Eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines

Asian Disaster Reduction Center

Eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in June 1991
Emmanuel M. de Guzman
Consultant (Philippines)

The Pinatubo eruption of June 1991: The nature and impact of the disasterNature of the disaster
Reawakened after more than 500 years of slumber, Mount Pinatubo in theisland of Luzon in the Philippines showed signs of imminent eruption early April
1991. On 12 June 1991 (Philippine Independence Day), its intermittent
eruptions began. Three days after, on 15 June 1991, its most powerful eruption
happened. Mount Pinatubo ejected massive volcanic materials of more than
one cubic mile and created an enormous cloud of volcanic ash that rose as highas 22 miles into the air and grew to more than 300 miles across, turning day
into night over Central Luzon. At lower altitude, the ash was blown in all
direction by intense winds of a coincidental typhoon. At higher altitudes, the ash
was blown southwestward. Volcanic ash and frothy pebbles blanketed thecountryside. Fine ash fell as far as the Indian Ocean and satellites tracked theash clouds several times around the globe. Nearly 20 million tons of sulfur
dioxide were injected into the stratosphere and dispersed around the world
causing global temperature to drop temporarily by 1*F from 1991 through 1993.
Mount Pinatubo’s eruption was considered the largest volcanic eruption of the
century to affect a densely populated area.
After the explosive eruptions, posing a more serious and lingering threat to life,
property and environment were the onslaught of lahars. Within hours after the
eruption, heavy rains began to wash deposits of volcanic ash and debris fromthe slopes down into the surrounding lowlands in giant, fast-moving mudflows.
Containing 40% (by weight) volcanic ash and rock, lahars flow faster than clearwater streams. These steaming mudflows cascade as fast as 40 miles per hourand can travel more than 50 miles. With 90% volcanic debris, lahars movefastest and are most destructive. When they reach the lowlands, they have
speeds of more than 20 miles per hour and are as much as 30 feet thick and
300 feet wide. They can transport more than 35,000 cubic feet of debris andmud per second.
For years, lahars continued to flow down the major river systems around thevolcano and out into densely populated, adjoining lowlands. They destroyed
and buried everything along their path: people and animals, farm and forest
lands, bridges and natural waterways, houses and cars. They also rampage
with terrifying rumbling sounds. By 1997, lahars had deposited more than 0.7
cubic miles (about 300 million dump-truck loads) of debris onto the lowlands,
burying hundreds of square miles of land and causing greater destruction than1Eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines

Asian Disaster Reduction Center

the eruption itself. With the volume of volcanic debris deposited on the slopesof Mt. Pinatubo, the threat of lahars is expected to continue until year 2010.
The disaster brought about by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo had assumed aunique nature in view of the following: the widespread devastation that impacts
on society and economy, the continuing threat of lahars and flooding, thedestruction of endemic species of flora and fauna, the alteration of landscapesand land uses, and its impact on the global environment.
Extent of damage and socio-economic impact
The Mount Pinatubo eruptions and their aftereffects, particularly lahars during
rainy seasons, not only have taken the lives of many but also have wrought
havoc to the infrastructure and to economic activities of Central Luzon. Damage
to crops, infrastructure, and personal property totaled at least P10.1 billion ($US374 million) in 1991, and an additional P1.9 billion ($US 69 million) in 1992. In
addition, an estimated P454 million ($US 17 million) of business was foregone
in 1991, and an additional P37 million ($US 1.4 million) in 1992. Lahars
continue to threaten lives and property in many towns in the provinces of Tarlac,
Pampanga, and Zambales.
The actual destruction, coupled with the continuing threat of lahars and ash fall,
had disrupted the otherwise flourishing economy of Central Luzon, slowing theregion's growth momentum and altering key development activities andpriorities. Major resources had been diverted to relief, recovery, and preventionof further damage.
The cost of caring for evacuees, including construction of evacuation camps
and relocation centers, was at least P2.5 billion ($US 93 million) in 1991-1992,
and an additional P4.2 billion ($US 154 million) was spent during the same
period on dikes and dams to control lahars.
The longevity and impact of the calamity is so great that the public and private
response must go beyond traditional relief and recovery. Return to pre-eruption
conditions is impossible. Instead, responses must create an attractive climate
for new investments, provide new livelihood and employment alternatives,promote growth in areas that are safe from future lahars and flooding, andprovide an infrastructure that is tough enough to survive future disasters.
Areas and populations affected
During the eruption of 15 June 1991, heavy ash falls had caused widespread
damage in the provinces adjacent to Mount Pinatubo, as they covered large
tracts of land and caused the roofs of houses, buildings and public facilities tocollapse. These provinces were Zambales, Pampanga and Tarlac.

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The regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD) had reported a total of 657 persons dead, 184 injured and 23 missing
as of 29 September 1991. The casualties were mostly victims of collapsing
structures, drowning due to flooding, and diseases in the evacuation center.
The provinces of Zambales and Pampanga accounted for most of the victims.
Moreover, from June 1991 to November 1992, the means of livelihood, houses,
or both were partially or wholly lost in 364 barangays or villages. Per 1990
census, about 329,000 families (2.1 million people) or one-third of the region's
population lived in these villages.
Table 1. Total number of barangays affected as of November 17, 1992
(National Disaster Coordinating Council, 1992). ["Affected" refers to a situation
where means of livelihood, houses, or both are lost or partially or completely
destroyed]
Province
ZambalesPampanga
TarlacAngeles City
Nueva Ecija
Total

Affected barangays No. of families
96
30,115
173
239,13188
44,367
5
14,1972
1,331
364
329,141

In 1991, 4,979 houses were totally destroyed and 70,257 houses were partiallydamaged. The number decreased in 1992, when 3,281 houses were wholly
destroyed and 3,137 units were partially damaged (Table 2).
Table 2. Total number of houses damaged (National Disaster Coordinating
Council, 1992; Presidential Task Force on Mount Pinatubo, 1992; Department
of Social Welfare and Development, unpublished data, 1992). [Partial damagerefers to any degree of physical destruction attributed to the disaster. Total
destruction is the condition when the house is no longer livable]
Extent of damage
Totally destroyed houses
Partially damaged houses
Total

1991
1992
Total
4,979 3,281 8,260
70,257 3,137 73,394
75,236 6,418 81,654

Of the 329,000 families (2.1 million persons) affected, 7,840 families (35,120
persons) were of the Aeta cultural minority (Office for Northern Cultural
Communities, unpub. data, August 14, 1991). Although constituting less than 2
percent of the total affected population, these cultural minorities had received
significant attention.

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Impact on natural resources
Moreover, the eruption had caused massive damage to natural resources. It
had buried about 18,000 hectares of forest land in ash falls of about 25
centimeters. The series of heavy rains following the eruption had induced
lahars to flow down to some 8,968 hectares of low-lying areas. At least eight
major river systems have been clogged up by lahar, namely Balin-Baquero
Bacao, Santo Tomas, Gumain, Porac, Pasig-Potrero, Abacan, Bamban andTarlac Rivers.
Reforestation activities had been seriously setback in the mountain range ofZambales. About 19,799 hectares of new plantations were destroyed ash falls
and some P125 million worth of seedlings were lost. Damage to natural forest
covers and old plantations extended to around 43,801 hectares. About 10,206
hectares of agro-forestry farms under the Integrated Social Forestry Program of
the Department of Natural Resources had been destroyed.
Impact on agriculture
Agricultural land area seriously affected by the ash fall reached some 96,200
hectares. Damage to crops, livestock and fisheries was valued at P1.4 billion.
As of 17 November 1992, damage from s, flooding, and salutation was reported
to be P1.4 billion, with crops and fisheries as most affected.
Table 3. Existing damage to agricultural commodities (in million pesos;
Department of Agriculture, Region III, unpub. data, 1991; National Disaster
Coordinating Council, 1992). [Damage cost = total area damaged x expected
yield per hectare. Expected yield is computed by referring to pre-calamity yield.
Post-calamity yield is derived by referring to pre-calamity yield and subjecting
the damaged crops to recovery chances/percentages. The value of the crops
with negative chances/percentages is derived by multiplying them by theprevailing market prices of the crops. This value then becomes the damage
cost.]
Commodity
Crops (hectares)
Livestock (heads)
Fisheries (hectares)
Sugarcane (hectares)
Total

1991
1992
Total
987.2 546.8 1,534.0
203.2
9.8
213.0
284.1 164.9
449.0
56.9
56.9
1,474.5 778.4 2,252.9

Impact on trade and industry

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The trade and industry sector was also severely affected, especially the
manufacturing and exporting sub-sectors, affecting 599 firms with total assets of
P851 million. Foregone production losses were reported at 45% of potential
sales for the year 1991 or P454 million while capital investments of the 306
affected firms surveyed destroyed stood at a total of P425 million. The hardest
hit in the manufacturing sub-sector was the furniture industry with a total ofP156.5 million in estimated damage with 108 firms affected.
Impact on social services
Health. Morbidity and mortality rates increased mainly in evacuation centers.
The leading diseases were acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhea, andmeasles (Department of Health, unpublished data, 1991). The death rate (Aetasand lowlanders combined) was 7 per 10,000 per week during 1991; that for
Aetas in 1991 reached as high as 26 per 10,000 per week, and averaged 16 per
10,000 per week (Department of Health, 1992), and was especially high among
Aeta children.
Social welfare. -The continuing threat of s had required that relief - food,clothing, shelter, and other help - be provided far beyond the period that isnormal for typhoons and other calamities.
As of October 28, 1993,
approximately 1,309,000 people were being served outside evacuation centers.
As of the same date, 159 evacuation centers were being maintained by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) throughout Region III,housing some 11,455 families or 54,880 persons and providing them with foodfor-work or cash-for-work assistance.
Education. About 700 school buildings with 4,700 classrooms were destroyed
displacing an estimated 236,700 pupils and 7,009 teachers. Damage to schoolbuildings was estimated to be P747 million as of August 1991 an amount that is
growing with continuing lahar activity. Disruption of schooling was compoundedby the use of undamaged school buildings as evacuation centers, which forced
delays in the opening of classes and caused other disruptions of the school
calendar. Initial damage to instructional materials, furniture, equipment, andother school supplies was estimated at P93 million pesos (Department of
Education, Culture, and Sports, unpublished data, 1991).

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Table 4. Estimated cost of damage to school buildings by province or city as ofAugust 12, 1991 (National Disaster Coordinating Council, 1992; Presidential
Task Force on Mount Pinatubo, 1992; Department of Education, Culture, andSports, Region III, unpublished data, 1991). [Ash fall is the major cause for thistype of damage]
Province/City
ZambalesBataanOlongapo City
Pampanga
TarlacAngeles City
BulacanNueva Ecija
Total

Cost (x1000Pesos)
410,000
34,000140,000
130,000
13,00012,0005,050
3,200
747,250

Impact on public infrastructure
In its damage assessment report as of August 23, 1991, the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office III estimated damage to
public infrastructure amounting to P3.8 billion. The gravest destruction was on
irrigation and flood control systems, roads and bridges, and school buildings.
Additional damage of at least 1 billion pesos was done to roads and bridges bylahars of 1992 (National Disaster Coordinating Council, 1992).
Table 5. Total cost of damage to infrastructure as of August 23, 1991 (National
Disaster Coordinating Council, 1992; Presidential Task Force on Mount
Pinatubo, 1992; Department of Public Works and Highways, Region III, unpub.
data, 1991). [The prevailing foreign exchange rate during this period was $1 =27.07 pesos]
Infrastructure subsector/Facility
Transportation
Communication
Power and electrification
Water resources
Social infrastructure
Total

6

Damage Cost
(x1000Pesos)
1,149,908
13,21554,9181,568,642
1,045,708
3,832,391

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Asian Disaster Reduction Center

Overall impact on sectors
As a whole, damage and production losses resulting from the eruption andsubsequent lahars were about P10.5 billion in 1991 and P1.9 billion in 1992.
These values include only damage and losses that were readily quantifiable.
Additional losses, not included in these estimates, include human life, social
fabric of communities, children's schooling, and other social aspects.
Table 6. Existing sectoral damage and production losses, 1991-92 (in millions
of pesos) (National Disaster Coordinating Council, 1992; Presidential Task
Force on Mount Pinatubo, 1992; National Economic Development Authority,
unpublished data, 1991, 1992).
SectorPublic infrastructure
Agriculture
Military facilities
Trade and industry
Natural resources
Foregone income (trade and industry).
Total

7

1991
1992 Total 1991-92
3,830
454
4,284
1,474 1,422
2,896
3,842
0
3,842
851
0
851
125
0
125
454
37
491
10,576 1,913
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Overview of the disaster management by the Philippine Government
Laws, policies and organization
In view of the magnitude and socio-economic impact of the eruption of Mount
Pinatubo, the Philippine Government had initiated and ensured an organized
and integrated response to the calamity and the ensuing crises. In particular,
the Philippine Congress and the Office of the President had passed andpromulgated a series of laws and regulations that governed the country’s
comprehensive response. The relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction
efforts by the government, including those supported by donor governments,
nongovernmental and international organizations, were coordinated andimplemented within the overall disaster management plan and development
strategy pursued by the government.
On 26 June 1991, President Corazon C. Aquino, through Memorandum OrderNo. 369, had created the Presidential Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Areas
Affected by the Eruption of Mount Pinatubo or Task Force Mt. Pinatubo. It was
mandated to guide and coordinate all rehabilitation efforts of the government,
including those participated in by the private sector and the international
community. After a year, the Mount Pinatubo Assistance, Resettlement andDevelopment Commission succeeded the Task Force by virtue of a law,
Republic Act 7637, passed by the Philippine Congress and signed by President
Fidel V. Ramos on 24 September 1992. With a term of six years, theCommission was mandated, among others, to formulate policies and plans, tocoordinate the implementation of programs and projects, and to administer the
initial 10-billion peso fund appropriated for the “aid, relief, resettlement,
rehabilitation and livelihood services as well as infrastructure support for thevictims.” Specifically, the Commission was tasked to (1) provide additional funds
for the immediate relief of victims, (2) establish resettlement centers and homesites, (3) provide livelihood and employment opportunities, (4) repair,reconstruct or replace infrastructure damaged or destroyed, and (5) construct
new infrastructure facilities needed by the affected communities. In pursuit ofthese tasks, the Commission, through relevant government agencies,
implemented projects and activities on four major program areas: resettlement,
livelihood, social services and infrastructure. Pursuant to law, President Ramos
extended the term of the Commission to December 2000 by virtue of
Presidential Proclamation 1201 issued on 19 March 1998.
The Commission pursued a comprehensive program that aimed to alleviate thesufferings of the victims, to protect them from further destruction, to help themrebuild their homes, and to gain a means of livelihood. In view of the limited
term of the Commission and the necessity to sustain rehabilitation anddevelopment efforts, all government agencies concerned with theimplementation of related works had been directed to include in their respective
annual budget the necessary funding requirements (National Budget

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Memorandum Circular 74). This ensured the continuity and sustainability ofcritical rehabilitation programs beyond the Commission’s extended term.
Moreover, as early as 1996, government agencies and local government units
concerned had began integrating into their regular programs the delivery ofbasic social services to the affected communities, including school, health andwelfare services. Similarly, the Department of Public Works and Highways had
assumed the implementation, monitoring and improvement of engineeringintervention works and lahar mitigation activities since 1997.
Before the Commission expired, President Joseph E. Estrada transferred its
chairmanship to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) anddirected the preparation of a winding up program (Executive Order No. 269
issued on 19 July 2000). Upon her assumption to office in 2001, President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued a series of directives to ensure the continuity,
integration and sustainability of the Commission’s work. Executive Order No. 4,
issued on 5 March 2001, created an ad hoc body to complete the wind up
activities of the Commission. Executive Order No. 5, issued on 5 March 2001,
transferred the administration of upland Pinatubo resettlement communities
from the Commission to the concerned local government units. Executive
Order No. 6, issued on 20 March 2001, transferred 14 existing lowland Pinatubo
resettlement sites under the supervision of the Housing and Urban
Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). Also, it created under theCouncil the Pinatubo Project Management Office (PPMO) to manage theresettlement areas. Eventually, under Executive Order No. 54, the PMMO
assumed the assets, records, funds, personnel, liabilities and all related
functions, tasks and responsibilities from the defunct Commission.

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Disaster response
Early warning and evacuation
Evacuation of the population at risk had been the concern of local authorities as
early as April 1991 when the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology(PHIVOLCS) declared a 6-mile-radius danger zone around the volcano.
PHIVOLCS, jointly with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), had conducted
intensive studies and monitoring of the volcano’s activity from which it forecast
and declared an imminent eruption and issued early warnings to thecommunities at risk. Among the first to have evacuated were the indigenous
Aeta highlanders who had lived on the slopes of the volcano. About 20,000 in
population, the Aetas had been safely evacuated before the eruption. People
from the lowlands heeded also the warnings and fled to safer distance from thevolcano. Also, more than 15,000 American servicemen and their dependents
had evacuated from Clark Air Base before the eruption.
Immediate response
In the immediate aftermath of the eruption, the National Disaster Coordinating
Council mobilized civilian and military resources to respond to the evacuation,
rescue and relief requirements of the affected populations. Government
agencies mobilized their respective facilities (hospitals, schools, etc.) andpersonnel (medical, social workers, teachers, etc.) to provide the necessary
basic services in designated evacuation centers. The Department of Social
Welfare and Development was in the forefront of providing emergency relief
assistance to displaced families and victims in evacuation centers. The
Department of Health led in the provision of medical care and public healthservices at evacuation centers, including disease surveillance. Heath advisories
were also issued and broadcast to guide the public in coping with the ashfall as
health hazard since the fine volcanic particles could cause sore eyes or trigger
asthma.
Later on, a host of countries extended humanitarian relief assistance to thePhilippine Government and its support NGOs, including the Philippine National
Red Cross. These countries included Australia, Belgium, Canada, China,
Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia,
Malta, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, U.K., and U.S.A. Internationalorganizations such as WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNDRO and WFP also extended
humanitarian relief assistance. The relief assistance was in the form of cash
donations or relief items such as food packs, medicines, and shelter materials.

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Recovery and reconstruction plan
Development planning concerns
The government’s recovery and rehabilitation plan was guided by adevelopment principle that rehabilitation and reconstruction should not belimited to restoration of destroyed or damages areas, facilities and systems totheir original conditions but should address the vulnerabilities and deficiencies
of previously existing conditions and mitigate any future disaster impact.
With the magnitude and extent of the destruction wrought by the eruption,
development planners and policy-makers were confronted by the following
concerns, which required immediate action as well as long-term solutions.
1) Resettlement. There was need to resettle people whose places of residence
had been devastated and were beyond immediate reconstruction or had
been damaged or affected and deemed unsafe for habitation. There were
two target beneficiaries for resettlement: the indigenous Aeta highlanders
and the displaced lowlanders. The resettlement strategy for the two groups
had to differ to consider the variation in socio-cultural orientation and socioeconomic activities of the Aetas and the lowlanders.
2) Livelihood. Government had to address the pressing concern of providing
immediate and long-term, livelihood opportunities to displaced farmers andworkers. Many farmlands had been unsuitable for agriculture and caused
disruption of production of agriculture-based industries. The closure of Clark
Air Base also presented the need for short-gestating livelihood opportunities
and for alternative uses of base lands to cushion the effect of the massive
displacement of workers.
3) Social Services. The continuing nature of the calamity had put pressure onsocial services sector to provide continued social services in terms of health,social welfare and education. Health and psycho-social services had to beextended to victims both in and outside the evacuation centers. The
immediate opening of the classes and the extension of the school calendar
had to be considered by the government at the same time that it wasproviding relief services to evacuees in school facilities. Social services
would have to be extended in resettlement areas in order to prepare theresettlers for final resettlement.
4) Infrastructure. The eruption had caused massive destruction to the region’sroads and bridges, public buildings and facilities, communication, utilities
and river and flood control structures. There was also need to institutedisaster mitigation measures in view of the continuing threat of lahars andflashfloods.

11Eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines

Asian Disaster Reduction Center5) Land use and environmental management. The effects of the eruption,
especially lahar, continue to destroy farmlands, forest lands and watersheds
and had caused damages to the river systems and overall environment of
the region. This required careful physical land use re-planning of the region.
6) Science and Technology. The need to undertake scientific studies andformulate corresponding studies and policies was an evident concern andchallenge for science and technology. The development of alternative usesof ash fall for commercial or industrial was an important concern for bothgovernment and the private sector.
In response to the above-mentioned concerns, the government vigorously
pursued the following specific development objectives:・ To mitigate further the destruction brought about by the adverse effectsof the eruption, especially the lahars;・ To normalize and accelerate economic recovery including the creation ofan alternative investment climate;・ To provide adequate livelihood and employment alternatives, especiallyfor displaced farmers and workers;
・ To promote growth and development in resettlement and new settlement
areas serving as alternatives to permanently damaged/ high-risk areas;・ To ensure the continuous flow of goods and services, especially during
relief operations when calamity strikes (lahars had made many areas
inaccessible);・ To strengthen institutional structures, arrangements, and mechanisms
for disaster preparedness/ responsiveness and raise public awarenesson disaster mitigation and reduction;
・ To reduce susceptibility of vertical and horizontal infrastructures todamages due to lahars and other disasters; and・ To prevent further degradation of the environment and rehabilitate
damaged ecosystems.
Development strategy
As key feature of its development strategy, the government adopted team workor “kabisig” in the pursuit of rehabilitation and reconstruction programs andprojects. As an overall approach, the government emphasized cooperation andcoordination among national and local government agencies, private sector,
including NGOs and the victims themselves to prevent duplication of efforts.
The government also ensured that these programs and projects were consistent
with the broader regional development framework. The overall spatial
development strategy for Central Luzon envisioned the region as the transit
lane between the resource-based areas of the Northern Luzon and the highly
populated and industrialized areas of the National capital region. As such theregion shall continue to serve as the catchment area for population and industry
spillover from Metro Manila and assume the provide the requirements of the12Eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines

Asian Disaster Reduction CenterNorthern Luzon provinces in terms of processing and manufacturing of goods
and their distribution.
Moreover, the government developed specific strategies, programs and projects
that address the concerns earlier mentioned, i.e. in areas of resettlement,
livelihood, social services, infrastructure, science and technology, and land use
and environmental management. These were made in consultation with local
government officials, community leaders and the beneficiaries themselves.
Programs and projects
In accordance with the development strategy, the government establishedprograms for the following:・ Resettlements for the Aetas highlanders (P349 million) and thelowlanders (P1.689 billion).
・ Livelihood programs focused on agriculture and industry, providing
quick-generating income opportunities to affected families: Bamboo
Development Project (P80 million), Agricultural Rehabilitation Program(P197.4 million); Agricultural Development Program ((P615 million);
Productivity Centers (P1.12 billion), Integrated Cattle Fattening program( (P120 million), Integrated Poultry Livelihood Program ( (P40 million),
Deep Sea Fishing ( (P58 million), Financing Programs (P3.718 billion),
Common Service Facilities (P50 million).
・ Delivery of basic social services: relief services (P370.5 million), healthand nutrition service ((P367 million).
・ Infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction: River Systems
Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (P2.9 billion), Reconstruction
and Rehabilitation of Roads and Bridges (P1.5 billion), Development of
Alternate Routes in Capas-Botolan Road (P537 million) San FernandoDinalupihan Road (P1.4 billion), and in Angeles-Porac-FloridablancaDinalupihan Road ( (P169 million), Rehabilitation of Damaged Schools
and Public Buildings (P982 million), Mobile Health Facilities (P40 million),
Repair and Rehabilitation of Damaged National and Communal Irrigation
Systems (P228.6 million), Rehabilitation of Railway Facilities (P70
million).
With the assumption by the national government agencies of certain programs
and projects, the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the National
Economic Development Authority are currently consolidating and assessing thestatus, outcome and impact of critical rehabilitation and reconstruction programs
and projects.
In general, the government had acted in dispatch in implementing rehabilitation
and reconstruction programs and projects, including the construction of
infrastructures for lahar and flood mitigation. For example, for the protection andrehabilitation of lahar-threatened areas in Central Luzon, the DEPWH hadcompleted in just four (4) months the construction of the 24-kilometer Pasig-

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Potrero Outer Dike or “Megadike”in Bacolor, Pampanga. The megadike served
as a defense of the vulnerable areas against rampaging lahars during the 1996
rainy season.
Moreover, the participation and support of the private sector, including theNGOs, had hastened and enhanced the delivery of basic services to theaffected populations and had ensured that the necessary services, where ever
and whenever government was seen to be deficient, were present andresponsive to the needs of victims.

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Significance of international assistanceWith the magnitude of rehabilitation and reconstruction needs in Central Luzon,
the government was able to pursue its recovery and rehabilitation plan more
efficiently and effectively with the support and assistance of other governments
and international funding institutions.
Most of the foreign assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction came in theform of grants, loans, and technical assistance packages. Among the countries
that had extended assistance included Australia, Canada, France, Germany,
Israel, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom and U.S.A. World Bank and AsianDevelopment Bank had also extended support and loan facilities.
Some specific projects under the auspices of the DPWH, which were madepossible by foreign assistance, included:
・ ADB-funded Mt. Pinatubo Damage Rehabilitation Project・ German Bank for Reconstruction-funded Mt. Pinatubo Emergency Aide
Project
・ Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded Mt. Pinatubo
Relief and Rehab Project・ USAID-funded United States Army Corps of Engineers' Mt. Pinatubo
Recovery Action
・ Dutch-funded dredging of the Pasac- Guagua-San Fernando Waterway
・ Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF)-funded Pinatubo Hazard
Urgent Mitigation Project・ German Centrum for International Migration (CIM)-funded Technical
Assistance for Mount Pinatubo Emergency-PMO
・ JICA-funded Grant Aid for Water Supply in Mt. Pinatubo Resettlement
Areas and Study on Flood and Mudflow control for SacobiaBamban/Abacan Rivers
・ IBRD-funded Technical Assistance for Mt. Pinatubo and RehabilitationWorks
・ Swiss Disaster Relief-funded Technical Assistance for Mt. Pinatubo
Rehabilitation
・ JBIC Yen Loan Package-funded Pinatubo hazard Urgent Mitigation
Project
Based on the Philippine experience in responding to and coping with the impact
and lingering effects of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, inter-agency
coordination and multi-sectoral and multilateral cooperation are vital inachieving short-term and long-term goals for recovery, rehabilitation andreconstruction. With the accomplishment of urgent development projects, theaffected communities were able to recover quickly from the disasters andgovernment was able to institute necessary disaster mitigation measures.

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The application and use of good practices and experiences made available
through technical assistance extended by other governments and internationalorganizations facilitated the development and implementation of criticaldevelopment programs and projects and the early recovery and rehabilitation of
the affected areas.

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Promoting cooperation and coordination of international assistanceIn view of the beneficial impact of international assistance on recovery andrehabilitation, the promotion of cooperation and coordination in this area isworthwhile if not an imperative to ensure early recovery from disasters.
Disaster-stricken countries or communities should have ready access tointernational assistance, or, at least, to bodies of information on best practices
on recovery and rehabilitation. This access could be established and realized if
there is an efficient and effective mechanism for sharing information andcoordinating or facilitating international assistance. An efficient information
system on local damage and needs and the available external resources,
including funds and expertise, plays a critical role in the coordination or
facilitation of any international assistance.
Moreover, on one hand, the national or local disaster coordinating body or focal
point agency is a critical enabling mechanism whose initiative and involvementin accessing, securing and availing an international assistance has to beensured. On the other hand, international bodies or organizations that may
assume the role of facilitator or coordinator in matching local appeals withexternal assistance should possess an efficient system for information sharing
and communication among the national and local focal points and the potential
donors in the international community.
However, while its significance in ensuring early recovery and rehabilitation isappreciated, the establishment of a truly efficient and effective coordinating
body or organizational function at the international level may only be achieved
through a process of consultation and consensus-building (especially on
procedures and protocols) among the critical stakeholders, including
governments (decision-makers), national focal points, donor agencies,
international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations.

17Eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines

Asian Disaster Reduction Center

References
・ Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program for Mt. Pinatubo-Affected
Areas, Task Force Mt. Pinatubo 1992
・ Socioeconomic Impacts of the Mount Pinatubo Eruption, Mercado, R.,
Lacsamana, J, and Pineda , G. 1999
・ National Disaster Coordinating Council, unpublished document andreport compilations, 1991-2004
・ Reducing the risk from volcano hazards: lahars of Mount Pinatubo,
Philippines, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 114-97
・ Reducing the risk from volcano hazards: The Cataclysmic 1991 Eruptionof Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 11397
・ Reducing the risk from volcano hazards: Benefits of volcano monitoring
far outweigh costs – The case of Mount Pinatubo, U.S. Geological
Survey Fact Sheet 115-97

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