This paper describes the experiences of the Philippines Homeless People’s Federation in community-driven measures to avoid disasters, in disaster preparedness and in disaster response. This is discussed in light of five disasters with large impacts on low-income groups: the Payatas trash-slide in Manila; the landslide in barangay Guinsaugon; the Mount Mayon mudflow and floods; the fire that devastated the Lower Tipolo Homeowner Association land in Cebu; and the flashflood in Iloilo (see Table 1).
The Federation is a national network of 161 urban-poor community associations and savings groups with more than 70,000 individual members. It represents communities and their savings groups from 18 cities and 15 municipalities. Members promote community savings for building their own financial capacities, and for community development and social cohesion. The Federation and its community associations are also engaged in a wide range of initiatives to secure land tenure, to build or improve homes and to increase economic opportunity. The Federation also works with low-income communities residing in areas at high risk from disasters, assisting in reducing risks or, where needed, in voluntary resettlement; also in community-driven post-disaster reconstruction.
Resource collections
- Evaluating humanitarian action
- Monitoring of humanitarian action
- Topics
- UN Habitat - Urban Response Collection
- Urban Response - Urban Crisis Preparedness and Risk Reduction
- Urban Response Collection - Community Engagement and Social Cohesion
- Urban Response Collection - Economic Recovery
- Urban Response Collection - Environment and Climate Change
- Urban Response Collection - Housing, Land and Property
- Urban Response Collection - Urban Crisis Response, Recovery and Reconstruction
- Urban Response Collection - Urban Resilience