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When the Waters Rise: Disaster Resilience in Manila’s Informal Settler Communities

Ciamei, Laura LU and Hollekamp, Jil Kristin LU (2025) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20251
Department of Human Geography
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
The Philippines, the most disaster-prone country globally, faces intensified natural hazards due to climate change. Informal settler families, living in precarious conditions, are particularly vulnerable. This study investigates the resilience of an informal settler community in Tondo, Manila, assessing their capacities to cope, adapt, and transform in the face of disasters, particularly typhoons and flooding. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted focus group discussions based on the 5S framework, alongside stakeholder interviews and field observations. Thematic analysis was used to extract key insights. Our findings reveal that while the community demonstrates strong coping capacities, their limited participation and agency hinder... (More)
The Philippines, the most disaster-prone country globally, faces intensified natural hazards due to climate change. Informal settler families, living in precarious conditions, are particularly vulnerable. This study investigates the resilience of an informal settler community in Tondo, Manila, assessing their capacities to cope, adapt, and transform in the face of disasters, particularly typhoons and flooding. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted focus group discussions based on the 5S framework, alongside stakeholder interviews and field observations. Thematic analysis was used to extract key insights. Our findings reveal that while the community demonstrates strong coping capacities, their limited participation and agency hinder their adaptive and transformative capacities. Moreover, we identified major disconnects between government programmes and residents’ lived realities, as well as how resilience theory critiques contextualise in our case study. Lastly, we highlight the need for more inclusive, community-led disaster risk reduction strategies that centre the lived experiences of marginalised urban communities. (Less)
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author
Ciamei, Laura LU and Hollekamp, Jil Kristin LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
sustainability science, social resilience, natural disasters, vulnerability, floods, Philippines, 5S social resilience framework
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2025:017
language
English
id
9194122
date added to LUP
2025-06-09 10:43:24
date last changed
2025-06-09 10:43:24
@misc{9194122,
  abstract     = {{The Philippines, the most disaster-prone country globally, faces intensified natural hazards due to climate change. Informal settler families, living in precarious conditions, are particularly vulnerable. This study investigates the resilience of an informal settler community in Tondo, Manila, assessing their capacities to cope, adapt, and transform in the face of disasters, particularly typhoons and flooding. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted focus group discussions based on the 5S framework, alongside stakeholder interviews and field observations. Thematic analysis was used to extract key insights. Our findings reveal that while the community demonstrates strong coping capacities, their limited participation and agency hinder their adaptive and transformative capacities. Moreover, we identified major disconnects between government programmes and residents’ lived realities, as well as how resilience theory critiques contextualise in our case study. Lastly, we highlight the need for more inclusive, community-led disaster risk reduction strategies that centre the lived experiences of marginalised urban communities.}},
  author       = {{Ciamei, Laura and Hollekamp, Jil Kristin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{When the Waters Rise: Disaster Resilience in Manila’s Informal Settler Communities}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}