From Households to Communities: Building Flood Resilience Through Catchment Systems and Community Partnerships in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur

Abstract

Flooding in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, poses persistent and evolving risks driven by overlapping factors—climate variability, land-use changes, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. This thesis examines the effectiveness of catchment systems and community partnerships in building long-term flood resilience in Carrascal through a convergent descriptive mixed-methods approach. The research combines quantitative survey data from 100 households across the municipality’s most flood-prone barangays with qualitative insights from 11 key informant interviews involving community leaders, MDRRMO, and barangay officials. Results show that technical solutions, such as rainwater catchment systems, are most effective when supported by robust social strategies, including participatory planning, cooperative maintenance, and inclusive governance. The findings indicate that catchment systems, when actively maintained and managed with widespread community participation, can significantly reduce flood volumes and improve local preparedness and recovery. Residents rate their readiness and ecological stewardship highly but point out gaps in neighbor-to-neighbor trust, communication, and long-term impact assessment. The study concludes that Carrascal’s adaptive progress depends on the continuous integration of engineering solutions and social capital, backed by transparent management and ongoing capacity building. Policy recommendations focus on strengthening multi-level partnerships, enhancing social cohesion, and establishing adaptive monitoring to ensure that flood mitigation strategies remain effective and relevant. These findings offer valuable empirical evidence and practical guidance for disaster risk reduction in flood-prone communities across the Philippines, positioning Carrascal as a model for grassroots-driven climate adaptation and sustainable development.