In the northern part of Davao City, in Barangay Bunawan, sandwiched between two large bodies of water, the Bunawan River and Davao gulf, UBUHOA remains firm in confronting disasters. UBOHOA or United Bunawan Home Owners Association is frequently at risk due to human-induced and natural calamities.
UBUHOA is a People’s Organization in a community in Purok 7-C, Barangay Bunawan, Davao City, Davao del Sur. This is an urban poor community with 240 households. Most residents’ economic resources are farming and seasonal workers with minimum or lower wages. Men and women in the community work for their daily needs.
A few years back, they were informal settler who fought for their rights to own land for their homes. Until this time they still continue to assert their rights to the lot they occupied. The stake that their lot and homes will be taken away is high.
Despite the threats, UBUHOA is vigilant. They take necessary steps, compile legal papers, and talked to LGU’s about their situation to ensure that their homes will be protected.
Every now and then, Davao City experiences heavy rainfalls caused by LPA’s (Low-Pressure Area). This is an added burden to UBUHOA members. Almost every year until the year 2019, members and their families go to evacuation areas in Barangay Bunawan to avoid the seven feet high flood that engulfs their houses. This resulted to damage of properties and loss of livestock and poultry. The floodwater came from the Bunawan River that swelled due to a large amount of rainwater from the upland that was deforested. To resolve the situation, or at least lessen the risk of flash floods, UBUHOA never stops calling the attention of the LGU’s and the responsible government agencies. And in 2020, their calls were answered. Dikes and gabions were built in riversides. This lessens the risk of flash floods in their community. But still, UBUHOA and its members never stop monitoring the river to ensure their safety.
Because of their eagerness to prevent disasters in the future, MISFI and UBUHOA worked together and they became one of the six partner communities of MISFI to avail the Encap2 Project. MISFI helped them form their DPC (Disaster Preparedness Committee), a more systematized body to counter/mitigate disaster. They also received trainings on CBDM (Community Based Disaster Management) that helps them manage disasters in a more organized manner. They realized that they were doing slight CBDM in their community in the past that makes it natural for them to implement it.

In these Pandemic times, like the rest of the country, UBUHOA members are at risk. They are vulnerable to catching the COVID-19 virus. The LGU’s strict Health Protocols like maintain physical distancing is not appropriate in their community. The residents’ source of water in the community is open-well and two jetmatic pumps for drinking. This make them unable to fallow Health Protocol to avoid the virus. They already asked the LGU to help them with this problem but they failed. One of their solution is to build their own Community Water System. They again ask the engineering department of the LGU to provide them with a Water System plan but they responded with a plan that costs 1 million pesos budget for a water system which UBUHOA do not have.

Fortunately, one of the component of Encap2’s project is the SCLR or Survivors Community Led Response project. MSFI conducted the Resource Generation Training for the UBUHOA members to help them formulate their project proposal for their Community Water System. Their proposal helps them to avail the 100 thousand SCLR project. As of now, the construction of their UBUHOA Community Water System is ongoing. With their past experience and unity, and with their CBDM orientation, the UBUHOA will complete this project that will answer their need for a potable water and make them more ready to face the challenges of COVID 19.