Vulnerability of the Urban Environment

Vulnerability
Vulnerability can be defined in may definitions, it can be defined as the quality or
state that is exposed or has the possibility to be attacked or harmed, such as it can be
physical or emotional, when it comes into like for example state city or certain place,
vulnerability is can defined as inability to resist hazard that a certain place cannot resist
or respond to a like for example disaster it can be typhoon, super typhoon, tsunami,
landslide etc. According to research that people who lives in plains are more vulnerable
to floods than people who lives in higher up, like for example in region 3 or specifically
here in Tarlac, we all know that are province are slightly vulnerable of these floods
because are land location is higher than the others that is why when it comes in floods
we experience less damage than the others.

Urban Environment
Urban Environment is another term for Urban area where it can be classified as
the following such as towns, cities, and suburban. Urban areas are extremely evolved,
which means there are a lot of human made structures, for example, houses, business
structures, streets, extensions, and railroads etc. On the counterpart, there is Rural area
which is the opposite of Urban. They have a low population and most of the places in
rural are not developed. For example, provinces.

Vulnerability of the Urban Environment

When it comes in the disaster those people who are underprivilege let say they
belong to an urban area, but still experiencing a poor way of living, then they were hit, like
for example a super typhoon which we recently observe or what we saw happened in
Manila in Rizal, they were flooded and many of unprivileged are most likely affected that
is why that disaster or natural calamity became dominant to them.
 Vulnerability can be a characteristic of a person where if a person was devastated,
by a calamity, then a person will cope with it for being a resilient person. Example we
Filipino's are resilient people, even we are affected with natural calamities and we lost
our homes we smile at the end of the they, like in Manila were most of the people are
vulnerable in typhoons, they managed to cope with it, resist and recover to the calamities
that passes by, and we all know that the people in urban area faced different level of
vulnerability especially in terms of financial capabilities were those person who are lacking
in that matters are the ones who are affected.
Whether we like it or not, we need to address this problem. Especially the
government must take action to lessen and to ready the people and this most vulnerable
areas in preventing the great damage of natural calamities. Like for example programs
which could help urban areas to be flooded above a person level, like tree planting
programs clearing the drainage for proper water flow, because these matters must not be
taken lightly because the recent super typhoon take away lives and if the government and
especially its people take actions and help each other and cooperate, we can lessen the
impacts and of this coming natural calamities.
We all know that there are a lot of reasons why urban areas are vulnerable in
disasters, calamities or natural disaster. Because of these reasons that vulnerability arise,
such as population growth, if the population increase rapidly most like and there a
possibility of poverty, and some areas of urban places will be populated, for example
other people who cannot afford to build a house in commercial place will build a house
near train station, under the bridge, near the lake, which sometimes cause accidents and
river will be a garbage place something like that, and for some reason it might affect the
water flow in times of typhoon will much like affected and it makes that urban area
vulnerable.
Here are the reasons why does urban are experience vulnerability; the following
attributes of vulnerability are:

1. Unplanned urbanization
From the term itself unplanned, there is no plan that is made. Unplanned
urbanization, has a lot of negative effect that is little by little has a destructive effect,
we all know that a thing without a plan can be easily destroyed, it is also like from
creating an urban environment. If there is no reliable plan the development will be
hard to do, because there is no plan at all and if that happened the vulnerability
will increase, like for example a certain land is not well analyze and check by the
expert or do not done experiments then unluckily it is not fit to handle a huge
building or establishments and then strong typhoon slap it then it cause danger, it
will not control development because it only cause danger. And as matter of fact it
will only be a reason to increase poverty and will be one of the reasons why this
unplanned urbanization cannot take or face disasters.
 It is like a phenomenon where some cities provide and offers, like for
example villa, subdivisions, business infrastructures without undergo a planning or
unplanned urbanization and it is quite alarming if we analyze it. When it is existed
and real thing happened, this cities or companies let’s say, they are just focusing
on the use of the land, they are just concerned how will it cost the building, how
many floors, target population or target market etc. they will not let us use the term
care or seek land check or consult to the proper authority to check if the land fits
in a certain urbanization. Sometimes migrants construction workers will face
danger, or we can say they will face problems, such as in creating a huge informal
construction, others may not be used to it to work in a new construction, like from
working in rural construction then migrate to work in an urban, sometimes they will
face difficulties from the new environment, and it is also what we called challenges
for them to cope with a new system, and it has also a risk.

2. Continuing Social and Physical Degradation

The example of this attribute is when a migrant or unprivileged person
moved into a place where buildings are old and in a poor maintenance conditions,
access to road is narrow and delivery is difficult. And these buildings that they
moved in are a threat for the safety of the people who are staying there from
hazards like fire, floods and earthquake. The people who are living and working
there is at high risk from multiple hazards and where it is difficult to have access
on emergency vehicles.

3. Urban risk has been neglected

Neglected means not receiving proper attention or ignored. Urban risks,
associated with extreme danger were largely ignored by local governments. We
all know that cities, especially megacities had the ability to deal with risks but has
been ignored by National governments and International organizations. However,
it is now clear that risk cannot be managed effectively in cities, especially in
developing countries. And that the risk is high and continuously rising. For
instance, in Manila. Manila had many buildings such as schools, hospitals, and
facilities. It continues to be designed and constructed with little consideration for
protection from extreme hazards such as earthquakes and floods. We all know that
Manila is one of the flood-prone cities. Structural vulnerability conducted in major
cities around the world show the high vulnerability of existing construction
environments to natural disasters. Urban disasters, especially earthquakes,
repeatedly indicate a dangerous situation in the urban construction environments.
One of the greatest threats to urban dwellers or population in the existing
environment is physical vulnerabilities.

4. Damages from climate change will accelerate

 Climate change is one of the major problems not just now but even before.
Electricity and heat production, human over population, transportation, fossil and
fuel production, and various human activities are the reason why Climate change
occur. If we look at temperature change in the last 50 years, it changed a lot and
that is one of the causes of climate change, global warming.

Global warming is the increased of heat in earth’s surface. As you can see,
it is getting hotter and hotter day by day by trapping the sun’s heat and rise in the
level of atmospheric carbon dioxide. People tend to forget their duties to slow the
increase of global warming. The world should be informed that this is a serious
and can cause a major problem not just to the human being but also to the
environment. Warming may induce sudden shifts in regional weather patterns such
as El Niño phenomenon and Monsoon rains in South Asia.

5. The link between DRR and adaptation to climate change

Philippines has always been known from having a high vulnerability to
natural hazards such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, landslides, volcanic
eruptions, and etc. Both Disasters and Climate Change affects us that is why there
is a connection to disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change.

One of the attributes of vulnerability is The Link Between Disaster Risk

Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change. Disaster risk reduction address non-
climate related disasters like earthquake and it also covers climate-related
disasters like drought, storm surge, and floods. While, Climate change adaptation
is a response to the global warming. According to World Vision, there is always an
overlap between the problems that the disaster risk reduction and climate change
adaptation want to address. It is said that because of the climate change, the
frequency and intensity of the climate related hazards will increase as well as their
effect to the people and if people will be exposed to it, there will be a greater risk.
In addition, they also seek to lower the risk of climatic change and to increase the
agricultural producer’s resilience. With these reasons, it is now known that
reducing disaster risk through HFA is a strategy for climate change adaptation. We
all know that nowadays we have advance technologies and practices which aims
to mitigate and adapt the climate change and natural hazards and disasters which
includes changing rainfall patterns, storms, floods, landslides, wildfire, drought,
and geographical redistribution of diseases and pests. Advance practices wants to
strengthen the resilience of the agriculture and people against natural hazards.
Nowadays, disaster risk reduction considered two key ideas which are: The
practical application of adaptation to climate change is risk reduction, and Disaster
risk reduction needs to take climate change into account. To achieve this, it will
take more of an effort to build these concepts and to be able to focus more on the
local initiatives. Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change covers
 the Sustainable Development Goals wherein they are focused on No Poverty,
Climate Action, and Life on Land as well as Life on Water.

According to Oxfam, the need of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate

Change Adaption has become serious wherein they are really needed to be able
save lives and to protect the assets and livelihoods of the community.

6. Weak institutional organizations

Legislative and institutional arrangements in most developing countries are inhibiting
instead of allowing local action. The disasters are not decentralized enough for local
governments to take action, to take ownership, and manage disaster risk. Local
authorities typically do not have comprehensive rules and regulations to dictate
processes and obligations for disaster risk reduction, nor do they have adequate
knowledge of disaster risk considerations. Institutional arrangements and mechanisms
for disaster risk reduction interventions are often weak.

7. Lack of Political feasibility

Everyone faces competing agendas with lawmakers, managers, and

community leaders, and Disaster risk reduction almost always takes the back
seat to other needs that can be considered more urgent or easier to address.
Danger is not handled preemptively, but is taken into account in terms of what
needs to be done when disasters occur by emergency management and
humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, the lack of expertise, methodology and
benchmarking criteria makes Disaster risk reduction unattractive plan for local
offices.

8. Insufficient knowledge, experience and capacity

The Disaster risk reduction is complicated and few administrators have
experience in implementing DRR initiatives. It takes time, effort, instruments and
training to assimilate the reduction of disaster risk in city functions and ongoing
activities. In terms of inter-institutional cooperation, alert system, incident
command and control, response services, relief, recovery and rehabilitation
practice, major shortcomings exist across cities and megacities. An added
disadvantage relates to the government’s project preparation processes. While
principles are often understood and policies are in place, putting these policies
and concepts into practice is a major challenge at all levels of government. Even
among cities that have demonstrated competence in developing planning
 processes to govern their physical growth, it remains a difficult move to bring
these planning processes into project planning and execution.

9. Lack of Acceptable Standards of Practice

There are some instances wherein even the professional practices like
Disaster Risk Management still lacks at its own set of acceptable standards of
practice. It sometimes results in dispersion of effort and ineffective use of
resources. It also erodes the political support for local level action on the Disaster
Risk Reduction. So, in order for them to understands options in managing risks
when it comes to planning especially those who are in urban cities to be ready in
implementing the Urban DRR, they should provide tools to enable translating
national policies into mainstreaming planning processes so that they could easily
cope up with National Disasters. For example, they should be aware especially
when their area is prone from different calamities like typhoon, landslide, flooding
and etc., they should make an action to prevent some of it like flooding. Plant trees,
avoid illegal logging, implement proper waste disposal because it would help them
not be totally affected and protect the environment.

There are Six (6) ways to Create a Safer World:

1. Recognizing that Environmental Sustainability is a must for

stopping a Disaster

We should practice cleanliness in the environment, be responsible

especially when it comes on waste disposal because some of us do not follow
simple practices like proper waste disposal, we should consider the environment,
think of possible outcomes or effects to the environment because at the end of
the day, we will suffer for what we have done. We should maintain a clean
environment because it could prevent disaster threats.

2. Recognizing that Social Sustainability along with development is

necessary for good Risk Reduction

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is an integral part of social and economic

development, and is essential if development is to be sustainable for the future.
In this case, they should develop the social sustainability like development of a
community, practices, social responsibility, individual’s well-being to maintain a
good Risk Reduction.
3. Recognizing information as a form of disaster response in its
own right

We should recognize the information that we watched in news or have read

on social media platforms. Do not ignore the information like weather forecasts.
For example, when we knew that the typhoon will landfall in your area, if the
newscaster says that you should evacuate, then you should leave not that you will
leave when you are already stranded. Prepare important things such as food,
flashlight, clothes and etc. Why? Because there are some people ignoring the
news even though they know what areas would be affected that’s why some
people become stranded on their houses and the worst is other people died. So,
in order for us to overcome those calamities, we should recognize that information.

4. Supporting better access to information and communications

along with technology for vulnerable communities.

Vulnerable communities should receive a better access to information and

communications with the technology so that when there are disasters, they are
aware of what they will do. To keep vulnerable communities safe and informed on
what is happening around them because better access with technology is a must
in today’s generation especially on gathering information and information
dissemination.

5. Building a partnership for sharing information with communities’

local governments, media, telephone companies and industries

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

should communicate with the local governments, media and telephone company
and industries in order for them to disseminate information, to inform everyone
when there is a disaster. Just like what they are doing when there is a typhoon and
earthquake, they are messaging everyone, informing everyone and this practice
could create a safer world especially for those vulnerable urban communities.

6. Men of all ages from disaster affected areas and wider local
populations, including vulnerable groups should receive
information about the assistance program

They should receive an information about the assistance program and they
are also given the opportunity to comment to the assistance agency during all
 stages because that’s their right especially those who are mainly affected by the
disasters and with this practice, it could also create a safer world for everyone.

Therefore, we must be responsible. The general public, the local

government and all human in this world. We should receive an important
information about disasters especially the vulnerable groups.

Vulnerability Assessment

Is used for the comprehensive evaluation of the resource system affected

by natural conditions and intervened by human activities (Fan et al., 2009), which
means that they are doing a vulnerability assessment in a certain place that are
caused by natural conditions and man-made activities.

Here is an example of vulnerability assessment.

Sample Exposure Rating of Community
Single Climatic Event: Flood
Community Category: Flatland/Urban
Exposure Rating Scale: Low=1 Moderate=2 High=3
Instruction: Using the matrix below, assess your community’s exposure to
the hazards and risks of climate change.

Areas of Security Indicators of Exposure to Climate Change Exposure

(CC) Rating 1-2-3
(Cite instances of possible exposure to the
hazards of Climate Change)
In what manner has climate change
threatened or affected these security areas?
Health Occurrence of water-borne diseases (e.g. 3
amoebiasis, diarrhea, cholera)
Life Death due to drowning and electrocution 2
Food Scarcity and/or contamination of food supply 3
Livelihood Temporary cessation of business activities, 3
loss of profit and/or income
Properties/Structures Damages to furniture, appliances, roads and 3
bridges, houses made of light materials
Peace and Order looting 3
Way of Life (Culture) Hoarding of relief goods 3
Local Environment Uprooting of trees, landslides, contamination 3
of potable water sources
Total 23
Average 2.9
 Response-Ability Rating of Community
Response-Ability Rating of Community is like a survey to different sectors in our
country to know if how they response or help the community before, during, and
after the calamities.

The Response-ability rating of community contains Single Climatic Event which

pertains to what calamity did happened, Community Category which you could
answer as “Flatland/Urban”, and the Response-Ability Rating. Whereas in
response-ability rating, it is labeled as “Low” if the score is 1, “Moderate” if the
score is 2, and “High” if it is 3. Response-ability rating also contains the different
community institutions or sectors and the community could rate their ability to
respond or to help them in times of calamity. The first community institution/sectors
are the Health Workers/Centers. Health workers/centers are the main people who
does free consultation, treatment, and distribution of enough supply of medicines.
Second, is Food Producers/Manufacturers, where they are the one who donates
relief goods and transport them. Third, Business/Business Establishment whereas
they donate cash and goods. They also offer transportation and services. Fourth
is Clerics/Religious/Religious Groups, they offer temporary shelters, do some
counselling and could also solicit and distribute some relief goods. Fifth is Local
Government, they allocate calamity funds, assess the damages, and mobilize
emergency response. They must also educate the community on how to prepare
and what to do in times of calamity. Civic Group, Non-Government Organizations,
and Schools are the sixth, seventh, and eighth community institutions or sectors.
The three said community institutions or sectors could donate medicines and
foods, transport of food supply, and could solicit to have an additional fund that
could help the others who are in need after the calamity happened. Lastly, the
Military/Police/Emergency Response Groups where these are the people who
mobilize the emergency/rescue teams and utilize the emergency/rescue
equipment.

With this Response-Ability Rating of Community, the community could help the
different community institutions or sectors to know if they did their part and what
they could improve to have a better service.

In this chart, it shows how Community institutions or sectors in that community

category will respond in climatic event. In the first column, that is where the sectors
are listed, every community has a hospital, schools, service agencies, major
businesses and nonprofit institutions. Each one has resources, such as staff,
space, equipment, and economic power that can potentially contribute. On the
second column, there are the indicators of ability to respond to Hazards and
disasters due to climate change. And last column is the response ability rating, it
 is where the response of a community institutions or sectors shown. 3 being the
highest and one being the lowest.

Here is an example of Response-Ability Rating of Community

Single Climatic Event: Flood

Community Category: Flatland/Urban
Response-Ability Rating: Low = 1 Moderate = 2 High = 3
Community Institutions/Sectors Indicators of Ability to Respond to Hazards and Response-
Disasters due to Climate Change Ability
Rating
(Cite concrete actual or potential indicators of 1-2-3
capabilities)

In what ways the sectors are capable or prepared to

respond to hazards, threats, risks, and disasters in
your community?
Health Workers/Centers Health education on prevention and treatment of 2
waterborne diseases
Free consultation, treatment, and distribution of
adequate supply of medicines
Food Producers/ Donation of relief goods 1
Manufacturers Transport of food supply
(Farmers, Fisherman etc.)
Businessmen/Business Donation of cash and goods 2
Establishments Offering of transportation and services
Offering temporary shelters 2
Clerics/Religious/Religious Solicitation and distribution of relief goods
Groups Counseling
Allocation for calamity fund 2
Local Government Assessment of damage
Mobilization of emergency response
Donation of relief goods and medicines 2
Civic Groups Transport of food supply
Solicitation
Non-Government Organizations Donation of relief goods and medicines 2
Transport of food supply
Solicitation
Schools Donation of relief goods and medicines 2
Transport of food supply
Solicitation
Military/Police/Emergency Mobilization of emergency/rescue teams 2
Response Groups Utilization of emergency/disaster equipment
Total 17
Average 1.8