Th,e Baran,g:ay S,alinding Experience lin BUlilding Dis,aster ResliI1ien,tCDlmmunitie's,

Zamboanga Sihu~A.y is a ~")ro'l!i~u;;f' composed or 16 rrnmieipalities in the western part of MimdarlatO" with Il t:ut<'111 nd ·ate{~of (.I:ppmxlmal~~y 3.60]77S "hectares a thatecastitute 43,pE:!n;:.l~ntof the Itl(Jther pruvif] ee of 741mb01JJ1~:;;J, ell SUr" ~bout 2~.5petcelF!t d otf;.cghJn () nnd L2. PF-rt)E?llt of the conhtry't)3-0 million hectates.Tn ad clition to 13 river channels and' seven m arine b~lYSor n.ShU1K gmund,5 in the province" it has21,[J kilometers
of shcreline ben efitl n g ]·3 mf~stt<i1 umnjd.[Ja!ilit'~ and :113

~J
E!lll.1

ZAMIBOA:NIGA

ilyt.i:i'i ngJ,;

'IUGAY

i. .J...JLII
;f~l~t

baran g'ays,. Con sidered the l:m gest rive]' in the pnfi,l'jnce~ the Sib oguey River traverses seven rnunicipalities: BaSt1;g, t ~kewtJu (], Bu U g", Diplahan, Siay~ Imeldaand P:ayao_ It ·ptUVidec& irrigation in t'he SampflH and Rayog ~1'>eiU3, but of late, has become iii seurceef flash floods iluring .rainy seasons, affet::lii~g lh~IGW lyil:\g coastal areas i.ll th {" s~en ill lmh:j]r'l.(l.]i.t:if>~s_. .. and alsQ based on findings of an ihjtl;n,~ study n-on] the SibQgay VaHey Man<lgement Co-unci] {mIMe}, the oVf!'rtlnwi.IDg, of the Sih! !,~U!ifj' River, wh ichcauses Hash.tloods can billtraced to various ffl.ctm"S.;among du~rll. defo1"esl".ttlonin theup] and areas fi-om IaJ'ge seale J olggin,g operHtlmjsi n the 195OCS" . .4.11 eatthqu~e i[l 1976,andminlng 'activities, added to the obstrucnon of SHJuguey Rivet's route to other trihutari C£, Th e gmli:!rmuent"s all-out Sl.lppon. tu big min]ng·p:rpj>et:'tSCGOlrpoJJ.ru:l~J the problem further, Nanay Neulta. Bayona, anindigenous woman who h~$ been .1 residen lin the yi'llage since 1I:h e 1. 930~ slurred;
ACJ.:nrdllllg 1'0 tlreresidents,
DDW),

fi~~>'t ~"T
~"

I~-n

T~~

HJ~

Fig. ~,- Map Of

amoD'Ol:nt;<l:

TI,."1p"/,;n Sdb'Ul?<l)!

"RNerS!1l:'lieTwas born (l'm already 70 years old lrememeer on l:y twu yeflt::; that rny bl ni ly and I (lid not experi ence floedm g in this area, Flood]ng 11",s become 'pari gf our Nfe, The most damaging QUC'IJ.l"~d after the (:h}Sut~ of fhe tout€. of lhe Sib uguey R I'Ve r. during the earthquake in 1976a,nd the cm~ in HlP. year 200 0 'Wh~nmost ()f US evacuated to Poblaeion Siay an asked. [or help.'

Slay is
batm.lg'aYS: and

1Il iii

Pt)p~l.l.:;rti0'l11tif 37,336

lhitt1 class: rmlnidpaJity wijili ~~. that Ir:mnpri~f'

6,$-3.8 located

~1 GUSdl

01 dJ;J.

One ofthe tnnt:l at-risk :ne,v,; is B:gy. Salind.iu~" nil!l!.'l kilometers rrm"llIPO blacien .5iay and

covering around 11632 nectares. ],t bas alol:aipopulation of 1,,5:l3~49 pereem of whem is Lemrue·and 51 peecent mJ1'~..There are 3H 1families in 307 h G,u:slt~lo\ldt;,.M @j~H:] Ly . nf lbe people in the barangay is Subauen 1(75pereent), the test are Eisaya (w, t}~f':"f'..nL),. Muslim, Ilonggo and Ilucano (five pereent each).
The CiJmnUl.nf:Ly .li\!'~ priri1.~lriJy OJ;! flgrit:ullu.re~ rice and corn. planting. li;vesto~k: raising. ]emon [lIdR

situated in. Puhlad ()I'I Slay- The parish prc;I·'lidf.':d their basil' needs including medical supplies with. the help of the Mwticipru Soda} We]Iill'e and Development Office eMS-WHO'}
GOli,"e.ilnrne:nl'g. solntion However.though eonsidsrations
isbeghmm,g to

to lessen

lleodiag

induded opening an o"IrlLifida]river in Sitio Riverview.

the proJcdplrn:ning andimpleme» ting inVlxlveri. the community, it has been bum \-... .fiLhm,tIL
fur

prcductien. <UJid nipa roof making, wbicl!:n.i1J_re <111 vezyvulrrerahl [:l u.~flcm,ds, While WOotitWf!, io:r lhe crops to be h.trve;;too.,f.rrme["!l fishfor llie,].r family's consumption. 'they also earn ~ Lra incomein the production n[w'ColIl:..ut
wine (.tuha in V]:sayan) and tm:E:uv,"a,ged labor in nearby ft:;:hpnnd~, which brings in only Pl,5{l'.oo I day.

lung -tarm impae ts, "~11~ MLH'ldal river

a

become

problem,

AI!. it

turns out, it

did nnl,p:!;,qJIysolve the llooding, fCJ'r evt:nlu1'!Jty H eansed alJot'I:u::.~river: l"'lnule important to the cemmunity's farn:llng aclivil~e.'l ~10 dry up. 'I'h.c reeurrence of flooding also resul led in lhe hidebtedness of the majority Df fanners to local Chinese ll:lerciul.olEL .Sioc.ernost - ~l.f i,he. fUl'n't~r$relv be~t"'i1v Or! - -_. ',_.,...,. loans .f~u· their [0'3:11:n inpnLs., sink~n.gdeeper to d[·bL

in 19'76 hrn't:k~d Ribug.QeyRiver's flow ro G\liwau>~erouliI1,g t],leem.u:se of Silmglley River In B!&J"'$S<'i_lindir[lg.and B~~.urn:n~1 ~;tiblJjg

The

tectonic

earthq uaks

fu.m'Uigh Bgy. u.~g Poud, Stay_ A.nolher enl'lWlml.ory fa ctor in tloodling WilS the IProliD~utij.Qn Q~~fishpqnds in Barangays GuiwaTh, Log l\l,nd, ]3·alu eanan and S;:ilindin~h re:pl[lot;:lilglhe In?J.ngroves that g-rcw abundantly in lhe 80S. l't1!:'se fishponds narrowed U:\eriv«.Si andcreeks and. l:dnil'(lred the t,1lf.mtatlem.1;s flow of 'lr'mt~, T-odIl,Y, whenever fl:o~ldiD,g occurs :]n Bg;'f. Saliudiug during rainy season, ODecan he sure 'Lna;LS~ti() Rive-rview W111 not only experience Iloo ding bUlt ... IJ.f[eru han,hest ::md · fuJ],e:st Impaets.
11...0;;

has~ggraV'a led the economie si tuafion uf: S alinding

farmers. SiUQ Riverview
perennial IiuuJ.iog because.

suffers

the

mQ.5'L

from

of itsh.:lt".filion ill B:gy. &ili!nding. W a te:r staguates[ol' three t~~ seven days in thee ba.rail.gay; mceeover, it is tmly ;2.5 kilometers. away from the seacoast, a-ddiu-g toits vulnerability dtLring he a \!}' rainfalls, lyphMru> and Hoods, Cr-ops like cum, ril[~eand vt!~~;l<1hle,5are usl~;iUy damaged, m]v~rge.ly

In ~.o'~ and .2 w·OQ, ffl9Sl of lh-e resildeD ts m had ~o be evaeua ted. to the Pmish Formation Ce!:.l tar
I

11101

III .111

III1

ill

1I1I

1111111II

III LI III IH II" 1111

111I

i 1111

I1111 HIIII

affe~l.i:n,~harvests -and ineerne, So are In,a't pe9Ple'iJ;· health eenditiona ,r,:naang.!!li"eil'With outbreaks espedil.lly "U'f!f,~ngdlildren, of diarrhea, skin diseases and other gaEtro~imt'_.silii.<l,1I!ihnent~ during no()ili~g,.acenrdi1'l~ In the Municipru. ne.aJfh Ofiic~pI Siay-.
~"u;ide from this, the be.a.vj]ydiiapidateid _[(!3:J$ j aedabsence ofdectrid ty in other parts of the ha:raJ.tgilY.

e_~peciallYin SH-]o Riverview exacerbate harsh situation in the cnnlml.lnHy.

the already

Envi:rn:nnH~nlal destruetiou continues unabated dfZa.m.hn1l;oga Sihugay and lilmb(,)anBr~ del SU.l'. Small and [at:g~ seale mining aeti vitl es persis L in the municipalities ef B<lJTug and Lakewood of Zamboanga de~.Slim and Alida, R"f"Li:m., lpii, T~tay, b:ne]d.a~ Dipbhom., Malangas. Siay, B l] l'Ig~ Tungawan

in the provinces

tmd K.aba~;d.an of :titmhfJ!1nga Smllgay. These M·~ also the .areascovered hy Mi neral P J"o<liufl i~)H .5h<1l ug ri

A.g;-(~~m.el~!L.. !ndE:(plo:ta;tio~l 8
2.0(J(~by

Perndts.. reported the Bureau of:Mines and. Geosciences,

'as

(~f

'rhE'~"~ lml'~:g~Jlated mining, .(i,t:tivil'ieS .DDt ora1y threaten th.¢ integrity of the euvironment butalso the livelihood of ~e small farmers and rn<1r1§inal fish~J:folk wlws~ main. :S~mn~e uf 1,fH.:ome depends on U"Ie land und sea, ·.rn~~ds indicate: chemical corrtamination in Lhe sibn ?,IJJ;'·Y:, .Dipili and Depore Rivers and. Sibuguey Bav, Thi~ has be~n .Ili npc )~nLed >,IS: Cf.I usl i:'i.g131 n!>b ki.U in coastal areas of Siay in 2U03. and soil erosien and. siilatiQl1 ,afIel:Ling fanrufmd_,. in the, rnunieipalities of Elayog', Siay~ Diplahan~ Imelda, Ma,]&n,gas, Hung, and Payao ..

ili~

The
I1111

Sp~riiit

Qfb-a.~tanihaff\amolil'g S:a:lindl"g residell'Uts: , (iQ'ntr-IbUItes.o buildl ngtherr resiliency t

1IIIIIIIIItii 1111 I1111 IIIIJ III 1111 1111 111111 II III III

NoL surprisingly,

d,dore5la~](m. is

also

.<1

problem. The dramatieincreases in greenhouse g~ses.

uru

1111

due tf); for'esl derruda ri(l!l is ,,:htely a t;f~ph:~d ~nd d.ocumented, Mere dearing nf trees BNnc~:rbat:et; tU]e~~ eondi liens, increa.'Slng gjbba]warm,lng and bringing unpredictable di,m.atE'.thang(~l'l llia L~ffed hum~Q. hf:'.allh. eeol Dgk~. systenw, rise in sea Jf;:,vlli and crnp.s and food 8UPP!Y. Poor countries ,11ke the Philippines w~,llid. suffer Lh~ most J)L~CrIUS~ tl:l.~y ~ack Iinand aJ reseerees ancllech:o.ology ill devclopm;g measures in millgallng [he impact of climate change: The Preiature ·ofLpiil

and ma-!1aze.m~nL
·.The prd.<lhwe of .Ipil is aIc cal j udsdh:ilion of in loe Pruiippirw.-$. ·nl'.~ Holv See cannn:i(aUy established .it .as an independent et:d~i:aslical lcr:rilory O]JJ. Deeernber 24" 1979 <ifter b!"j~g; eouffidered for many years.as ~he ,iesu~~ Mission Oiiistrlet. oI Zaulboanga. It nnw has 19 parishes fl6 [r-urn 7;,UD boaaga Sibugay and three [[(:1[:11 :lamb oanga de"] Sur). (126 Chil'1JeJ.~ and ~,b(]u l 2,ono seldo« (core
L!l~#

Rntrinn UlifunlicdlUIl:h

gmiITpiS).

The Prelature of Ipil, al3J,t,med by tile ·(:u.rre..[)l "'Deilll and ettVl;n:oltlu.eiiLtal crises 111 its jurisdiction, !>,~s tbe need frJ:r ]mm:i~:diale ;idiCln. The Calliolie Church elearlv states ,ill; res[J(ln~!E b~o"t! ~·{H;lnLry>~, present problems through the .Acts and Decrees of the: Be.~:nud Plenary CourH;il nf the PhiiippiJ1;f'.s (rcr U) Fin Renewed Integral EV<l:JJigeHz.at1on. wbich encempasses ..'5uchtasks as Empowerment IOJ the Lei ly toward Social Trflnsfc')irrm)Uo11 ."I,dl\Je Ij,~en[;e '(lnd Partidp~~tinJ1i or the Poor in the rllu reh, The Family as Focal. Poi nt of Eva.ITl!gelliallon BuililinS and Strenglfuel1!:i~g of Pal1idfjl,~,tnlY" C:ommnnities lh~ll make up the Parish as a COIlHlIurrity of Communities, etc,
7 l

Since j ls ~,e:"pruatim!l from thaJ esuit M ission District of Zarnbeanga, diff.e:rcnl minis b:ie~, have trJnlv~d in response w'cl:tanging eealities and iJ:;!5Ue5. SevB:il mi.nis,lJie.s lud;a.'lI ~.'iI'Let·n the needs of l:h ureh t members cmd.the Wh(1-]C eommumty; These ministries ='IJ!;1: c]~sslfied in lfl lwo calego.fie.s; ad-intra m inistries Iecusing on values Formation and strengthening of the Christian CatholicFaith and ad-extra ministries t~rulslaling. the faith into action Iim.HIgh services rendered among [he poor and marginalized, '['he ad-intra mio.islrjes Include Lhe Kriska-

i.1le,Prd abJ re 'sYi,'i-i nn ofbui]ding B'fu;k Chrislia n Commurnties; sln:ngUlI.el':lmg Of faifh, love, justiee, respect [l",Irhe.ilifkreru::es in. eulmre and.religion, and t ill1j~gr~1 d't~vdopment ~$' an ~ticul~rLion of Ute PCP Il's znandale of[)E::neli'l'\L'"{]: ,ev,angdi7.illiofll ..Th,~Prelal,u.r~ thus partners wi.Lh eommunities onenvironmental advo:e1l;()Y
a

.1B.1\. {ctmd~.cLi.f!ig adu.l[ta.h~ch.i.sll1'.I}; the Youth mi~iS.~IJr (mobili:;dIlg the.youth in ehureh acliiv:itlies and CmlslIao ~runm!:!nily~ife).; lhe l:'[J.mily and Life AposL61;;1le (o.rganrnJIl;@, basle C'l.trisUan. ~nrrur.tunitLes); and

lbeCale,tilietics (responding lo spiritua~.m::ea:$ and strengthenlngthe Christian faitli oLthe people) ..:rhe adextra ministries no the n'Ul~r band, are the Indigenous People Aposto.1a te; the Corum unity:~<I!SeaH~ th P);Jogram.whiCh. bdps organ ize com.muu~Ue$ and assists

them in phmning and managing their prugrams; and the SiJ.\:io;u Ac.:liu·nlVlinlsLry. The S·oci,aj Action .Ministry The intervention documenting during lhe Mn

!Wn be.aJ lh

destruction elamer,

have stepped up in response

li) pnpuJ~lJ!

Building Disaster R.esiU.ency:.Starting Where the lPeo'p'rue At'I~ ami Bnildimg un What They

Prelature nf Ipil started its social through its justice and peace work, and Iiling ~'lS~S human rights abuses of reos t1_'iclatorsrnp in the 19805. In U'le ea dy
realized after several ass.... essments

"ave
The Im~a.lcommunity's wake up call lu its vulnerability to im mense flQoding carne in 2 no u. it W<I:\i the first lime the local people fel~ the Deed to seek hdp, Among l]Jt):se who, came immediately to lh~d r rescue was the loea] parish of Bray with whom lhey already havea long-term parult'.n,bip. The. local parish SllhS'f~tlUl:mt1y sought the assistance of the Prelature of] pa, thus piavJIDg the way for the SAM's entry in :Lh.:r ommunity, c
S.~M's initial interveations .. helped the toea] parish in assisting the nnod strii..:kel'l community. This partnership de-epelled and strengthened over Lime. faci1itati IIg the Building Disas ter R esil if' ~tt Communities (:BDRe) Projectthat Christian Aid supp orted in 2,O( 17. Thls assisted th€ village eonducl ~ p.... rtrcipa tory turfl.l appraisal which helped residents identify their problems, ne!lJcband Cr.1pa.biIitie,S. '[hey agreed to tun] c.:;.Qn~dtve~ffurls :Lxlwards.strengthening o.:\od improving

199~).,",lh E:: Prelaturs

and refleetions that the church as an institution has a responsibility ~n' address broader societal prohlems apart [r m human right.'; violations. With financial sU'Pp~()rtfrom Christian ALd, the Prelature expanded the scope uf its social "interv,ention frum justice and p~,we work La a nlQI'Ccum prehensive ]itogtam that has,
since then become the Sm;ial Action Ministry {SA1\:l),. Thrnugh !.his ministry, lay. religioas, b'1~.-iC et:de$lal '[:~) rn unities III (BEGs) 1.II.ndseclnra 1 organisatkms of (he poor participate elledively 'in decision making proee .. M,i It the process of exercising their autum Im% %

eontrih uting their talents and capacities and asserting their rig,hlln st:I[-(h:~lernl:lnaLiun. Establisbed in 1994, the SAIlr'Icarries nul the PreJlaLllTt!'s lhIii1.st~O alleviate poverty mnong m,argirnalized sectors of small farmers, j"i:o;h~t[nlk and women. It injtjaUy fn-,:u~~d(In six major undertakings: 1. Humnn Rights Education, Legal Assistance and M~)h;! bz.alh.Hl.; 2. Documenta lion iti nl~ Puhlit:~'ti~)U~ ~i. Cooperatives Development; 4· E(:~)tugy; ~5. Sectoral
Org~.!,.i.izilig; and h. Goad. Governance. In 1999, SAM restructured, streamlined and cuosolidflt(Q!Q its work into four main pro-g,r<~ms: 1. sectoral organizing among farmers, fiEherfulk and women; ':2.. e.cillcalinn and training; 3,. Researehn 11 D[ ~C:U1.l1~DtJ.Uo.n and 4, d

vh~

community

rusasterU1J.anragetuenL

system;

early

system; community Iarming systems; and ...rater purification S!lr$~,emsand health pl';.idice:S. A1 We same time] they are consci mt.50 f nurturing the culture oJ peace and sharing w'hkh have enahled them loll survive and strive .(ulh~dively Inr a better life. C.ommUllify Disaster J"I~nagi:im!:!nt. System
'I1lC recur renee

warning

advocacy, The S... \M'$a'G.:tiviLieseventually expanded to Ihedifkrenl.t:nmmul.lities, to also include responding ttl teasions between Christians and Muslims through. the: introduction 'ofCulLur:e of Peaci::; (COP) in the provine,\! ,~jf Zamll'l'~at'l1!,oel Sibugay,
Since 20(1'0, SAM has forged partnerships wilh dlff!'!;tll:!nt agencies in addressing problemsand issues on pnverty, poor J;;(WerTlal,We.f ffi'lNil'01'l:menta1 destzuetion and violence <iga:insL women, These led 'l(1

Lh~ ,t;omJuuniL)' to develop lhei:r own cnp:ing ,HuIsurvival system to address 1J:tj,5; type of hazard. FOJ! example, they no longer sell all their prc,dut:1:s but set aside some fflr lheir nWI1. use ill the ev, nt uf flunding. Shariug hss alsobecome <I. Willy ~,lf life in this hazardptcne.eommunity, In limes of dire need, there is always help Locount on, sud] as having someone LO hnrruw a sack rtf rice from, tn be returned in tht'! next harvest without interest.
prompted

or

fluod ins, in the barangay

lhe estah lishrnen Lof various multi-sectoral religious organizations. As the deslruclive
mining worsen,
,J.tVl"ll;il,ty

1lO din

ter-

e.ffecl:s of ~fllrl.s ag~nsL errvircamental

'111 e local people also engage in other oecu pations aside from farming, 'Juri ng the floods, a farmer may also become :iI Bsherfolk, a nipa weaver, ';1 1~J.nnnharvester or eoeoaatwine (luhu) pnlc1uctt. This

148

increases
~~I"IS·!8.

!.heir !le..tihiW.y dwing

t:~]am.ilif'..s ~nil ether

Captain Doria Salioding Pl'uvi.i1~..,U m;lt assistance, in terms of the use of the banmgay hall astraining venue; o,rg,a.nixing uf l"raineesj use of 'the barangay ve'hide; <U'I.d

SAM noted that thecorum UrI!]ty has deveJo!;led .a wareuess or evacuation eperatiens, '['hey knew ""'}H~r€~o evacuate, whom. to help and wbe,n it is time hi 'R\1ltU ate, 'fhuse 'J,.!,-ith riverb oats briuglliel1!' fu:nlm~. I~ sa fer grmmd, then return to help others evacuate. ~ Meantime. the familie.::; with stnrdier, eleveted houses ';O!c~omJ:lcJdare thetemporary ~ evacuees. These tradilional arrangerne [Ih; .and pr.<U::'l:]cles now form part of an ·effedive system uf rti~astf4,t ml'-HI.~:men~i~l the C:Oil.Ullm1lry; rte deaths d Of: t("l flooding h<lve been recorded thus far hil 'the vi Uag-c. ThegebradiI:iOllaJ;l.r:rangement~ and practices of the [l('Imm.unHy resi tlf~.nLS in helping one illJIother 'e~pec.t<d]y in times ·Lit n'l£ed eoncrerely substantiare the ad-i ~·1ra <lind ad-extraminist:rl es of the chu ~h i1!'l the t kapilW'llevcl through the s'e1d~ and f'ia~G Ecdesi018tka t Corurnuuitie:s (BEGs.): 'Faith is translated into action lU t he culture ()f peace and sharing ,am.oug the residents .. R Bt~ogHizing these faith based o:rg!ll11zati(jn.<; in fhe t:.mnmunity whtx~ life :re'.~blvcs <IJ"Cl1lDd 'th.e .kapUya. the. SA1d led in o.rgani2ing a Kapilya Disaster Management Team {KnMT) and cundueted capabilitymbuilding

oth.erfonu:s ofasslstanoe.. lbfs contributes to effn,rts ;ltg~Jning 'LGU su:pportROI" disas ster-relatedtrutlatlves frDm the hi!l:"<lugay to the provincial. level" The lComm.llI.Ility was alo;;nassisted i~ dQingl:mz~ll.d mapping
tn improve evacuaticn managem.tlrtanQ. their ,e~rmfillUfiiry d isa.PilE:'.l'" system. Wlt h Christian Aid's support, sttel1gt:he:tt

the.8.M.!1 provided

rLhe baro]"g:aywith
cpeeationsfaster

t"W) mntorheats

to make

rescue

ruJideasier; the KDMT man~t'.:S their 1.,i,S,e· a minimal fee, the boats can also be used to' FOI transp ort goods andfu:rm, pnj ducts to the po blaeion pr·ope'c when the roads areImpassable, P(lUdes ftrr the use and maintenance nf ilie rrtoterbears have alreadv been adopted .. Though m];sunder.~'tandll1g5 [)Cr.Uf DOW i:lillId. then as the po]ic.ie.s are beimg implemented, lh~' l1tf1rup d{~."n ot {:onsid~l' his as a setback, but a challenge t m bujJiling tl'1eir 'CO~]uruly's disaster resiJ.ienq'.

Fl'~m 'their long hlstmy

6r flooding,

pc:op.l~tan

seminars

affil1'11il1~ tlndbuilding
pracl"ice',sin

on
community

tmrn,ge'opus
disaster

knuwledgc and management.

predict. (~nndi.t\gwhen til ey "see" .raiil in.the mountains of theesstern part of stay m notice ·bl,;>cck.an I.~.c],i.mbing,up trees. Tb~y can also tell that the flooding will1a:st longe:r

close
II III II!

"rhr(lru;gh th~ help of SM1, the K11!\.ITdeveloped links with the ha ra n ,"a~.v'·lffitiHJ.]~. Baranr.r<llv to ' eo .•'
IIIIIIIII II~ III 11111'111 111[1IIII III Iitn l'llt IIII IllrJll1l1

than L'Ii week and preparetheir w.od suppHe5·..i:l:cwtdmgly, when they see the ants era WUIl~ up the ~:nnki15 area of n their- houses, Butwhile valuing this knowledge, tb.ey also realize [he [u~ea to improve fl~)il~ding forec.a:;rting
1IIIt II~. Illr WI iuu iliP II I

uu

II

I f)1 ~(j I) '~."',,>

in theil' village. Co.wpru.ring the wea ther to a perseo grO\'i'iqg_ older, Lh!~Hanlngay Captain O:l]o(l! romm~"lli.w.d: ~MJDN~ bait] pO! ung panahon. Muda.1ing mflg~pn:rdid hmg kailcm bahaha. .Ngayon, ma~anda 1l.0l r:lny J)"w!rrhon. U1ytmin Ufl.. Fa.r.lagr-}-O'Og'r? Pari pugl)Qh!o~ m.ah.irap .nang f~PJ'r:Jdi£l,," (The seasens/weather was . ,.

Cmnmtmity Fa rmi'l9 System Fluoiling has hl"Oudb.t some benefits, as the

farmers in llie eommunity found out. "]be:y do nol need as much 'f<ru:ti.li:ze::r Etitl1fl.lay ;ptndUd..ion because lheir

ypunger then and:i.l was easy lu predict when Lhe fl~l]ds w.ould eorne _.Bu t now; t.hey are f,lde.r, .r~}.r:gc::ILru1 and unpredictable. It's [DO longer easy to foresee when the W<l ter~ will rise.I

SAM also helped ]iuk the cemrnunity wilh pflopl'~'s. urga ni;7;<l;l.i:unsin Bayog, .:lamboanga dJe1 SU,r, to warn. people in Saiinding of excessive rain in the In nun L-:Um.. Thj s grve5 pe~l:ple lend Li me to ]Jr~pilie (or Impen di.ng fh J{)(aS and !:-'V3.1'..'UHW;if necessary, I [tadl.ilal.ed as well foeming a core group of representatives from b<1:rangay(o; near Ilhe gibu~1J:eyRh'er trl ®sE;fl;'ve ncrw
lhe river j]nws.

laad remains fGrnlc. Second, IJDodillig also brio ~s fresh supplies Of fish. aJJ(! in earlier days) even new p~,lay seeds, l.ul H(Jnggt"lresiden l.:;llnn::ci. t1',flil befure, I:h~y had no need to buy palay seeds bern use the floe dwaters [wm the Sib uguey River carried lbes~- Tho .... who '\o.".~:rt~ e able to J:1,a:lht;rpal8l.y ·$!;!~dsgavl;t thern n ames, such as 700, M~ql'lila rice, ]00 and Karapeehe, The Karapeche seed variety, in particular, grows as high <IS six T~eL and can be harvested in seven mouths. ]aey :!lay !hat. [ru~ rice v~lriely C~JJ. ithstand flooding, ·:;)'ndciin yi,p.M w
more

than l1le 1Hgh YI.~d V~!:ieUp.s (T.rYV) lhey use

IIln'w.

andllh.rO~gh

IJl~.F

pms:t:mL

p.x:cllanges,.

ceutinueusly trun.k of and ,~{tdy war-mug 'S~sterns.

C01l:IFJ.e

up with more effective

lJocal palay varieties disappeared 'i;yilli ,i5Q~~mment'tl \Ilh:od u·t:tlun of HYVs- in the eady 70's. The In,c~.b;;ad.mi l lba l they lon~Qfltrihu ted lu h.hi~.l}f'c:aJuse they wa.ntC!\d to .harvest and.earn mouey mOII.-cqu.ldcly(u within four moaths (as (.:o"l]][p1l!red .s,evCJI:lJ. te Life goes 00. po.rlh.:e farmers, an d. fm:Il1lng <18 rlLe main economic preoccupation continues despite the UQOd~~lg_. 1.1leo,Y have to eli rrg to tb e palay varieties they are mow used towhlle hoping. to' discover new palay varieties IJi:lat canwithstand JlIooWng-Meanwhile. i~;.~h~g; current Earnl practicesanrl ·ava.il~bl(l teehnelogy in lhe (.:()mD]uruly.; a two-pronged approach' to Sllstainable ii.'!,'dibtiod development ·i~ Ii'~ll1:g expluJedt tr,;o..~tin.g .suhm~rge"jH:~Loletanl rice v~ridi,et\il'l d~IH(jnshation farmsand d.evelopi1l.1g micro-agribusiness en terprises , Seminars onsustainable agriculture, calarnansi juice

To date, Ilu~eeear:'lywamin,g posts are.already in place: inthree ill trategic places in Lagaan and Rtv.en'iew ill Salil.lr.iing and ] u P.();blaci.on C4!ni:.ro. Thf2scra ise tJ.1C level of readiness and preparedness of those eharged v,'ith hel ping in the evaeuatioa and these "Who need to be transferred, The use of eallularphene te;cllno]Jngy~· ~~~pecittl]yexti ng, h 1\:5 also improved the early warning t !>ys.~~min LheL.:oirl_ln\.llnl[~-

I'll

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making, and snap m~di;:ing b,rrve.alr(~~xlyhl¢~J1(mnciuded.

The residents meet re;gu.larJy to discuss lhese acl]v.ili~ itlf~latinn to U~ejrc()rrwuJ.lJI.ity's vTi.Jner.f1~luUli,~ ln Hooding. Th!". SL ,h}s'E"jJh P:ari1;h ]r1 Siny~ l1iN.lded hy ]if_ .Ioseph Joy Recomera and his assistan t priest, Fr _ Roy Barros andSocial Aetion Coo,OO1uator Mared<l Calatrava help (IU lin these dfo.r~fj. The pari sh faciIitb are §lt~\o,' b:e:h:lgused .fot ~~ap,~hi1ityhui1.d.ing·nctJv:ities_. Th~Nala.o monitor the pl:'nj~clL and ensure.its S1.1S tainehili [y. The project · Iso ~]l]0)0"'1> the: full s upport nf the a harangay, which is. maintaining itd'tivro demonstration farm (or ~t',lSting flood resistant rieevarietie s with UU~ help of the SM1 and. Philkice, It has .50 far identified

lIZ:! 1~a.flJto¥ I"don t!lil'hll;stnis f!oGd resi"btrt dl~mons'ttll:ticnfimn

rice

I"

pala_y

'i,i~J

ri,eH~~ tJu~t

'C131l

survive

five to six days of

!ioorn.l1J.g. The first demenstration fu.rm experiment was plagued by pests suelr as rats because it.was p~,amt~.d

1alef than the olberr:tdjitcent

Ji-elds..The

L3llI1Cm ag;reoo,

to eentinue t.heir '~perbfien'l1iLil m even though the Yield \f~ lesser compared to th eir previnus cropping. Three oth er fatm'eJ,'~ 'V:oluutreered to se L. up 'demonstration farms in their areas pa rLil,:I:I];~.dy in SHin Hiven.·jew. Dnri ng one the m:eeti.ngs of lh~ cu~qp~mto rs.",t:ith "SAM's sustaina ble agri culture stan,they decided not to use clremiealfertilizersend pesticides "[Dr Che duratiuu (;[ lhe- experiment. This strategy. Lbey l'D(!kDl1ed~ would eventually help !.hem choose whkh variety the organization will select 10:; mass produf.ltlm1l. "Uf.'.i: lhe demonstration period. Seventeen farmers are already

or

praetieing

organ ic Jarrnl ng

intheitral~w

farms

and

i[J dividual ~ru:rl{lns. l:o'loati.!lg a_g.l:"icuUu.reis s til] in i1:.,,, ~pP-rimeil~<I1 stage in lhetOioo.uunily. H owever, it has ru.it"@ady be:r_>,~l prat~'Liced hy a n umber 0[" h.Qll~ehnld.s. esp.eci<0.}y F ...urI-I (fQod a.1\,,'<!YS:n t ht:!,hnrne) garcleI1l ing, Some i h:~ve, elevated their gaJ'\J.ens SQ 11:5 not to b€.\alfectoo by nood.in.g,.1~h.ij)resulted to some increase-in their income since tlrey no longer buy veg~!lB!bleS" the market, in

ssn, !ilo<l:tingagri(,;ulture
themselves

has not taken root among the lion, P(~pula n?J! linn
1IIIIIIIIIIIrIIIIII I II IIIII Illl II'; 11111 IIII III IIII liE IIII IIII II

people, Asa technology; H. needs. to be .owned by the

farmers to ensureadnp

'and ~u""ttli able iu.... ~ n e ~f!he tested &od resistant varieties ill the community.

With the Um':ld:ing., !h,l;l Si1n)i.guey H..lver L'!i no ,1~Jngera safe source o(l,I!,t1ter, whether for human O(mS1I..mff~lif)lJl. '[or ~)I.her needs sueh as waahi ng clallies. or The people, however, have DO r.:bol(':(lbut to find W8iys :of purifying water. Smi1ple and effective, the methods make use of re~iU)' '~'iI<dlOi!ble n:J:OilJ:Lerialls which include plastic container, whlte cloth, pebhles ami. ,ss nd. a 1'IJ.1J.ttlt drinking water purification system involves such simple techniques that one wnndt:l~~ wh t:lhe.r :il really \"dn;ks. A]oern residen t quips: c.".-l Pl tI ,·~a makt1fr:J.[I'm hun ~ flO mClrini;; r1;(1 tubig raID ibmg lag ·in:ii ay lwhukay ko.mi SQ buhrmyin: haugJ)aug Julw.(1 c:mq lHlin~ .';0 la~A' ng i1og. Pa.gkatapo'S; ibaha:ou

pmmfn ang £!'al'a~aala naming ~fmwin~T .~![l. may hmting but(~s ,~g thilim n.aparle rrita at ,u!kabut.cAt sn U:-laD saKn. Pag ndkc1pr.l".,~,knn aug lub ig 1'0 Ic[H1l0i IH;T, unii-uuli naming kin.ukulia aug nalapQ$ok no lufJig t:!l pamam(.lff#Un ~lg t abo:, ..::1ug fubj'g ~y matinaw m ptOedB na1'lg imIfnirl," {T~J. Suun~l! tt~Ji.drinking walt's d in the dry season, we dig a knee-deep hoi ~ in the saud uf 1lii1' riverbank. 1ilen we put inside the space thaL We dug -out, a ron taiaerwtthsma ll ho~r:l 1il'L the bouorn a m~which we've enclosed in cloth. or <I jute sack. Wr:. slowly gel. the wl!I.te.r that accu mulatesi D lhe container. This water is eleauaud safe In drink.) To the re$id.erlil'.s l{i]ui\'ille~lge. no one has rall'en C'lrdi.~-d from d.:dillril'1g lh"e wa Ll!!' tba'L th~y $iI;IUrue.n :~~~is anner, Reexplamcil thal viruses i m .md had bacteria are OJdjl present i11 the shan nw 1evels of the Sibu,ge;_,v River. '-'"

rn

~.en:llil,arti organ.i7Ji.'lclwi th Lh~ ~l.!pp(JrL 0 r PhilRic.e (J~mptemefdLhjs system of water purineatien that the nil

f .0',1 I 1

ill II

It'-.__.

eemrnunhy l~ eurrently using, One these Is water catchments ll'ailling that teaches the ,~Itiden~ use I)f the three water catchmen ts that would he established in the eommunlty. Another involved the addition ef materials [0 make thewater not only usable for washing clothes, but 'Lo make it potable. The community understood how freque-nt ch:~f.mjug of fill their materials prevents bacterial contamination. Theyalse learned til pi.u:±fy lhe waler using ma]un.ggay (Mmmga oleifera) seeds, but this 11as not he~n I:tied yet beea use there ~m~ h;:i:I'dly my n~a]uD,gg y plants til the area .. a As a way of strengthening their I~xisti.ngS}Ts~en~ wilter, the idea of establishing wat l' catehmcntswas introduced to the community because of the heavy siltation and. the need for clean dri.nl..;ng water especially during several days of Iluoding. ~{at .rials w.ere made avaitable for building three water catchmen ts, one of whi eh is housed in thaChapel and Ll.-\lO in HlP- h OUSiC.S [jf two resi dents, The majority of the SiLi.u Riverview residen ts an"-~]ready usi ng. this [Tee supply or Wi! t~r 6p eciully Juring rainy days for d.ri:rlking and ci)~king PU.tpc1:'ii!:".$, Wi'I.l.F.r sL.rpply for meetings] trainings and seminars no longer presents a 11,rui11ero.
uf purifying

or

Nonetheless, diarrhea Qccur.se~p~cially among mJldren.,ilius indicating the need to improve the local waler :purifk~djon system despite reports to the centrary by the people. 'I'o help Lh~ ~~onununity cope with waterborne diseases and improve the health ccndition of the residents, 5J\l\r1 sou .. ghl lhe help of ihe CommunityBased Health Program (C!U·U.1)" anuther ad-extra ministry the Prelature, So far, CBUP has assisted the community in lh~ cl.lltivallh:m and. use of herbal plants

or

endemic

in Ib.t area,

resiliency

While I.be .si~_I\o1 elps in building h disaster in Barangay Salind.ll'lg, it is .d&o aware LhaL

Beinga (:ml1p.leme.nl:try device to their current methods, the water catchments te:ehn.lhlgy Ioundquick and ea sy al:(:epb~nee a 11'10ng the eornm unity residents. They did rrotconsider this as all .addiLionru. burden but as a way of strengthening }ocally existing waler-rdah~d
ll~dl ilogies. tlc

the village is only one of many suffering from Ihe eonsequences of environmentally destructive PI'iIl,CtiC.eS that are nat of lh:e.ir own making, such as th·~ lngging Olnd mining operations of rich and powerful entiues. ThLLS, the SAM alse limt!) just reasun to link with 12 other barangays whicb haw nl1!:! .same situatirm 3$ .s:a.Jinrljng fur its Di~a8ter .M,anaS,emcn t Program, Christian Aid supports 1l1'Me dlortt-: as w,elL Thus f ur ~ nine other KDiMTshave been organized, 'fhe organizing uf nUIt'..r 1)I\1Ts pr()1;r~ed rd<'1,'lively more smoothly due lin the positive: feedback fn[)tn Salioding, This win also aid in lobbying and broaden advocacy work for envi roumen tal
protection.

VVhilethe

current

level

of resiliency

t.:bal

enm rnu nilies like S<lilindin,ghave achieved. In coping and living with their disaster sltuation has to be lllmrm~d
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and nurtured, the SMt is also challenged to help lb!!!sl:! eommnnities further increase their disaster resiliency by working Lug.::illl!l.r Ln slop ,envir·om:nenhd d.~slruf:l]n!:il and restore the integrity of creation. Its engagement in Sallnding i~ therefore viewed in the context of the unabated envtronmental deslruclion in the provinces of zam boanga Sibugay and Zarnboanga del Sur and lhe PreJa.lUFtt'£, FB:1,sUlJ! Iur being, as embodied in ill; ad-intra and ad-extra ministri E":.S,

The. new rain water

c;a:!;cnmcr'l'[

pro\lides reSidents YIN'tb

dt'i~ki ng water- es.pecbny· duriJ:lg the rai:nr ~iea5:on

The . ngag-'menl \(1 S:aHnding, whkh started tn the. ):'E!8f 200;0 when 'we started Ihe partnership With the ccmnnmily, proved In h~1i collective learning e xperience for us in lht' Social Adiml Ministry of .. the Ipll Prelature, It is in ,this community where we

learned :[u funy appreciate the meanIng t-J1f eommunily 1~evelup'me.nlitil.d how enjoyable and few'<I:£di:J::Jg is to it re;=dlr Live, work and, learn with the people, WlliI!:: helping in implementing the diffeeent (~rlhe :rr~~j~ciand p~e.p~ulng 'this t<~~e study i1'1 lhe e,{)UfSt"; uf monitorlng and evalu aling_ them logether with the people, We arrived <)t several realiza tions, learning, <lHd ~haU~:u~ge."_
l:omp(i'l1enls

On the P.u·tidp.alcJry Tlu.ralApprnisal oo:uuudcd]. the hasis: fnr the p~rnie~l7we ,rf'AlI1i7R.d tha t 'a nne-sho t-deal is no L enough to really understaad the ~ibH')lionurUl:epeopl!.£whvm wev,~uHlo serve, Wernwe tn continuously immerse ourselves in the co:nwn.unity, ju1nins lhe people in I1n!:irs~d.'OHJ and ~COn{]iIliicacl:!vitJes, in th ~ v~rmes wh(~re they share lheir life s,turies, where 'lhcy do I:bcir OW]): social <I!ll.alysis) tb~1r 0,,,111 resea ..cll_
whieh provided

cW1~;itdid
OWIIl

Wt:

h:acn l"vhtiuw'e.jQi.ned them in their

h a,~its own W(ty.s of living wi lh the chullenges they face d ailv, such as lhei 1- ~nN'lJi early W[I mi ng and d ~,,,~·lef. managemen t system. They also 'have a system of water purifteation, Lnie~.r 0'i'lfl1 f arming system and livelihood 111il::iatives,which In.'!E!Y Lhem.~dvf'=':; dt'vd[)p~~:L w~~ haw !leIstart from where they are. Buildh:m disaster re,silieflL communities mn::l,t be. vi ewed in the 00n text of the overall dev!N<>,pl11le.1l1 ,~f: (he. tOljljmunily._ '{"he current pmje~llcomponents being implemented with. funding :s.tll~pol:t from CJui.~~an Aid complement whatthe people arealrea.dly doing, ForinsLall~e\ We cannot separate the testing of flood re:s:isbJut rice varieties, and the ]1);L::ubaLi{m ofooif:ro a grihusiness. en lerprises Irom current fanningpractiC:S and Hvelilwnd initiatives of the peuple, We o.o1y help ill buildmg on whalJ.lliey have. As we put tn h~:art lhis h<l~j,c t:.cmmun~lY development principle uf star ting fro mwhete lhe people are and Inll1ding on wDa[ lht;;r have, 'We en.d.up afii.rm.ing th~ pe:ople in, the vommunily, .• ~togO_izlJJg. lheir talen ts and capabililies and in the process !'ldllii.ng lhern stren glnencorrfide'llce . j n their 0'1;1i,'11 talents and knuwledw:" We ,:li~e this h<lppenillg LoillJiy in the community. The people have already devcloped a SE'_f!.~e uf 0:\1"'11 ership of the' proj eel. Tht:.j' now sec !he difIerent project.cornponenrs @!;'rel'h:'(:liveor their eondiliolJ.!i and

I'e$!eal.'rn? We learned tlI;;Ir the communityalready

N:afl:i!yV:!ngie Onia~ ~PDMl1 pres;idef;!t, en!lQ)'lng~er wr'dell

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to their .nee(ls- ")1ley ar~ HoL a !J<arl [rom wh~t thev are doing to develop themselves. They build on l heI r own i[dLia Lives_ We ;reillized ll.w l.ownership of ~he p!rojecll~y ~he.I,;ummu[;!]ly is crucial tu It~·$mjl?liflflbi1it~. ~u Wearechallenged not luplan .f0!' the people] but to pTI n wuh them. a responsive

\\l'e, Jrf)aJJZOO that in addressing a s;p~(;ific c(J'!llmunity problem, vtiler concerns Mise which necessitate mIlIH~£edoni] actions, hp,nct~ Lh~ r:lt~~d for ()1;g,aniz.ingillldt ~pahility building ;:tffiong other sectoral VQUP$~ t:,g,-. farmers, women, ynu~, .l:~i~ptl()p~es.y~le need to he oonstan LAy pl:~po:red to)' ~<lJS k.loed of situalu m. to broaden cur SC01}e of interven tinn in relation b, lhfi plan and. program ~ke"lO:yde5igDed.

We' also gtflsped the irnportanee of fm;lneJi "Arenglllening our partnerslnp wi tl1 the community. Whil.e hdping the peoplebuild !heir disaster resiliency] we learned that theeulture o[pt-!al~~whkh has nurtured the community Iormanyyears is now being threatened. This stresses the .n.t'~(:essitynf bringing our whole ministry to the community, including the CtlIluI'f. of Pe8:C~. In addition, the sustenance nfilie project now woven into the evera II deve.lnp("J.)e:n.t uf the cemmun ily demands eontlnning community organ.iZing aJnd ~~=~p,~biljly building. geared towards the strenglthf'..ning not only of line faith-based nrg.aui'l!!tions bl"d nf all the
org<mi:t:aliom; in the. community.

This case study \,;,rhic.b w~ wrote ILogtlLi1.e,g:- wH..h the people fir Kg}'. Sal i ding has Lv be brought back to' !.hem. This has I.u be translated in ILheiranguage so that l the' can read il and be inspired with their colleetive experience intnl,'iJding Ilh~ir resiliency tIll disasters. Iv> they continue working together and as we jnurney with them, nevr.r stories will he told, new Iessous will h~ learned, This .~~~ .5ludy will go fin, It will be replicated (lve:r:and over again Iu similar conun unities we ·s.~rve:.. We are not projeet-oriented, We are in to social action. W e .sl6v~ for the f!:li] ness 'DK life,
[j!

1.£)010015at our engagement in s'alhHiing in '(he conle"t of the unabated environmental destruction in the provinces nf Zambmmg,<1 Sihug:'IY and Zamboanga del Sill' and the Prelaiure's reasoa (or l'l.elins,c We aFe: challenged to help Salinding as wellas all other similarly 51 tim. Led1,21til ngays in tlre whole Pl1ehtture" This requires good organization and. )n~c'L~ c~ borat ive work ve, )Ua II~ become a potent force for our advocacy to end. environmental d~strqctinl1 and restore the integrity of creation.
t~(

sodal Action Minislzy ,tS.l\,M}lpil. :1u05. Anni.v£'1"Sary Souvenir Program, ..Iune 21, 200.5 SoCial Adin() Mi.llistry
Salinding Pa.rtkipalO:U)' Rural eN ovember 15, :~()~17} B.arang.1Y Salinding

~5lh

t~AMHpil. 2007, Barangay Appraisal (PR_A). Repnd

Devel[ Ipment Plan (:2 00 9-20 ~3)Barungay Salinding, Municipalny of Siay, Zamhoanga Sibugay Province

\-'Vh.ileworkingnfllhi~ project, We have reflected and come to understand 'that this is the real_BEe; a BEe that is s() :! live wh erein sharing and li"'rng out the-Gospel is a daily experience. There, W1:! Were able to s1'1re and a experience the community's hopes and a.:s.p:ll1)j.[irms, lheir f nisi ra l:ionS and Iiini tatiens, With tha~~ were we ah]~ also tQwirn£~.$:S faith lh.('ll turns intn aclion, ..an

rai lh .. I'hese encounters help us become more steadfast in our mission, A rni.~~i.tlJ1rnuted in Chri.sl'.s le;lr,hjng..s i.llld life.
Community empowerment and self-rel lance isa h~ng and continuing process.. involving above all, ;gaining the trus t :;). d ,i~~ fidenee of the eommunities we n m serve. We have to make them fed tha Lwe a Fe one .•mong i them; th eir prohiems are already our problems, andtheir dreams, our drea~. Salinding accepted us be-cause we immersed ourselves in tht:ir lives and WI;! embraced their struggle. Thf1:.ir resolve to ad'lllNe. thilidl'e.am fur a bdle.t·life h~s ehatlenged IJS to continue helping not only in building disaster r.e!lilie,lll uornmunities, but in building a New Heaven and a New Earth,

action which be(;omes- an e;xpe_rie:nce that deepened

the

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Bal Ah mad, a MusI11m member of the, rrelUn,[!ll\Jts tip

'small ~n;lel'l near his house in preparatlon d me flood

I!M!