According to the World Risk Report of 2021, the Philippines is the 8th most vulnerable country to disasters. The country lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire were 80% of earthquakes occur. Around 20-25 typhoons ravage the country every year, leading to the loss of lives and millions of damages to infrastructure and livelihood. About 220 known volcanoes dot the country, and at least 22 of them are considered active.

 

The Philippines is also one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The drought brought by the El Niño Southern Oscillation has increased in the last few decades. The dry season is also becoming warmer, and conversely, the wet season becoming wetter. Sea level rise threaten the coastal areas of the country.

 

Wanton destruction of the environment has also made it worse. Illegal logging and illegal modes of fishing threaten the ecosystem. Armed conflict, demolitions, and so-called development projects displace families and communities, adding to the already dire poverty situation. The poverty situation also inhibits the people’s ability to cope and recover from these hazards unless we develop their capacities and to create disaster resilient communities.