Rebuilding

A complete rehabilitation and recovery process in the “Yolanda”-affected areas, and perhaps in sites of future disasters, “will require not only strong governance but solid scientific foundation as well,” former senator Panfilo Lacson said recently.

And that is what Lacson, who heads the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR), precisely got during an experts’ forum on rebuilding communities and ecosystems. The forum gathered more than 200 scientists, engineers and experts from various disciplines to discuss “the current state of knowledge and how [this] can be applied to Yolanda-affected areas.”

The forum was jointly hosted by the PARR and Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation Inc. (OML Center).

So far, the PARR seems ready to start off on the next step toward rebuilding the areas hit by the supertyphoon. Recently, Lacson said no new “bunkhouses,” meant to serve as transition shelters between evacuation centers and tents and permanent houses for the homeless survivors, would be built. The bunkhouses recently came under fire for being both substandard and overpriced, although Lacson has debunked the charges of overpricing against the Department of Public Works and Highways and Secretary Babes Singson.

Instead of bunkhouses, Lacson said, the homeless will be given money to rebuild their ruined homes even as they wait for permanent housing to be put up. Meanwhile, authorities said they are thinking of relocating important public facilities, including the Tacloban airport, away from coastal areas deemed vulnerable to high winds and storm surges.

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At the experts’ forum, two foreign experts shared the knowledge and experiences gained by their own and other governments in dealing with natural disaster.

Dr. Bregie van Wesenbeeck of the Netherlands-based Deltares, an expert on flood risk mitigation and integrated ecosystem analyses, discussed nature-based flood defenses.

Joseph D’Cruz, Asia Pacific environment advisor of the UN Development Programme who led the scientists fielded by UNDP soon after Yolanda, presented the lessons and experiences in disaster recovery and response.

The most recent Vulnerability Index of the UNDP says the Philippines is the ninth most vulnerable country in the world, with Manila as the second most at-risk city after Dhaka. But, compared to other countries listed, the Philippines “has the stronger government system and is socially cohesive.”

But collating and confirming scientific knowledge is not enough. The participants in the forum declared that “translation of science to analysis to policies and [then] to decision-making is not automatic.” Authorities need to step in to make sure the links are strong and take place. And for this to take place, said the participants, “the PARR must integrate all the science knowledge and all the efforts on the ground rather than just coordinate.”

Also important, they said, is that the government must mandate “more authority to the PARR.”

As the forum showed, “despite the daunting tasks, experiences around the world tell us that it is possible to build better and safer. However we still lack a comprehensive strategic plan [or master blueprint] for Yolanda rehabilitation.”

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The proceedings produced a list of requirements for instilling resilience in the rebuilt communities: strengthening our communities and social systems, strengthening our infrastructure, and strengthening our natural systems and defenses.

Regarding the infrastructure, the participants said “it is important to establish and design new parameters and standards. Rezoning will be needed.”

Experts also noted the need to use “alternative materials” for rebuilding, like bamboo, “eco-bricks,” and container van structures. Scientists and industries, they said, “have initial studies and documented successful practices and application” of these materials.

At the same time, they noted the need to “hurdle the very low commitment from contractors, developers and material suppliers.” They also stressed the need to consult all stakeholders regarding the design of temporary shelters. To my mind, women must especially be consulted on the design, size and location of kitchens and bathrooms, while also listening and responding to their concerns regarding privacy, safety and security. Needless to say, “laws must be strictly implemented.”

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Turning to the need to rebuild social networks and community cohesion, the participants noted that while there is need to address vulnerability, “it is more important to strengthen our intrinsic ability to respond to the unexpected.” They added: “Inner strength allows us to function or to adapt; if there is social cohesion, we help each other and ourselves.”

At the local level, they added, there must be “a coordination mechanism, information sharing, devolution of authority, and ownership of plans for easy takeover and maintenance.”

At all levels, coordination remains a major challenge, while “transparency, inclusiveness, full understanding of the concept of resiliency and local capacities will be important.”

In short, while science and engineering can offer a good basis for the “new cities and towns” that would arise from the rubble of Yolanda, their flourishing and that of the men, women and children who live in them will depend on the social structures that are created, maintained and respected by local and national officials, and even by foreign donors and aid workers. Rebuilding communities means, first of all, respecting the people who live, love, and work in them, and build dreams for themselves and generations to come.