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The Community Preparation Cluster of the Makati Risk Sensitive Urban Redevelopment Planning Project met with the officials of Barangay Rizal last October 13, 2008 to arrive at a common understanding of the redevelopment project and to map out key stakeholders involved in the project. This community preparation meeting also aimed to build an initial network of local actors by fostering goodwill among key barangay officials.

Local zone leaders, assistant zone leaders and officials from the League of Barangay Affairs Office, Urban Development Division, and Social Welfare Division of the City Government of Makati also joined the meeting.

This activity was part of Makati City’s risk-sensitive urban redevelopment project which will be pilot tested in zones 7-10 of Brgy. Rizal. The barangay was found to have the highest physical risk from earthquake among the 33 barangays in the City and has the highest potential for urban redevelopment.

The Project Team made use of participatory approaches in introducing the concept of the urban redevelopment project. A tool called “Sharing Circle” was used to set the tone of the meeting by eliciting the communities’ experiences of coping with natural disasters. It was found that most of coping mechanisms are centered in response and rescue operations. The Project Team emphasized that while these post-disaster activities are important, disaster risk reduction is equally important and can be achieved through a comprehensive urban redevelopment.

In an exercise on Stakeholder Analysis, the participants were able to identify key stakeholders and their common and/or competing claims towards the urban redevelopment project. Through a “power mapping” exercise, it was found that political leaders are considered as primary supporters while specific people’s organizations such as vendors’ associations, Makati Tricycle Federation, fraternities, and out of school youth are deemed as potential opposition groups. Sources and points of disagreements among these stakeholders will be further explored through community consultations and field work.

Residents, schools, NGOs, business, people’s organizations, professional groups and the Church are considered as “neutral groups” and must be tapped as potential supporters of the project.

With the active support of the barangay officials, the Community Preparation Cluster scheduled an advocacy planning workshop on October 22, 2008 to take the action plans forward and to ensure key stakeholders’ meaningful participation in the urban redevelopment project.