalidate the available secondary information about the village. This was done through a focus
group discussion (FGD) using resource mapping, time lining, seasonal calendar, well-being ranking
and diagramming to capture the vital information of the community. The PRA was done to assess
the current problems and needs for possible interventions.
It was found out that Banacon Island has 318 households sporadically spread in a 15 hectare
dry land of the village. It has a population of 1514 (2010 data), majority (93%) has a family incomeof less than P3,000 ($67) a month or less than P100 ($2.2) per day. The source of electric power isa portable electric generator which is used by only 8% of the households and the majority (92%)
are still using kerosene lamp at night. The electric generator will operate only from 6:00 until 10:00
o’clock in the evening. There is no potable water in the island. There are seven (7) households who
own a rainwater collector and there are four (4) public rainwater collectors installed in publicbuildings like the school and village hall. Majority of the households (85%) has no toilet, 12% has
their own and 3% of the households shared their toilet. The leading causes of infant mortality are
diarrhea, malnutrition and pneumonia. As far as the socioeconomic status of the community, it wasrevealed in the Focus Group Discussion that only 3% of the residents are well-off while majority(87%) are in the average level which is below the poverty line. A significant number (3%) living ina miserable condition.
Current State of Their Environment
The Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation reported that due to illegal fishing activities
and coral extraction, among other harmful practices, the double reef where Banacon Island islocated is now vastly degraded. On an ocular observation of the mangrove plantations, we noticed
that there are portions of the mangroves that are illegally cut. In the FGD that we conducted, it wasrevealed by the community residents that they also have to address the issue of solid wastemanagement.
Being an island village, fishing is the main source of livelihood. Fifty percent (50%) of theresidents are involved in seaweeds culture and business. Very few are into buying and selling ofseashells which are harvested by the villagers from the mangroves shorelines and shallow waters ofthe island.
Problems, Needs and Potential Interventions
During the FGD session, villagers identified their problems, needs and potential solutions based onⒸ ISERD

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-1

their perception. It came out that the problems that they identified are those that are directly related
to their daily activities like health, sanitation, livelihood, education, source of power, peace andorder and problems with the children. Issues like protecting the mangroves, protecting the marine
resources; climate change adaptation and disaster management are not their immediate concern.
Table 1 List of community needs, problems and their suggested interventions
Needs

Problems

Sanitation

Toilet; Solid Waste management

HealthNo potable water; No Immediate
access of medical assistance/services ;prevalence of malnutrition; absence offood supply like vegetables and root
crops

Discipline

Juvenile delinquency problems

Education
LivelihoodLight

Many out-of-school youths
No livelihood program
No power

Peace and order

Stealing in Seaweed farms

Potential Interventions
Sanitation Education, Public
Awareness on the Health impact of
unsanitary environment
Local Medical Service providers;Public Awareness on Preventive
Measures on Climate Change Related
health problems; Disaster Risk
reduction and management of waterborne related diseases
Values formation education amongparents
Alternative Learning System
Livelihood trainings/courses
Install non-conventional source ofpower
Strengthen local police

Seasonal Calendar of the Community
During the FGD, island residents have identified major activities which happened on a regularbasis every year. These include social and economic activities which are of critical importance intheir daily survival. The seasonal calendar also indicated the time of the year where their householdincome and expenses goes high or down. It also indicates the trend of disease occurrence especiallyamong children.
Community Social Mobility
Islanders indicated during the FGD the mobility of the residents. The main reason of moving out
from the island is economic in nature. Residents have to seek employment in the nearby urban
community or outside the country like in Hongkong, Kuwait, Singapore and United States. Parents
with economic capacity to send their children to college and high school will send their children tothe city. Hence, young people also have to go out from the island for education purposes.
Climate Change AwarenessWith a questionnaire-aided interview, island residents were asked about their knowledge on climatechange. It was found out that all the respondents are already aware of the changing pattern ofclimate with the following as their perceived indicators: increased temperature, extensive rainfall
and sea level rise. All respondents indicated that they observed an increase of sea level in theirisland where majority said that sea water has encroached their dryland area by almost ten (10)meters from the coastline. Some of them, however, said that the sea water reached up to five (5)meters beyond the coastline.
When asked if there was an initiative of the village on climate change awareness, thirty
percent (30%) said that they learned about climate change issues in a village community meeting
called by the local officials and ten percent (10%) said that they got the information from anInformation, Education and Communication (IEC) materials. The rest of the islanders do not haveaccess of any information about climate change and disaster risk management.

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IMPORTANTACTIVITES/EVENTSJGUSOFARMING

harvesting

FM

A

M

JJ

AS

O

N

D

planting planting harvesting harvesting

FISHING
SOCIAL
ACTIVITES

12345678

EXPENSETREND
INCOMETRENDS

9DISEASE
OCCURRENSE

101112101=Fiesta SantoNino-Purok 5, Fiesta sa LourdesKapilia Centro, Ist Comunion of Children
2=Fiesta Sta. Crruz-Tibook Banacon
3=Fiesta Mother of Perpetual Help-Centro and Purok 3
4=Visita sa Birhen
5=Fiesta Sta. Cruz-Purok 1 and 2
6=Fiesta Corazon de Jesus-Purok 6; Fiesta Berhin sa
Berangay-Purok 3 and 5
7=Fiesta San Vicente Ferrer-Purok 7

8=Fiesta Sta. Teresita/Banacon Youth Day (Banacon
Catholic Organization Youth Organization[BCYO])
9=High income attributed to “high catch-saeson”for
fish, shellfish, crabs, s Shrimps
10=Ting-tipdas [sagolflu moragpamiangan anglutahan]
11=Diarrhea
12=Mumps [2012]

Fig. 2 Seasonal calendar of the community

Cebu
（50）

Kuwait（2）

Tagbilaran（3）

BanaconIslandUS（1）

Hongkong（3）
Singapole（2）

Fig. 3 Mobility map of the island residents
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
The villagers knew (90%) that they will continue planting mangrove trees to mitigate climatechange and the same number said that they will adapt the changing climate by doing alternative
livelihood in the island especially non-fishing economic activities or livelihood skills likedressmaking for women and shellcraft, mechanic and computer skills for out-of-school youth.
Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM)Ⓒ ISERD

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Disaster risk reduction management is a mandate of the local government units as provided in thePhilippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Law. There is in every village a Local
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council with appropriate funds to support DRRM activities.
The DRRM council of Banacon Island has already put in place the mechanism to respond all typesof disaster in the island. Village officials who were given the DRRM tasks were given basic
equipment like emergency lamps and even a mobile phone for them to quickly respond any form ofdisaster.
CONCLUSION
It is concluded that fishing is the main source of livelihood. Majority of the villagers has an incomeof less than P100 ($2.2) per day. Only 3% are considered well-off and the rest are living below thepoverty line. There is an observed degradation of the reef as perceived by the residents and there
are some issues on mangrove management. The community is also aware of the existing solid
waste management problems in the village.
Villagers identified the following areas as their problems: sanitation, livelihood, source ofpower, peace and order and problems with children. Residents are aware of the changing pattern ofclimate with increased temperature, extensive rainfall and sea level rise as their indicators. Majorityof the villagers does not have access on information about climate change. However, they knewthat to mitigate climate change, they have to continue planting mangrove trees in the island. On theaspect of climate change adaptation, the community suggested to have alternative livelihood
especially non-fishing activities.
It is recommended that the existing knowledge and preparedness of the villagers about climatechange and disaster risk management shall be scaled-up through environmental and climate change
education and by installing alternative non-fishing livelihood to augment their income. Having
another source of income will lessen the social pressures that will affect adversely the surrounding
coastal and marine resources of the island. It is also recommended that the potential interventions
identified by the villagers shall be addressed by the concerned government agencies for community
empowerment and prosperity.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We wish to acknowledge the active participation of the island villagers and the generous support ofthe teachers of Banacon Elementary School, headed by their principal Mr. Julius Quillopas, theHealth Workers and the Barangay Officials of Banacon Island for their hospitality and moral
support.
REFERENCES
Amadore, Leoncio A. 2005. Crisis or Opportunity, Climate change impacts in the Philippines. Barangay
Profile, Banacon, Getafe, Bohol, Philippine.
Republic Act No. 9729 (RA 9729, Climate Change Act of 2009). 2009. An Act mainstreaming climatechange into government policy formulations, establishing the framework strategy and program onclimate change, creating for this purpose the climate change commission and for other purposes,
Republic of the Philippines, Philippine.
Simpson, M.C., Gossling, S., Scott, D., Hall, C.M. and Gladin, E. 2008. Climate change adaptation andmitigation in the tourism sector: Frameworks, tools and practices. UNEP. University of Oxford,
UNWTO, WMO: Paris, France.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). 2001. Climate change, Impacts,
Vulnerabilities and Adaptations in Developing Countries.

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