Innovative Public Management, Disaster Risk Reduction Management, and Resilience for Development
Abstract
Several practical and theoretical controversies in the current public management approach (PMA) of the local government in the Philippines significantly affect the practice of disaster risk reduction and directly affect the resiliency level of local communities. Thus, this study sought to explore “what innovative PMA is more relevant and effective in the practice of disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) to strengthen
disaster resilience within the context of local government.” Data were gathered through survey and focus group discussions and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results describe the PMA and the various DRRM practices of Legazpi City, Philippines as well as the City’s disaster resilience level. An average score of 4.1 indicates that Legazpi City can be considered as a disaster-resilient community, having applied innovative practices that worked in its context. This was supported by the results
of the correlation and regression analyses, showing that the City’s PMA has a significant relationship with its DRRM practices and resilience level. A balance of participative-democracy and bureaucracy governance, complementation of scientific and local knowledge, combination of centralized and decentralized arrangement, and top-down and bottomup approaches in public management are more practical and relevant in the practice of DRRM leading to more resilient communities. A model that can guide local government units toward a more effective, practical, and efficient approach to DRRM is proposed.
