Resilience is almost always associated with Filipinos. With the Philippines’ geographical location and being part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country is vulnerable to not just climate disasters but also earthquakes. In 2023 alone, the nation faced 11 destructive tropical cyclones ruining lives and infrastructure. This makes projects promoting sustainability and disaster resilience critical.
This, along with the extreme heat index, has affected the number of days an average student missed studying in school. The Philippine Institute for Development Studies reported that 32 days were lost, impacting education quality.
Moreover, educational infrastructures are affected as well. For instance, Typhoon Egay, a supertyphoon that struck the Philippines in July 2023, has single-handedly damaged 169 schools across nine regions. Reconstruction and rehabilitation costs of the damages are estimated to amount to P810 million. This event pushed the need for quicker rehabilitation and resilience of school infrastructures.
There’s also the fear of the “Big One,” a potentially destructive earthquake that might occur in Metro Manila if the West Valley Fault shifts. The Philippines experienced its last major earthquakes in October and December 2019 in Mindanao, with magnitudes ranging from 6.3 to 6.9. These events left 8,000 people homeless due to infrastructural damage. Despite this, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has been actively preparing and raising awareness. Studies suggest that another destructive earthquake could happen within our lifetime.
On June 28, 2024, to support government initiatives aimed at ensuring safe and resilient schools as well as bolstering the Philippines’ economic recovery, the World Bank approved two funding supports for the country.
The first project is the Infrastructure for Safer and Resilient Schools Project. It aims to help the recovery of schools impacted by disasters in specific regions of the nation. The $500-million initiative involves procurement activities related to repairing, rehabilitating, retrofitting, and reconstructing school buildings impacted by calamities such as tropical cyclones and earthquakes in the past years.
Ndiame Diop, the World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, said that children are more likely to attend classes, perform better academically, and complete their studies when schools are safer and the learning environment is improved. This project will enhance educational settings for over 700,000 students in regions most vulnerable to damage and risk. These regions include the Cordillera Administrative Region, Caraga, Central Luzon, and Bicol Region. Other regions included are Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen.
Fernando Ramirez Cortes, World Bank senior disaster risk management specialist, also added that enhancing the resilience of educational institutions can reduce learning disruptions caused by natural disasters. This can allow children to continue their education with fewer disturbances.
Aside from this, this initiative will also assist in improving the Department of Education’s operations and maintenance handbook and tools. This will update the information and protocols that central and local-level education authorities need to operate and maintain their rehabilitated school infrastructure.
The World Bank also authorized another funding source, the Philippines Second Sustainable Recovery Development Policy loan. The $750 million loan intends to facilitate reforms that promote renewable energy and safeguard the environment. It also aims to improve climate resilience and draw private investment to public infrastructure, especially in domestic shipping.
By attracting private investment to domestic shipping, this initiative aligns with sustainable supply chains by promoting efficient and eco-friendly transport solutions.
Ralph Van Doorn, World Bank senior economist is confident with the Philippines’ resilience despite local and international obstacles. He adds “The reforms supported by this lending program, if implemented, will encourage private investment, innovation, and sustained growth.”
Van Doorn also said that by implementing these reforms the Philippines can quickly transition to a greener economy and accomplish its environmental and climate goals. According to him, drawing domestic shipping investments from both local and foreign can improve the country’s competitiveness.
Additionally, the loan program backs green transportation, and reforms intending to improve waste reduction, recovery, and recycling. It also stimulates the creation and consumption of environment-friendly products and services through public procurement.