Economic Impact Evaluation and Household Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events in the Municipality of Bay, Laguna, Philippines

Abstract

Bay is one of the municipalities in the province of Laguna that is situated along the coast of Laguna de Bay, and is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters including typhoons and flash floods. Among these, Barangay Dila, San Isidro, and Tagumpay located in low-lying elevation of the Municipality of Bay were not spared by the impacts caused by the disaster. Hence, the study site was conducted in these flood-prone areas of the Municipality. In this study, it highlights the impacts and adaptation of the household to extreme weather events. Specifically, the study aims to identify, quantify, and monetized (whenever possible) the household's impacts of extreme floods and typhoons; described the adaptation actions undertaken by the households; and to evaluate the factors that significantly affect the choice of adaptation activities. The data used in this study was collected through a survey of 90 households. In selecting the household, random sampling was employed using the data that was acquired from the municipality. The selected household heads were interviewed using the structured sample questionnaire. Probit regression was employed to test the significant factors of the choices of adaptation activities of the household. The study revealed that the impacts of extreme weather events on the households of Bay, Laguna could be considered to be ranging from moderate to severe cases depending on the geographical location of the households. Also, households of Bay, Laguna considers the height of flood and distance from bodies of water as significant factors for undertaking adaptation actions.