RAPID ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED AGRARIAN REFORM COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY TYPHOON YOLANDA REGION VIII

Transcription

1 RAPID ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED AGRARIAN REFORM COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY TYPHOON YOLANDA REGION VIII

2 This report is jointly prepared by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Government of Philippines and United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Philippines. Content Page Background 3 Assessment Coverage and Methodology 4 Assessment findings 5-8 Displacement 5 December 2013 Access to Services 5 Pre-Disaster Livelihood 5-6 Impact on livelihood 6 Loss and Damages to Assets 7 Perceived Needs for Recovery 8 Photo Credits GMA Network Rappler.com DAR Juneerphy.wordpress.com Recommendations

3 Background Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated large tracts of geographic area in Central Philippines (known as Visayas), covering a total of 9 regions, 44 provinces, 591 municipalities and 57 cities. The devastation left people dead, with more than 4 million people displaced, 1.1 million houses damaged and significant loss of livelihoods. The national and local governments, with support from international organizations and national Non Governmental Organizations, private sector and people s organizations, mounted an immediate relief and recovery response in the worst affected communities. While life-saving support being provided to the affected population, government agencies started assessing damages, loss and needs of their constituents. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is mandated to uplift living standards of rural landless by allocating land rights to and through provision of complementary support in the form of rural infrastructures and other related interventions. Parts of Region 8 in Eastern Visayas was among the hardest hit areas of Super Typhoon Yolanda and in order to develop a comprehensive sustainable livelihood recovery plan, DAR undertook a rapid damage, loss and needs assessment in selected Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC) in the provinces of Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar. Technical assistance for this assessment was provided by the United Nations World Food Programme. 3

4 Assessment Coverage and methodology A total of 195 ARCs were selected purposively from the worst hit areas of the provinces of Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar. All ARCs were selected following UN s Multicluster Initial Rapid Assessment IMIRA) 1 adopted domains 1 and 2, which were the worst hit areas, based on reports of damages to housing and displacement numbers. Key Informant Interviews were conducted to elicit information on damages, loss, access to services and priority assistance needed by the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB). 4

5 Assessment Findings Displacement Overall 32 percent ARBs reported to have displaced as a result of the disaster. Eastern Samar has much larger percentage of displaced ARBs (64%), compared to Leyte (25%) and Samar (7%). Samar Eastern Samar Leyte 7 Percentage of ARBs displaced Percentage of ARBs With No Access Access to Services When asked about access to key facilities and services like, electricity, drinking water, toilet, access road, market, irrigation, banking, remittances etc., majority replied negatively. The sustainable livelihood programme for the ARBs need to take these factors into account while developing the plan. Remittance Banking Irrigation Market Access road Toilet Drinking water Electricity Pre-disaster Livelihood Pattern A diverse range of livelihoods was reported by the ARCs. With farming being the major source of livelihood for the majority in Leyte (99%), the ARBs complement their income from farming with other livelihoods like, agricultural labour (82%), livestock raising (58%), fisheries (10%), other wage labour (36%), sari-sari store (36%), transport sector (31%) etc. Similarly, farming (98%), fisheries (22%), livestock raising (46%), agricultural labour (41%), other wage labour (5%), sari-sari store (38%) and transport sector (16%) are major livelihoods of ARBs in Samar. 5

6 Assessment Findings For ARBs in Eastern Samar, farming (97%) and fisheries (80%) are two major livelihoods, followed by livestock raising (43%), sari-sari store (27%) and transport sector (13%). These data, on one hand, clearly show that ARBs diversify their livelihoods as one source of income is not sufficient for their sustenance, while it is evident that they primarily depend on agricultural sector, with smaller percentage also earn from the service sector and non-agricultural wages. Samar Eastern Samar Leyte Major Sources of Livelihoods Transportation Sari-sari store Non-agri Labour Agricultural Labour Livestock raising Fishing Farming Percent Loss of Livelihood Farm Fisheries Livestock Agri wage Sari-sari Transport Leyte Eastern Samar Samar Impact on Livelihood Typhoon Yolanda cast massive spell of damage to ARBs livelihoods, with farming and fisheries facing the major wrath. Livestock were also not spared. ARBs further reported losing labour opportunities, as well as loss from trading and transport sector. The rates are high in all three provinces. However, since Leyte and Eastern Samar had more widespread damages compared to Samar, even a relatively smaller percentage loss would mean a substantial number of ARBs who are seeking support for relief and recovery. 6

7 Assessment Findings Loss and Damages to Agricultural Livelihood Assets Extensive damages to crops, livestock, plantations, fishing boat/equipment, farm lands with debris, agricultural equipment and post-harvest facilities were reported by the ARCs. As paddy (Palay) was already harvested before the typhoon, the losses were more for stored sacs for household uses. Eastern Samar reported highest proportion of loss of palay (84%), compared to Leyte (66%) and Samar (44%). ARBs also planted other crops, like corn, cassava, sweet potato, vegetables, ginger etc. These crops also sustained heavy damages, both in Leyte and Eastern Samar. Coconut and banana plantations were extensively damaged Leyte ARCs reported 92 percent damage to their coconut trees, while 94 percent banana plantations were reported to have damaged. Similarly, in Eastern Samar, coconut and Samar Eastern Samar Leyte Damages to Livelihood Assets Post-harvest facilities Agri equipments Agri land with debris Fishing equipment Poultry Livestock banana plantations suffered 87 and 92 percentage damages respectively. In Samar, 79 percent ARBs lost their banana plantations. All surveyed ARCs also reported loss of livestock, both bigger animals as well as poultry. Damages to fishing equipment were more significant along coastal ARCs. ARBs are also facing an acute problem of fallen trees and other debris in their agricultural lands, posing serious challenges to timely resumption in cultivation for the current season. Equally important is reported loss of agricultural equipment and damages to post harvest facilities. Putting together, recovery of agriculture and fisheries sectors would require significant investments, planning and execution. However, this is also an opportunity to take a fresh look at the current land use and develop a fresh comprehensive land use plan for these areas, looking at the vulnerabilities to climate change and disaster risks for enhanced resilience of ARBs. Banana Coconut Crop 3 Crop 2 Palay 7

8 Assessment Findings Perceived Needs for Livelihood Recovery All the ARCs were asked to express what assistance would they be needing for their livelihood recovery. The respondents shared a wide range of needs, starting from land reclamation, debris removal from farm and plantations to inputs for farming, livestock and fishing, cash and credits, trainings etc. Needs are much higher in Leyte and Eastern Samar compared to Samar. In Leyte, highest needs are expressed on inputs for land preparation 978%), inputs for crop planting (89%), provision of livestock (71%), building materials (89%), new planting material (85%), cash assistance (82%) credits for agricultural inputs (79%) and training on alternative livelihoods (83%). ARBs in Eastern Samar need assistance on inputs for crop planting (97%), inputs for fishing 993%), building materials (72%), new planting materials (93%), cash assistance (90%) and training on alternative livelihoods (86%). Major needs in Samar are inputs for crop planting (78%), new planting materials (70%) and cash assistance (78%). Samar Eastern Samar Leyte 3% 3% 3% 11% 10% Expressed needs for livelihood recovery 16% 27% Training on ARBO management 22% 38% 78% Training on alternative livelihoods 70% 14% 13% 21% 24% 27% 24% 24% 27% 28% 32% 34% 34% 41% 48% 43% 41% 44% 48% 49% 54% 52% 61% 66% 66% 69% 71% 76% 72% 79% 82% 85% 78% 86% 83% 90% 93% 89% 89% 93% 97% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Waiving past credit Credit for agricultural inputs Cash assistance New planting material Debris removal from plantation Debris removal from farmland Sheltor for livestock Building materials Irrigation systems recovery Fishing inputs Vaccination and medicine for animals Provision of livestock Repair of post harvest facility Inputs for crop planting Inputs for land preparations Land reclamation 8

9 Recommendations Based on loss, damage and expressed needs, it could be concluded that higher investments would be needed for recovery of agricultural and fisheries sectors in Leyte and Eastern Samar provinces. Any support for livelihood recovery needs to take into consideration the seasonality of various exogenous and endogenous factors. World Food Programme, through a consultative process in Tacloban City, prepared a seasonal calendar factors that influence livelihood activities. All support pertaining to agriculture and fisheries need to ensure timeliness based on this seasonal calendar. Livelihood Calendar for Region VIII Priority needs for ARBs are de-silting of farms, clearing debris from crop and plantation areas, provision of rice/corn/vegetable seeds and fertilisers, farming tools, provision of planting materials, training on alternative farming/livelihoods particularly for the coconut farmers, provision of farm credits through formal financial institutions, provision of livestock and allied support. This is also an opportunity to further strengthen the ARB Organizations by providing trainings. Rehabilitation/reconstruction of key agricultural infrastructures like irrigation systems, farm to market roads, markets etc. are also crucial for recovery of ARBs. 9

10 Recommendations For the revival of fisheries, repair and/or provision of new boats along with other fishing gears is equally critical as many ARBs rely also on fishing. Construction and repair of boats could be done locally, using local materials. Selected ARBOs could be given trainings on boat-making and linkages could be provided with agencies providing resources for boat-making. It is equally important to ensure that basic facilities and services like electricity, markets, banking services etc. are restored at the earliest. This is also an opportunity for all concerned agencies to take a fresh look at the land-use plan for the area and adopt a new plan after due consideration of changing environment and ensuing risks to build back better. All assistance to agriculture and fisheries sector should also mainstream natural resource management in order to ensure greater resilience and sustainability. Proposed Activity Calendar for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Support

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