Beyond Barriers: Resilience Lessons from Persons with Disabilities

December 2, 2024

Eastern Samar is no stranger to the wrath of disasters, natural hazards, and extreme weather events. From Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, which devastated entire communities, to Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) in 2014, the province has been battered by some of the fiercest storms in history. These disasters left lasting scars, disrupting livelihoods, and taking lives, especially among the most at-risk and vulnerable. Among that hardest hit by these calamities are persons with disabilities, who often face additional challenges in accessing aid, evacuating, and recovering.

The Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Programme, with support from the Australian Government, recently conducted a Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Assessment in Eastern Samar to ensure that disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (DRR-CCA) plans are inclusive of at-risk and marginalized groups. This initiative is aligned with Mabakud Estehanon, a multi-stakeholder partnership in Eastern Samar that champions inclusivity, ensuring that all individuals—including persons with disabilities—are represented and supported in community development efforts.

The Mabakud Estehanon initiative fosters collaboration between local governments, civil society organizations, and community members to create a more inclusive and resilient future, one community at a time.

The GEDSI Assessment aims to inform three key outputs for the SHIELD Programme: the development of large-scale investment project proposals for DRR-CCA, the establishment of a National Resilience Framework, and the creation of indicators for the National Resilience Index.

The assessment included two focus group discussions for persons with disabilities—one with children and one with adults—providing a platform for these voices to be heard and their unique needs to be addressed. Recognizing the barriers that persons with disabilities face, the SHIELD Programme took special measures to ensure accessibility and comfort. Participants were provided with a service vehicle to transport them to and from the venue, and mothers were offered child-minding services, enabling them to fully engage in the discussions.

a young boy standing in front of a computer — Nash Kelvin Sta. Fe

Among the children who shared their experiences was Nash Kelvin Sta. Fe, a young boy with a disability. Despite his challenges, Nash spoke with remarkable maturity about his concerns during disasters.

He said: "During typhoons or flooding, I think of helping my mother because she might fall. I want to be with her." His words reveal not just the selflessness of a child but the urgent need for preparedness in communities affected by disasters. When asked what should be prepared in case of a disaster, Nash responded simply: "bag, water, and medicines." His answer, though straightforward, reflects the reality that even children with disabilities are keenly aware of the essential needs for survival in times of calamities.

a group of people sitting at a table with a birthday cake

The adult persons with disabilities participants also shared stories that underscored the harsh realities they face during and after disasters. A 54-year-old, Melania Tabio, recounted her harrowing experience in an evacuation center during a typhoon. She remembered that no food or clothing was available, and the comfort room was not accessible to persons with disabilities.

a person wearing a blue shirt — Melania Tabio

Amidst these challenges, Melania, the President of the Persons with Disabilities Association in her barangay, highlighted the importance of self-reliance. Her group had planned a livelihood project involving rice milling, but the initiative stalled when they could not secure funding. Nevertheless, she remains determined, emphasizing the importance of Bayanihan within her barangay and the government in giving support in times of calamities.

a woman sitting on a bench — Zenaida Magbago

Zenaida Magbago, a city government employee working at the Persons with Disabilities Assistance Office in Borongan, has retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease with no cure or transplant available, shared how her condition affects her daily life: "It runs in the family. My mother and other relatives are blind. I will also go blind when I reach 60." Despite this, Zenaida remains dedicated to her work and advocacy for the persons with disabilities community in Eastern Samar.

She highlighted the lack of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, many of whom are unable to travel due to financial constraints. She explained: "There are 1,300 registered persons with disabilities in Borongan, but there are many more who are unregistered due to issues with requirements.” Undeterred by these obstacles, she pointed to the growing awareness of the benefits and support registered persons with disabilities can access, which has led to increased registrations.

Zenaida also expressed the challenges of providing adequate support for persons with disabilities during disaster rescue operations. She shared: "We struggle during rescue operations, especially with persons with disabilities who have hearing impairments. There's only one professional sign language interpreter in Eastern Samar, and we cannot ask her to help because she is a teacher, and they should not have additional tasks outside teaching. This leaves us without an interpreter during crucial times." She stressed that rescuers, who often do not know sign language, cannot effectively communicate with the deaf community, especially in times of emergency.

The difficulties faced by people who use wheelchairs are also a pressing issue, according to Zenaida: "Our vehicles don't have ramps, so it's extremely difficult for wheelchair users to get in. Just getting them onto the vehicle is painful for them.” She called for accessible transportation options and better facilities in evacuation centers. "The comfort rooms are not designed for persons with disabilities. Some wheelchair users have to crawl because the doors are too small."

These stories highlight the critical need for more inclusive disaster risk reduction measures. The SHIELD Programme is dedicated to elevating the voices of persons with disabilities in Eastern Samar, ensuring their needs are fully incorporated into DRR-CCA planning and resilience-building efforts. The experiences of Nash, Melania, Zenaida, and many others serve as a powerful reminder that true disaster resilience is possible when everyone, regardless of ability, is included in preparedness, response, and DRR initiatives. [E}

SHIELD is a multi-year partnership covering 11 provinces and two regions in the Philippines that are among the most vulnerable to disasters and climate change impacts. It is implemented by the UNDP Philippines and consortium partners: Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), National Resilience Council (NRC), Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat), together with government partners: the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), with generous support from the Australian Government.