Discrepancies between Postdisaster Relocation Policy and Implementation in the Philippines

Abstract

It is common for recovery policies to be crafted following disasters, such as the relocation of exposed populations, but it is rare for policy intent to be fully realized. Although critiques center on failed outcomes, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding implementation, which encompasses the intermediary processes between policy formation and outcomes. Without an understanding of implementation, it is difficult to identify actionable opportunities for change. Using document-based classic content analysis, narrative analysis, and process mapping, this study systematically compared policy and implementation to identify discrepancies unfolding throughout typhoon-induced relocation in the Philippines. Two types of discrepancies emerged: unfulfilled, which were covered in policy but not present in implementation; and added, which were unaddressed or underaddressed in policy but added by necessity during implementation. Analysis revealed that community services and infrastructure were added discrepancies, whereas development-oriented objectives were unfulfilled discrepancies. One well-documented relocation discrepancy, water supply, was analyzed in depth using implementation analysis, revealing that delayed and, at times, disorganized project management was driven by a lack of ownership and goal clarity. Shifting strategies throughout implementation indicate a need to further investigate the implementation of risk reduction and resilience-oriented policies in postdisaster contexts.