By AV Gabriel and JC Yokingco

As part of the project entitled “Assessing the Linkages between Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and Loss and Damage (L&D): Case Studies in Low-lying Coastal Cities of Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam” funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), the OML Center conducted a case study of a coastal city in the Philippines.

The team’s selected site for the case study is Ormoc City, located in the province of Leyte. The team assessed the current state of loss and damage assessment system in the area and determined possible linkages or integration opportunities of L&D assessment with DRR and CCA strategies. This was done through Key Informant Interviews (KII) and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD).

The KII was conducted last February 23, 2015 at the Ormoc City Hall. The team interviewed two city experts whose offices are in charge of providing comprehensive damage and needs report, and setting priority programs/project for rehabilitation with the aim of getting primary information on the L&D assessment system in the city. The experts interviewed were the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Officer Mr. Ciriaco Tolibao II and the City Planning and Development (CPD) Officer Engr. Raoul Cam.

The FGD was held the following day, February 24, 2015, at the Conference Room of the Mayor’s Office. It was attended by various local government officials from different sectors (e.g. City Social Welfare and Development Office, Department of Interior and Local Government, City Planning and Development Office, City Engineering Office, City Health Department, Environment and Natural Resources Department, City Agricultural Services), selected barangay captains, and media. They were consulted regarding the existing system of loss and damage in their city, its gaps and challenges, and the present CCA and DRR strategies they are implementing.

A short introduction on loss and damage and a brief description on the history and process of the post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) that is being used by the Philippine Government were presented beforehand to aid in the discussion.

During the discussion, the participants shared their knowledge and opinions based on the following questions:

1.     What comes in to your mind when you hear “loss and damage”?

2.     What do you think is the importance of assessing loss and damage in your community?

3.     Are there existing tools/mechanisms to assess loss and damage in your community? If yes, what happens to reports after?

4.     Are there any challenges in assessing loss and damage in your sector/community?

5.     Are there any approached that you think should be included in conducting loss and damage?

6.     What are the existing CCA and DRR practices in your sector/community?

7.     To what extent do you think that loss and damage assessment is important in planning and development?

8.     Do you see any relevance in linking L&D assessment with CCA and DRR?

The results of this case study will be presented along with other case studies and country assessments of the project collaborators from Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.