Lessons Learned From Typhoon Washi: Saving the River As a Way to Healing Nature

Abstract

Mandulog River caused a riverine tsunami when it was triggered by Typhoon Washi (locally named Sendong) during the overnight hours of December 16-17, 2011 while everyone was asleep (Ginnetti et al., 2013, p.9). The flash flood that carried with it logs, debris, and mud killed 1,278 people and displaced about 28,730 families in 35 barangays (villages). The initial damage assessment of the Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (2013, p. 5) was Ph 3,497,643,000.00, about US$81.4 million. This study aimed to describe the experiences of survivors of Iligan City during the Typhoon Washi phenomenon, determine the lessons learned from their experiences, and propose strategic visions on saving the river and developing resiliency in facing disasters. The phenomenological study was based on unstructured interviews and focus group discussions for data gathered from 127 survivors who were purposively selected. The presence of logs and debris in the water and the densely populated riversides of Iligan City indicated that the main cause of the hazardous flooding was human-induced, and therefore the survivors felt responsible in restoring the river’s health.