Builidng a disaster resilient community through local capacity development

A challenge commonly confronted by local governments is how to deliver effective disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) services. Some fail to do so because of weak capacity of DRRM officials and staff. Why is there weak capacity in the local DRRM process? The researcher aims to determine why there is weak capacity in the local DRRM by conducting a capacity assessment. Capacity development indicators are initially selected from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Capacity Assessment Methodology. After that, the capacity assessment tool is constructed covering the three dimensions of the UNDP Capacity Assessment Framework. These dimensions are (1) Organizational as Point of Entry, (2) the four core capacity issues (i.e. Institutional Arrangements, Leadership, Knowledge and Accountability) and (3) functional capacities. Such tool is thereafter administered to the officers and staff of the Muntinlupa Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (BDRRMCs), utilizing a common quantitative ranking scheme for all functional capacities. Key informant interviews are then conducted to gather qualitative information to support the rankings of the participants. Likewise, focus group discussions with community members are conducted to collect pertinent feedback regarding the effectiveness of local DRRM services. Findings are subsequently summarized using the UNDP Capacity Assessment Supporting Tool and results interpreted based on the related core capacity issues, concerned functional capacities and focus of capacity, which are the phases of disaster management (i.e. mitigation and response). A capacity assessment report is also prepared based on the said findings. This study, thus, validates that local capacity development assessment is a fundamental tool in building disaster resilient communities because it helps identify reasons for weak capacity in order to eventually provide effective ways to address such reasons. Furthermore, the Capacity Development Theory is substantiated as LGUs and local communities continue to work together to make the DRRM process successful