Abstract: The Filipino capability on disaster response and human and resource management were tested by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (International name, Haiyan). The magnitude of damage was enormous which even claimed thousands of lives. The survivors had the most horrible memories and lessons are learned hardest way. Even reports of the coming of new typhoons caused people to panic especially in most vulnerable communities. However, despite the terrifying experience, ‘Yolanda’ survivors in Botlog Island, Concepcion, Iloilo, Philippines chose to stay and restore their livelihood in the very place where they witnessed and suffered the devastation of the monstrous typhoon. Within a year, government rehabilitation programs were implemented. Relocation areas were identified and prepared for their presumed safety. Yet, people are reluctant to leave their homes although they are highly aware of the danger that another typhoon might bring. This qualitative study investigates deeply the underlying reasons why people in Botlog Island prefer to stay and restore their means of living in a location identified to be highly dangerous. In-depth interview to 25 households and 30-day immersion in the communities were done. There are overlapping evidences on whether people exhibit resiliency or complacency on reasons why they chose to rebuild their way of life in disaster-risk communities. The reasons could be summed up into socio-economic factors. Despite the economic and topographic concerns, people had established disaster response and resource management capability through pattern of experiences though, challenged by the extremely catastrophic event. The environment taught them to be adaptive and develop mechanisms to adjust to the changing conditions only to find out their incapability to withstand and recover from tragedy. Their attachment to the place with its rich natural resources and the belief on their capacity to withstand the onslaught of storm gave them inner strength and self-satisfaction only to figure out that these cannot guarantee them safety.
Keywords: Resiliency, Complacency, High-Risk, Case Study.
Title: Resiliency or Complacency, Unearthing the Underlying Reasons on Peoples' Decisiveness to Stay at High-Risk Area: A Case of Botlog Island Communities
Author: Boots D. Arroz
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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