Developing and testing a modality for rehabilitation of calamity-stricken areas: the case of Barangay [village] Boboin, Infanta, Quezon [Philippines]

Land degradation caused by calamity such as typhoon, landslides and volcanic eruption had been a major challenge in the Philippines. There are vast areas affected by soil deposition from landslides that occurred due to typhoon on November 2004 in the Municipalities of Real, Infant, General Nakar in Quezon [Philippines]. These not only affected the productivity of the land but significantly affected the lives of people in those areas. With this, the Social Action Center of the Prelature of Infanta, PCARRD, CHED, UPLB through the Agricultural System Cluster, Local Government Units, other concerned agencies and the target communities forged a multi-stakeholder partnership in the rehabilitation of the area through a project 'Developing a Modality for Rehabilitation of Calamity-stricken Areas'. The partnership focused in planning and implementing people-centered rehabilitation and restoration of damaged ecosystems and traumatized communities based on results of scientific knowledge and strategic alliances. The project adopted the Partnership for Rehabilitation of the Agricultural Systems of Calamity-stricken areas (PROACT) as an approach. The project focused on the design and testing of integrated farming systems technologies integrating soil nutrient and water management technologies in the rehabilitation of landslide and flood stricken areas in Barangay Boboin, Infanta, Quezon. The project showcased participatory research and development involving affected farm households in demonstrating alternative farming systems with upland crops i.e. upland rice, corn, watermelon and vegetables in areas previously planted with lowland rice. The project have shown that there are still life after the disaster with rehabilitation to be possible with the partnership of the communities and various development organizations. Considering the local initiative, the theoretical underpinnings, the salient features of the modality as the central focus and the operational framework as the context by which 'ground level' works were to be undertaken, the following characteristics of the modality evolved: 1. Vertical and Horizontal Linkaging are facilitated with the partnership of various stakeholders; 2. Knowledge sharing, integration and consensous building harmonized the areas of cooperation among the development partners; 3. Roles-setting, technical complementing and counter-parting mobilized local resources and expertise as well as outside assistance; 4. Elaborating options, field testing and experimenting provided the learning experience and build confidence among the development partners; 5. Adaptation, mainstreaming and integration of new knowledge and innovation are facilitated through participatory mechanism; 6. Recognizing vulnerabilities and coping mechanism is the critical step to rehabilitation. The more vulnerable communities are more likely to be actively involved compared to the less vulnerable families; and 7. The replicability of PROACT experience in Infanta depends on the availability of institutional champion which in this case is assumed by SAC [social action center]. Lessons learned from the project showed that PROACT can be a viable framework for community development even in non-calamity stricken areas and indicated the guiding principles in the rehabilitation of calamity-stricken areas as follows: 1. Disasters should be treated as issues of development and governance; and states should be made responsive, sensitive and accountable to the demands, needs and rights of disaster-prone communities and areas; 2. Disaster-prone communities should be engaged into the process of disaster-related decision-making and development planning, implementation and monitoring; 3. Restoration and rehabilitation strategies should take into account the coping strategies in the community; 4. Management protocol for the utilization of S and T-based knowledge and technologies for calamity-stricken areas should consider farmer-adopted farming systems technologies developed and tested in the area for wider adaptation and utilization; 5. Disaster management strategies should integrate structural measures with non-structural measures such as enhancing the entitlements and negotiating power of the most vulnerable communities and subordinate social groups; 6. Learning modules and materials should be developed and implemented based on local needs, capabilities and preferences by end-users; 7. Market, credit, and other support services had to be institutionalized in the area to sustain restoration and rehabilitation initiatives; and 8. Disaster management policies should be redirected towards poverty and vulnerability reduction instead of mere compensation and relief responses. Post-disaster policies and programs should be put in place and translated into action by NDCC [National Disaster Coordinating Council] and other agencies involved in restoration and rehabilitation of affected areas.