A Climate Resilient Leyte through Integrated River Basin Governance in Flood Risk Management
Province of Leyte, Philippines
Partner Organizations
Overview
The Leyte Province is among the most vulnerable parts of the Philippines, facing frequent floods and climate-related disasters. Future projections of emissions suggest that Leyte will face a 15-fold increase in extreme rainfall days by 2050, increasing the risk of flooding dramatically. Previous gaps between national, regional, and local governance have prevented any effective flood management and adaptation efforts. This project addresses the vulnerability of the Leyte province to typhoon-induced flooding and climate change. Additionally, this project seeks to restore degraded peatland and riparian ecosystems, employing nature-based solutions. Another important aspect of the project is to create integrated flood planning across all levels of government to enhance Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies. The proposed plan targets a population of 1.1 million people over 2,129 square kilometers, including 31 square kilometers of native peatland.
Activities and Methods
Building institutional capacity for integrated river basin management was tackled through the formation of the River Basin Councils (RBCs) under the supervision of the DENR. Planning workshops were conducted with the help of the cooperating partners to develop effective knowledge management systems and toolkits to support ecosystem adaptation. This method of vertical integration connects all levels of government in the decision-making processes of Leyte climate adaptation.
Restoring degraded peatland and riparian ecosystems was achieved with the establishment of the Barangay Forest Associations (BFAs) for restoration management. Cooperating partners helped select proper ecotypes suitable for local hydrology and soil like the dipterocarp, lanipau, and sagu plant species. Using Assisted Natural Regeneration and native species planting, the project aims to restore large amounts of natural ecosystems to help combat flood risks with nature.
AI-based flood forecasting and early warning systems (FFEWS) were implemented to protect residents through real-time flood alerts and hydrological modeling techniques. Partners KICT, PAGASA, and VSU helped to use AI-driven rainfall and discharge modeling, along with spatial risk mapping of barangays prone to flooding. They also helped prepare an accessible community interface designed to effectively warn of potential floodings through SMS and barangay sirens.
JHSUSTAIN's Roles and Responsibilities
We helped to ensure the proper implementation of KOICA-funded components and supported the overall coordination along with the DENR. We facilitated the vertical integration of multiple stakeholders from the community, barangay, and national levels. Through this, we secured the synchronization of gender inclusive and equitable DRR strategies with all participating parties. We conducted a thorough gender assessment in the Leyte province, scoping maternal mortality, literacy, labor, and political participation as they relate to gender issues. We provided comprehensive community workshops on Women’s leadership in DRR and inclusive hazard response planning.
Results
The target for total ecosystem restoration is 3,786 hectares, 1,030 ha of peatland, and around 1,691 ha of riparian forests. Restoration will incorporate natural regeneration with native plant species to strengthen biodiversity and flood protection. The project will build on 33 existing Community-Based Forest Management Agreements covering over 18,000 ha that involve many households and community organizations.
The project developed a powerful AI Flood and Flash-Flood Early Warning System (FFEWS) to improve flood preparedness in vulnerable communities. The hydrological modelling and sub-basin analyses were conducted in 97 sub-basins across three major water sheds, Binahaan, Bangon, and Guinarona. The forecasting system will serve the entire population of the project area, providing real-time alerts and data for informed planning.
River Basin Councils were established to coordinate integrated river basin management across all levels of government. Capacity expanding efforts target local government units, disaster reduction officers, and barangay leaders to strengthen institutional resilience. Since 2020, multiple workshops have been facilitated, focusing on improving vertical integration that align with national adaptation strategies.
A comprehensive gender assessment was developed to inform the project’s design, illuminating inherent gaps in women’s participation, access to services, and economic security. The project successfully integrated gender-sensitive approaches in disaster risk planning and training, especially at the barangay level. JHSUSTAIN was an important leader of this component, focusing on inclusive planning, gender-disaggregated data use, and ensuring proper representation of women voices in DRR governance.
