By Karen Elec Lapitan | Special to the BusinessMirror
MYRNA DE LOS SANTOS, 49, can still vividly recall what happened in November 2013—when she thought she would lose everything she had, including her life.
She is a resident of Coron in Palawan in the Philippines and is just one of the millions of people affected by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) when it barreled through the Philippines almost two years ago. The deadly typhoon claimed more than 6,000 lives and is said to be one of the strongest typhoons that made landfall.
“Many of the houses in our area were blown away by strong winds. But we’re glad no one died [here in our village]. Two years on, I am confident that we are nearing full recovery,” shares Myrna, who adds that she still could not believe how her town survived the ordeal.
Myrna and her neighbors, who are all part of the Tagbanua tribe, partly attribute their survival to their traditional knowledge and beliefs. Tagbanua tribe is one of the oldest ethnic groups in the Philippines, and has been frequently
affected by weather disturbances in the recent years. Despite their minimal carbon emission, tribes like the Tagbanuas offer bear the brunt of extreme weather disturbances mainly due to their direct dependence on their natural environment.
Respect for nature and spirits
This year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction held on October 13 with the theme “Knowledge for Life,” raised awareness on how indigenous knowledge can complement modern science in terms of disaster risk management. Similarly, the event promoted the approaches on involving indigenous groups and communities in implementing the recently crafted Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. For the Tagbanuas in Palawan, traditional knowledge has been playing an important role in mitigating disasters.
or example, many of them still practice pagdidiwata, or imploring the aid of the supernatural or deities, which refers to a ceremony with chants that serves as a preparation for an upcoming season.
This is also done when they need to prepare for an economic activity like gathering of honey or fishing. It is the indigenous group’s way of driving away spirits that may cause death or disaster. Bearing in mind their respect for deities and spirits, the locals refrain from cutting down trees without permission. The lush mountains of Coron town are also believed to have reduced the impact of the supertyphoon. “The mountains and the trees, we think, helped us survive that monstrous typhoon,” according to Myrna.
Use of a legend in Indonesia
In Indonesia, meanwhile, traditional knowledge also has a crucial part in increasing the awareness of the locals on disaster risk reduction. The indigenous people of Mentawai community, part of Mentawai islands, boasts of a wealth of experience when it comes to disaster-risk reduction, such as earthquakes. The locals’ collective experiences have helped them come up with a legend that teaches the locals the relationship between people and earthquakes. The legend focuses on raising awareness on the dangers of an earthquake. Part of the English version of the legend reads: “When everyone started eating, the ground shook extremely strong, and a thundering noise came from below the ground. The earthquake was the vengeance of the spirit.”
The traditional belief system underscores that the locals should please the spirits of the earth by making offerings. Those who would build houses normally place offerings at the pillars of the structure, putting in mind the danger of earthquakes. Development projects backed by international organizations have learned to recognize the role of indigenous people and their traditional knowledge on both disaster-risk reduction and biodiversity conservation. In Cambodia, a World Bank-Global Environment Facility financing-supported project highlights the role of indigenous communities in protecting and managing the Virachey National Park.
Indigenous groups are consulted on the process of planning and implementing the said project.
Even the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has also recognized the role of communities and indigenous peoples. One of the provisions reads: “Ensure the use of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices, as appropriate, to complement scientific knowledge in disaster-risk assessment and the development and implementation of policies, strategies, plans and programs of specific sectors, with a cross-sectoral approach, which should be tailored to localities and to the context.”
Biodiversity and traditional knowledge as shield
Asean Centre for Biodiversity Executive Director Atty. Roberto V. Oliva acknowledges the role of traditional knowledge and indigenous communities in disaster-risk reduction and in environmental protection. “The role of both healthy ecosystems and traditional knowledge in disaster-risk reduction seems to be underrated,” Oliva says.
He explains that conserving biodiversity and bearing in mind the lessons from our traditional beliefs would give everyone a cheap yet an effective shield against the onslaught of natural disasters. Trees, corals and mangroves, he adds, all have roles in protecting people, especially the most vulnerable.
“Without a doubt, traditional knowledge undoubtedly aids modern science in mitigating the risks of disasters which will be more effective with biodiversity conservation on one hand,” Oliva says.