Coping Mechanisms Towards Resource Degradation, Natural Disasters and Economic Crises in the Upland Municipalities of Ilocos Sur

Abstract

Fourteen municipalities comprise the upland area ofIlocos Sur and these are located in the easter strip of the seconddistrict of the province. Most ofthe residents are members of the indigenous cultural communities. Out of 19,307 households, 392 were taken as sample. Among 560 municipal employees ofthe I4 municipalities, 233 were likewise taken as sample. This study was based on the premise that the people of the upland municipalities employ unique, if not, impressive coping mechanisms towards three socio-economic problems, namely resource degradation, natural disasters and economic crises. The researchers also looked into the capabilities of the government functionaries along administrative services, personnel, finance, and physical facilities. These are consistent with the major concerns of the social reform agenda of the Macapagal-Arroyo Administration which are geared towards the improvement of life of the indigent in the countryside. The researchers used frequency counts and percentages for the research descriptive parts. The multiple linear regression and correlation coefficient were used to determine the relationship between the respondents and their coping mechanisms towards resource degradation, natural disasters, and economic crises. These statistical tools were also used to determine the relationship between the level ofcapability of the government functionaries and the coping mechanisms employed by the people of the upland municipalities of llocos Sur towards the aforementioned socio-economic problems. The findings of this study showed that families in the upland municipalities have an average of four children. Majority ofthe heads of families failed to seek higher education. Farming is still the primary occupation and most of the respondents are home and lot owners. The household respondents had preventive measures to cope with resource degradation but often initiated adequate coping mechanisms towards natural disasters and economic crises.  Likewise, the government functionaries found ways to cope with problems on natural disasters. The level of administrative capability of the government functionaries was adequate; personnel capability level was very adequate; andfinance was uncertain or unstable. Along the capability ofLGUs to combat resource degradation,
majority of the 14 upland municipalities do not own fire trucks. All of them except San Emilio has one patrol car/ jeep. Functional trucks for road clearing are also available, but loaders for the towns of Burgos and Galimuyod are unavailable. Likewise, bulldozers and/or graders are unavailable in the towns of San Emilio, Sugpon, Cervantes, and Alilem. To combat natural disasters, every municipality has the following equipment or facilities: ambulance, evacuation sites, and emergency clinics. To further improve their services, the towns of Banayoyo, Lidlidda, San Emilio, Salcedo and Galimuyod use the schools, barangay health centers, or vocational sites as alternative venues during emergency. To combat economic crises, all the 14 upland municipalities have centers for NFE and Cooperatives. More so, several respondents claim that their towns have NFE programs. Among the socio-economic characteristics, only real property ownership of the household respondents had a significant relationship with
their coping mechanisms towards resource degradation, natural disasters and economic crises. The government functionaries' capabilities in terms of administrative, and personnel, finance, and physical facilities had significant relationship with their coping mechanisms. There was a significant difference between the household respondents'
and government functionaries' coping mechanisms towards resource degradation, natural disasters, and economic crises.