Multi-criteria analysis of early warning system for flood risk reduction in Barangay Tumana in Marina City, Philippines

Abstract

With central emphasis on people at risk, property and cost effectiveness, flood early warning system has been recommended in most flood risk reduction literatures and global frameworks. For instance, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015-2030, on the seventh target emphasizes on the need for an increase in the availability and accessibility of early warning systems. The UN Sustainable Development Goal thirteen, also stresses on improving institutional capacity for early warning systems. To promote these development agenda, evaluating early warning system would help identify best practices that can be replicated in other communities. This study therefore evaluates flood early warning system in Barangay Tumana in Marikina City of the Philippines using Multi-criteria Analysis (MCA) and outline recommendations for its improvement. Lessons for implementation in other emerging economies are also outlined. Data were obtained from 100 households through questionnaire administering and key informant interview from the various institutions involved in flood risk reduction in the barangay. On a ratio scale of zero to one where one is the highest score and zero is the lowest score, the score for overall effectiveness of the warning system was 0.811. This indicates that, the system is extremely effective since failures associated in the operation of flood early warning system have been significantly reduced. Ghana and many other emerging countries which have recently installed early warning systems can therefore learn from the Marikina’s experience.