From Households to Communities: Building Flood Resilience Through Catchment Systems and Community Partnerships in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur
Ivan Louis C. Ulvida | Marph Daryl C. Porras
Discipline: social work
Abstract:
Flooding in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, poses persistent and evolving
risks driven by overlapping factors—climate variability, land-use changes, and
socioeconomic vulnerabilities. This thesis examines the effectiveness of
catchment systems and community partnerships in building long-term flood
resilience in Carrascal through a convergent descriptive mixed-methods
approach. The research combines quantitative survey data from 100
households across the municipality’s most flood-prone barangays with
qualitative insights from 11 key informant interviews involving community
leaders, MDRRMO, and barangay officials. Results show that technical
solutions, such as rainwater catchment systems, are most effective when
supported by robust social strategies, including participatory planning,
cooperative maintenance, and inclusive governance. The findings indicate that
catchment systems, when actively maintained and managed with widespread
community participation, can significantly reduce flood volumes and improve
local preparedness and recovery. Residents rate their readiness and ecological
stewardship highly but point out gaps in neighbor-to-neighbor trust,
communication, and long-term impact assessment. The study concludes that
Carrascal’s adaptive progress depends on the continuous integration of
engineering solutions and social capital, backed by transparent management
and ongoing capacity building. Policy recommendations focus on
strengthening multi-level partnerships, enhancing social cohesion, and
establishing adaptive monitoring to ensure that flood mitigation strategies
remain effective and relevant. These findings offer valuable empirical evidence
and practical guidance for disaster risk reduction in flood-prone communities
across the Philippines, positioning Carrascal as a model for grassroots-driven
climate adaptation and sustainable development.
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