CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN DISASTER RESCUE AND RELIEF ACTIVITIES: RESPONSE TO THE MUDSLIDE IN SOUTHERN LEYTE, PHILIPPINES

Abstract

This article examines engagements between civilian actors, the Philippinesecurity forces and the US military during disaster response operations. ThePhilippine disaster framework recognises the military’s role in disaster relief and hasexisting mechanisms for accepting international assistance and procedures formilitary-to-military cooperation in this task. The local authorities accord the militarya central role in the disaster operations, contrary to notions of it being the ‘lastresort’. Tasking and coordination proceeded separately along civilian versus militarylines, with limited interface between the two groups. The army reservists had greaterlinkages with civilian actors than did the army regulars, who dealt exclusively withthe foreign teams. The US military’s activities were confined to search and rescueand to providing critical logistics, which the Philippines actors lacked.