Enumeration: A Tool for an Effective Disaster Risk Reduction Intervention

 The Philippine’s archipelagic feature and location along the typhoon belt of North Pacific basin coupled with its position within the Pacific belt of fire increase its risks-levels to different types of disasters. The country is frequently devastated by typhoons, storm surges, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and drought that cause billion worth of damages on properties and lives of people. Susceptibility to disaster events and their impacts are usually exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable human practices thus, creating an ecological imbalance.  

In Philippine context, vulnerability to disasters is often linked with poverty issues. Those who are usually residing in relatively high risk areas such as along railways, under the bridge, riverbanks,  foreshore and dumpsite areas are low-income groups who cannot afford to live in affordable and descent houses.  In addition, these groups also belong to the informal sector who lacks security in land tenure and access to physical infrastructures and basic services.

In the past decade, the Homeless People’s Federation Philippines Inc. (HPFPI), a national network of urban poor communities originating from small saving groups throughout the country has integrated disaster response measures in its key rituals, using enumeration as a tool.  Its commitment to work with the most vulnerable communities began after the Payatas trashlide in year 2000. It was a tragic event that killed and displaced several hundreds of people after a mountain of solid waste dump in Quezon City collapsed due to heavy downpour.  Gathering data on the actual number of casualties and relief operations were the initial responses of the government and concerned civic organizations. However, the accuracy of reported casualties and damage assessment were contested and questioned for these did not actually reveal the exact number of disaster-affected families and the incurred losses on properties.  This apparent data gap on the number and status of communities in high-risk sites like Payatas, inspired the federation to start its enumeration initiatives.

Western Visayas Enumeration Update

 I. Introduction 

As of January 15, 2011 of the total 13,570 target households to be surveyed in Western Visayas only 6,726 households were surveyed which is almost fifty percent (50%) of the target. In Iloilo City, 3,576 were surveyed that is forty-seven percent (47%) of the target 7,570 households covering six (8) coastal barangays. These were Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte, Calaparan, in Arevalo Distrct and Calumpang, San Juan, Boulevard, West Habog-Habog and North Baluarte in Molo District. On the other hand, a total of 3150 households were surveyed which is 53% of the 6,000 target in Bacolod City covering only two barangays namely: Barangay 35 and Barangay Singcang.

Bacolod surveyed communities have relatively bigger number of households per barangay compared with Iloilo City because of the following reasons:

a) The spatial area of barangays in Bacolod City are comparatively bigger than that of Iloilo City. Barangay 35 for instance is composed of eight (8) major puroks which are subdivided into different zones. Five (5) of which are located along the riverbanks and the foreshore areas namely: Purok  Malipayon, Purok Mapinalanggaon, Purok Masinadyahon, Purok Maabi-abihon and Purok Mag-hiliugyon. On the other hand, Barangay Singcang is composed of 4 major sitios namely: : Singcang, Magsungay, Calong-calong and Airport. Furthermore, these sitios are further subdivided into 36 minor puroks. Fourteen  of which are located along the riverbanks and foreshore namely: Sigay, Talaba, Sisi, Batad, Greenshell, Tahong, Litob, Mars, Neptune, Kabulakan 1 and 2 and Sampaguita 1, 2 and 3.

HPFPI Spearheads Citywide Enumeration in Iloilo and Bacolod Cities

City-wide enumeration in high-risk and/or disaster-prone areas is one of the national thrusts of the Philippine Alliance for the past several years. This initiative, which now gained funding support from Slum Dwellers International (SDI), is seen to have bigger impacts in various local and international levels/institutions (community, federation, LGU, national government, local and international network organizations) in terms of data banking, local and site development planning and future disaster intervention programs. SDI’s funding support for citywide enumeration will cover the following activities to be conducted for a maximum period of one and a half year:

a.    formulation of enumeration tools (e.g. survey questionnaires/forms and household tag numbers)

b.    orientation for enumerators

c.    actual conduct of enumeration

d.    data encoding

e.    data analysis

f.     data validation

g.    data publication

Enumeration activities will be conducted in all HPFPI regions using the same survey questionnaire and a national encoding format. Data analysis will also be generated from a national scope.

In HPFPI - Western Visayas particularly in Iloilo and Bacolod cities, citywide enumeration aimed to:

1. fill-in the apparent information gaps on the number and status of urban poor communities    living in high-risk areas

2. serve as a tool in identifying possible intervention programs and in formulating local development plans to improve the living conditions of disaster-prone communities and  those facing eviction/demolition threats;

3. serve as a tool to leverage resources from the government and other institutions for future projects targeting high-risk communities;

4. to utilize enumeration results as driving force to organize communities to demonstrate feasible actions to improve their living conditions.

The citywide enumeration targets communities living in foreshore areas, riverbanks, 

railways, dumpsite areas and those who are directly affected by ongoing city 

development/infrastructure projects. 

In Iloilo City, a total of 7,570 households spread in six barangays are targeted to be surveyed in the first phase. These barangays are Sto. Niño Sur, Sto. Niño Norte and Calaparan in Arevalo District; Calumpang, San Juan and Boulevard in Molo District.  

On the other hand, baseline information are still being gathered in Bacolod City that could eventually serve as reference in identifying barangays to be covered by the enumeration. Also, an office has been set-up in preparation for the citywide survey and anticipated expansion of CLIFF project in Bacolod City.

Linking with the Academe and LGU for the Conduct of Citywide Enumeration

Mr. Ramon Robles, ICUPAO's detailed personnel assists

 in structural mapping of households in high risk-areas

As a proof of its continued partnership with the Iloilo City government, HPFPI-Iloilo is jointly undertaking the citywide enumeration with Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office (ICUPAO). Four personnel (4 enumerators and 1 spot mapper) were detailed by ICUPAO to assist in enumeration and structural mapping in priority areas. 

Recognizing also the long-term gains from the citywide survey implementation, Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) assured the Alliance of its commitment and full support to this first citywide initiative and to its  upcoming undertakings in Bacolod City. Various logistical support have been extended by the local government of Bacolod City in preparation for the citywide survey. These include drafting and approval of endorsement letter allowing the federation to conduct survey in Bacolod, provision of directory of contact persons, list and profiles of prospective barangays to be surveyed, assignment of local officials to assist and guide in ocular inspection, structural mapping and actual conduct of survey. 

The Alliance also linked with reputable academic institutions to assist in research and documentation of survey experiences. The University of the Philippines Visayas sends students yearly for their field-based requirement or practicum under the Community Development Program. This semester, three Community Development Majors will assist the federation in validation, editing, encoding of surveyed data and in documentation of learnings and experiences of enumerators while doing the survey. UP Visayas Computer Science majors were tapped as well in setting-up a local database for the community survey. Having this database is not merely for documentation purposes but could also be utilized in identifying and prioritizing communities who need immediate program intervention.

The Alliance is also on the process of formalizing its partnership with West Negros University particularly with the College of Engineering (COE) and Research Development and Extension Office (RDEO). A memorandum of Agreement between HPFPI and the West Negros University was already drafted and reviewed for final approval of both parties.

Community volunteers were mobilized as enumerators and were given series of orientation and trainings to help them familiarize survey questionnaires and learn the ethics of dealing with survey respondents.

Surveyed Communities

A community enumerator interviews a respondent
of Barangay Sto. Nino. Norte, Arevalo, Iloilo City

As of November, two barangays were already surveyed in Iloilo City namely Barangay Sto. Niño Sur, with 850 households surveyed, and Barangay Sto. Niño Norte with 387 households surveyed respectively. 

In Bacolod City, actual survey and structural mapping was started last November 15, 2010 in Barangay 35. Eighteen (18) enumerators, 4 of which were community workers (3 Barangay Health Workers and 1 Barangay Nutrition Scholar) were mobilized. A total of 238 households in foreshore areas were surveyed, with 6 refusals, and 3 households recorded as out during the actual survey. 

HPFPI conducts regular feedbacking on enumerators'survey
experiences and difficulties in filling-up survey questionnaires

Presently, editing, validation and encoding of surveyed data using a national SPSS encoding template is ongoing.  While waiting for the approval of informed consent letters for Barangay Captains of next target barangays, reproduction of survey forms, household tag numbers, and feedbacking activity are being done simultaneously.  

Given the wide scope of this enumeration initiative, HPFP Western Visayas is now exploring the feasibility of using the GIS to map-out priority high-risk areas to generate accurate data on informal settlements and at the same time speed-up the enumeration process.