ESSC - 1.1 Panaon Landslide Field Visit: Social Analysis

1.1 Panaon Landslide Field Visit: Social Analysis

Friday, 10 July 2009

Panaon Island, Southern Leyte. On the eve of 19 December 2003, three simultaneous landslide-events occurred in three barangays (Pinut-an, Punta, and Lutao) on Panaon Island. The rain had been continuous since the earlier part of the month. The locals attributed the rain to the low-pressure area developed from the Pacific coast. Sustained rain brought about by the low-pressure was not uncommon to locals however, the more than 15 days rain was daunting for many families and communities in south and southeast coasts of Panaon. About 154 people died and hundreds of residents were left homeless.

Large volumes of eroded soil, rocks, boulders and vegetative debris materials filled-up and clogged upstream segment of rivers, which created an impounding dam consequently putting pressure on the ground. Slump, breached and floodwaters carried the debris and mud downstream, sweeping anything on its path including rows of houses along the slope and banks. The mass movement and flashflood, critically defined as debris flood, in Panaon were considered by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Region 8 as natural phenomena caused by weathering, steep slope, and excessive rainfall spawned by the low-pressure area.

Six years after the event, the affected communities were visited hence, different stories of hope and struggles were documented...

I. In disasters, it is the poor that is mostly affected.

The poor do not have resources and access to a decent and safer place to stay, most of them are staying in disaster-prone areas like river beds, deltas, costal areas, and hill slopes. When natural disasters happen, they are the ones whose lives and properties are most affected.

Most areas where they stay are near the source of their livelihood. Coconut farmers stay in the slope to tend their coconuts. Fisher folks live in delta and coastal areas because it is near the sea where they get their living. And so, when natural calamities happen, they are ones who suffer.

II. Livelihood is one, if not the most, important factor in considering areas for relocation sites

"Sa una, kubo lang ang amung balay pero makakaon mi. Karon, nindot ang among balay pero gigutom mi."

(Before we only had a bamboo house but we could eat. Now, our house is sound but we are hungry). Eunerio Bagaypo, 47 years, GK, Anilao

Relocation sites such as the GK site in Anilao present to the visitor colorful houses and flowering gardens. When going into a house, it can be a different picture. Some houses are practically empty and the story of the people living there may be very different from the vibrant colors of the village.

Agencies that help disaster survivors build homes need to be oriented in assessing and considering the needs of the people. According to Iris Legal of ESSC, one must not bring the Manila perspective and mental paradigm that if "a family has a good house, it has a good life." The needs of the people should be assessed and prioritized in choosing areas for relocation. And for this matter, livelihood should be considered primary.

This is basically the reason why most of those relocated in sites far from their original livelihood go back despite the risk of landslides. The challenge for the government and different agencies is to be able to address their needs in terms of livelihood or otherwise create new and sustainable livelihood for them.

III. Empowering the people through capacity and capability building can help sustain the life of a community in a relocation site.

Elizabeth Monter Cuares, 42 years old, President of Punta Survivors Cooperative, is an example of people empowerment in the relocation site. After the tragedy, a women's association was organized with the assistance of Plan International and Coco-Tech. The group weaved coconut husk into ropes and nets for slope protection and sold them for profit. Ms. Cuares has led the group to venture into poultry production. Aside from these, every house in the community has a "hanging garden," the community has adopted and learned to plant vegetables in pots and plastic bags.

Other sites can learn from the experience of Ms. Cuares and her community in terms of empowering people to find their living.

IV. Disaster is perceived as God's plan. Yet, for the people, it is the same God who does not abandon them in these times of trials.

Survivors of the landslides still have a traditional and contradicting belief in God as a loving God. They attribute all disasters to God as if God allowed and willed disaster for them. Yet, they also believe that the Lord did not abandon them in these trials.

Church workers and even agencies can help the people in re-reorienting their seeming distorted belief in God so that the people will not just attribute all disasters as God's plan but will actually take a co-creative responsibility with the knowledge we have and do something to prevent the disaster from happening. Assessing whether the place where people are living is prone to landslide and helping them move to a safer environment and sustainable livelihood is essential in a maturing faith that seeks action.

V. Disaster is only considered as such if lives were lost in the incident.

The people in Panaon can clearly remember those disasters where lives were lost but they seem to dismiss and take for granted those times when lives were not lost in the incidents. For them, life is a decisive factor for disaster. Landslides without casualties are easily forgotten. Because lives were yet lost, some continue to stay in the area thinking that the next a landslide would occur their lives would be spared once more.

VI. The government has the primary responsibility in addressing the needs of the victims of disaster.

In six different relocation sites that were visited, two were funded by Red Cross and the LGU, three by Gawad Kalinga and one by GMA Kapuso Foundation. These data show that there are more NGO addressing the needs of the victims. The government still has the primary responsibility in addressing the needs of its people especially those survivors of disasters. The delivery of the social services of the government can be more effective and unified when the NGO's and the government link their services together.

VALUE PREMISE: People should be able to live in a safe place with available resources for livelihood or employment.

Ro Atilano, SJ Summer Apostolate, ESSC May 16, 2009

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