Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippines is no stranger to natural disasters.
According to UK-based research firm Versick Maplecroft, the Philippines is home to 21 of the 100 most disaster-prone cities in the world.
The study takes into account the combined risk posed by tropical storms, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, storm surges, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.
Out of the the top 10 cities most at risk by these natural hazards, eight of them are regrettably found in the Philippines, with Tuguegarao (2nd), Lucena (3rd), Manila (4th), San Fernando (5th), and Cabanatuan (6th) all figuring at the top of the list.
The natural risk is made even more dangerous by the lack of disaster preparedness of the Philippines, ranking 80th out of 198 countries in the Natural Hazards Risk Atlas, wherein the higher the ranking means that the country is more prepared to deal with disasters.
Disaster preparedness
Apart from government efforts to mitigate disaster when it occurs, humanitarian organizations such as the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) has been doing its part to lessen the blow.
“Right now, disaster preparedness is at the top of our list,” U.N. WFP ambassador KC Concepcion told CNN Philippines.
“We’re helping the government create more efficient ways of disaster response.”
Part of the WFP’s future efforts is the establishment of disaster response centers in key areas of the Philippine archipelago.
She shared that the U.N. WFP is working with the government to establish a response center in Clark for Luzon, Cebu for Visayas, and possibly General Santos for Mindanao.
“That is where we will access a lot of resources for these emergency response areas.”
The Filipina actress and singer has been part of the WFP’s relief efforts in the Philippines since 2008, and in addition to her duties promoting and raising funds for the WFP, she has contributed in big ways to the relief efforts for Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) and the earthquake that hit Nepal in May.
Aside from responding to disasters, Concepcion also helped the WFP cater to communities in conflict-affected areas in the southern parts of the Philippines.
She added that World Food Programme Philippines’ aim is to support communities in conflict-affected areas. Also when there are emergencies, to make sure that people don’t go chronically hungry.
Laudable resilience
Working in conflict-affected and disaster-prone areas, though fulfilling, comes with heartbreak.
A feeling she experienced with a community in Cotabato.
“We had been going back to this place in Cotabato for four years, and we saw progress in those four years,” said Concepcion. “But then there was an armed conflict that happened there that wiped out everything that we had worked on for years and years.”
Armed conflicts and the tendency to be hit by disasters at a frequent basis has plagued the Philippines for decades, but that has proved to be a test of resiliency for the organization and the people involved them.
“That was a really an eye-opener for me that, how will we sustain this long term if the conflict is still there?” said Concepcion.
“That just opens up your eyes to your resilience as an agency and your own heart, it’s a heart thing more than a mind thing at the end of the day.”
Despite knowing that all her efforts could be wiped out in an instant, Concepcion remains keen to keep on working.
“Will you go back? Will you invest in it again? Will you exert this much energy and love for what you do again, seeing that it can be wiped out in a split second? The answer is yes.”
“You would go back and try to help them rebuild their lives just the way it was or even better, and try to find ways to make it sustainable for them so that it doesn’t happen again,” she added.
A humbling experience
Concepcion’s work with the WFP has allowed her to travel the Uganda and Nepal to gain insight on how the organization operates in different countries.
“It really humbles you and it really makes you realize that there is more to life then what’s just in magazines and guide books,” said Concepcion.
Her experience with the organization abroad has further strengthened her belief in the organizations work.
“Traveling and seeing the real world is really eye-opening and it really just pushes you to have that commitment all your life,” said the Filipino actress.
“I would love to be doing this all my life.”
