Decentralized Disaster Management in Action: A Case Study of the Philippines' Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act's (Republic Act 10121) Implementation in the Ilocos Region.

Abstract

This thesis examines the effects of decentralizing disaster risk reduction and management in the Philippines, with a focus on the Ilocos Region as a case study. I explore how national decentralization policies, particularly Republic Act 10121, affect the region’s post-typhoon rehabilitation and recovery operations. Decentralization theory suggests that transferring government powers, resources, and political authority to the local level can enhance the government’s ability to address its constituents' needs. Using the administrative, fiscal, and political dimensions of decentralization as my theoretical framework, I examine the advantages and disadvantages resulting from the current decentralized policies and practices of provincial offices in the region. The findings are derived from interviews with provincial DRRM heads analyzed through thematic coding in NVIVO. The findings reveal that imbalances in administrative, political and fiscal dimensions limit the effectiveness of decentralized policies. While administrative responsibilities and political authority are strongly devolved, weak fiscal mechanisms exacerbate inequalities between large and small localities. Inequitable fiscal mechanisms leave small localities with weakened capacities, rendering them unable to fulfill administrative responsibilities. Weak local level capacities then create an environment where local-national level patronage networks thrive due to strong political decentralization but limited fiscal autonomy of local government levels. These findings suggest a disconnect between the transfer of administrative duties and the fiscal and political realities of local governments. Future research and policy reforms must explore ways to bridge this gap by integrating political dynamics into decentralization and creating more equitable systems for financial distribution.