Gender, Social Capital, and Well-Being in Disaster- Prone Communities in the Philippine

This paper examines how gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and environmental vulnerability of places of residence structure the social capital/trust networks (SC/TN) and well-being of men and women in disaster-prone communities across Metro Manila, Philippines. This study argues that the social vulnerability (i.e., low SES) of both men and women shapes their social well-being. However, this relationship is mediated by their SC/ TNs within and between communities, as well as by the environmental location and characteristics of their homes and livelihood spaces. These networks, in turn, play a crucial role in enhancing individual well-being and strengthening adaptive capacities, thereby contributing to overall community resilience. Employing a mixed-methods approach, which includes quantitative and qualitative data sets from the Coastal Cities at Risk in the Philippines (CCARPH) survey & focused group discussions conducted in 2024, this study revealed that women, especially women-headed households living in informal settlements, experience disproportionately high climate-related risks, including flood damages and losses, compared to other groups. Despite these challenges, women show a strong ability to build and maintain social networks that provide critical access to resources and support before, during, and after flooding disasters. The study concludes that the integration of both informal and formal community resilience initiatives can be more effective when supported by locally driven climate adaptation policies and programs that acknowledge converging pathways to community resilience.