📄 Abstract
This study explores the lived experiences and grassroots flood management practices of residents in Barangay Banquero, Reina Mercedes, Isabela—a high-risk rural community situated along the floodplains of the Cagayan River basin. While formal disaster frameworks rely heavily on top-down institutional mandates, this research examines the localized, human dimension of survival and community-driven resilience. Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen long-term residents who have extensive histories of navigating severe flooding events. Through thematic analysis, the study reveals a sophisticated repertoire of self-reliant coping strategies, most notably the practice of "vertical displacement"—the multi-stage modification of household structures using makeshift lofts and elevated platforms to safeguard material assets. These practices are deeply sustained by kinship-based logistics and informal social networks that dictate organic evacuation movements. However, the findings reveal a critical "preparedness ceiling," indicating that the escalating intensity of climate-driven typhoons has surpassed a threshold where personal preparation yields diminishing returns. This mismatch inflicts a recurring psychosomatic burden on residents, characterized by anticipatory panic and physical exhaustion. Ultimately, these insights highlight the urgent need for local disaster management policies to shift away from standardized relief and instead integrate, support, and institutionalize these organic grassroots strategies to build genuine community resilience.
🏷️ Keywords
📚 How to Cite:
Lapitan, Arlene R., Baquiran, Neslyn I., Cabalse, Princes Jamille L., Tacderan, John Carlo C , VOICES OF RESILIENCE: LOCAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN BARANGAY BANQUERO, REINA MERCEDES, ISABELA , Volume 12 , Issue 7, July 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 30 - 34 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra30779