DIFFERENTIALIMPACTS OF FLOOD HAZARDS AMONG THE STREET CHILDREN,THE URBAN POOR AND RESIDENTSOF WEALTHYNEIGHBORHOODSIN METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES

This paper presents the differential impacts of ?ood hazards among street children, the urbanpoor andresidentsofwealthyneighborhoods inMetroManila,Philippines.Itargues thatbeing poor is not the only reason why certain sectors are more vulnerable to ?oods or any environmental hazards – spatial isolation and lack of participation in decision making intensify their present and future vulnerability, as well. Archival research, interviews, focused group discussion, participant observation and surveys of populations at risk are employed to delineate the ?ood experiences and coping strategies of street children and residents of poor urban settlements and wealthy neighborhoods in Metro Manila at the household and community levels. The concept of entitlement, the Contextual Hazards Model, and the Access Model are used in the data analysis and interpretation. Several policy recommendations on hazard management and disaster mitigation are identi?ed to reduce ?ood losses in Metro Manila.