The DRR genius of the indigenous

If you think disaster risk reduction (DRR) is an entirely fresh concept arising only from a world already equipped with technologies telling us where calamity might hit next, it’s because only recently did we decide to call it that.

DRR existed before we had a name for it.

New, but not really

Indigenous peoples relied on telltale signs of nature to help them anticipate a heavy downpour. Fisherfolk, internally in sync with the movements and rhythms of the waters, would know when it is no longer safe to set out to the sea. By sheer effort of all members of the families, an entire community could satisfactorily respond to the demands of an unfriendly weather.

It was only in 2000 when we became acquainted with the formal idea of DRR. It appears today as a body of definitions, concepts, methods, practices and technologies geared toward minimizing risks and vulnerabilities to potentially disastrous effects of natural hazards.

A forest that speaks

On the mountains of Romblon dwell the Sibuyan Mangyan. In the forest they consider their home is a type of tree called  ayutay. The eight tribes in the islands would testify that the leaves of such tree would turn white a week before the arrival of rains.

For the Mangyan, a faint forest wind and splintering tree branches mean bad weather. Sparrows typically fly as a flock. Spotting a solitary sparrow flying low, then, is an odd occurrence. The Mangyan take this to likewise mean that thunderstorms will make their presence felt.

In 2008, a chief tanod  living along the coast was able to prepare for Typhoon “Frank.” He saw ants marching toward the mountain, away from volatile waters, and told his family and neighbors about it. They were spared from what would probably have been a dreadful aftermath of the storm.

Beth Ibañez, the island convenor of the Aksyon sa Kahandaan sa Kalamidad at Klima (AKKMA), says this of the “natural” kinds of early warning device: “Nakikipag-usap sa atin ang kalikasan. Lahat ng mga katutubo ganoon ang paniniwala.”

Fisherfolk wisdom

The fisherfolk of Rizal province would agree. “Nagbibigay ang dagat ng senyales kung may paparating na bagyo. Bilang mangingisda, naiintindihan at pinapakinggan namin ito. Tawag nga sa amin makaluma,” shared Ka Jaime, a fisherman and advocate of disaster

preparedness.

The fisherfolk are quite the experts at decoding messages sent by nature. The absence of fish in shallow waters would indicate the coming of rain. The fish would swim down to the very heart of the ocean, as if avoiding the needles of liquid about to hit the surface of the ocean. The birds would also be seen actively seeking safe shelter.

Before the government formally extended DRR programs to them, their houses along the sea were already designed in a way that addressed the need to relocate at times. “Parang nauna pa kami sa nakaisip ng DRR,” Ka Jaime noted.

Important

Ka Jaime though would be among the first to celebrate the advantages of modern DRR methods. He said the government’s DRR programs expand the knowledge they already have. “Noon manging

isda lang lagi ang may alam. Ngayon marami na ang may alam,” he proudly

declared.

Then and now, community effort has always been a key factor in effectively mitigating disaster risks. Years ago, people in the community would depend on the word of the fisherfolk, and make preparations accordingly. Now, not only has the community’s knowledge of disaster risks deepened, but there are more ways to spread news than just manually or by word of mouth to one’s closest neighbors until it reaches everyone in the hinterlands.

More than the technology, “modern” DRR as we know it emphasizes not only the sharing of knowledge but, more significantly, community preparedness. This meant that special attention has to be paid to those who have less in resources and are located in specially-vulnerable areas, a lesson they learned from Tropical Storm “Ondoy.”

After Ondoy, AKKMA was formed. It is a coalition of groups based in seven different regions advocating for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. They are united in the belief that the voices of those living in high-risk locations should be heard because they know what they need and are the ones who suffer the most whenever a calamity strikes.

Science and experience

The indigenous ways of mitigating disaster risks are still very much still alive, and they teach us that our instincts are not to be ignored. This does not mean that science is less important. We simply have to acknowledge that sometimes, we chance upon an easier way of doing something, only to confirm later on that it is a scientifically sound and wise approach. Experience enriches science, and science pinpoints practice in the right direction.

Faye Gonzalez is the media officer for DRR for Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO). CODE-NGO is the largest network of civil society organizations in the country and is active in disaster risk reduction efforts.