Republic Act No. 10121 Promotes Community Resilience in Remote Barangay of the Philippines by Supporting Flood Adaptation Strategies

The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, known as Republic Act 10121 (RA10121), plays a pivotal role in enhancing disaster risk management in the Philippines by emphasizing barangay-scale (neighborhood-scale) initiatives and the allocation of calamity funds. This study examines the societal impacts of RA10121 on remote barangay-scale flood adaptation strategies in Barbaza, Province of Antique, through comprehensive field surveys and interviews. Two representative barangays (i.e., Capoyuan and Jinalinan) demonstrated unique adaptation strategies, including a flow system between neighboring barangays and adaptive crop management, tailored to local characteristics such as geography and occupation. Notably, RA10121’s focus on community-led initiatives aligns with bayanihan, the Filipino spirit of civic unity and cooperation, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of barangay-level adaptation strategies. This research highlights the importance of RA10121 in supporting community resilience and provides insights into how policy can be optimized to address the needs of rural communities, contributing to the development of more effective disaster risk management frameworks in the Philippines.