Learning from Haiyan : reviewing the armed forces of the Philippines to better respond to natural disasters

• Main Author: Maria Celina Angela Yulo Loyzaga
• Other Authors: Cath Jones
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Political science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/65504
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the country's primary security guarantor} and in times of natural disaster such as Typhoon Halvan, locally know as Yolanda} the Armed Forces is expected to respond. Current national frameworks} with partial understanding of concepts such as climate change} disasters} and disaster response further hinder the Armed Forces} disaster response efforts at the cost of peoples} lives. As such} the country needs a more comprehensive response to natural disasters and needs to support the Armed Forces} as it is likely that it will be responsible for disaster response efforts in the future. Through the adoption of a non-traditional security perspective into the national security agenda} the Philippines can: securitize climate} identify corresponding threats} and develop better response mechanisms that give precedence not only to the security of the state but also to its people. More imperatively} the non-traditional security framework can inform changes at all traditional levels of command and control. Henceforth} allowing for the modification of strategic} operational} and tactical level efforts that are more attuned in supporting the Armed Forces} in their disaster response endeavors while subsequently providing better protection for state and people's security.