Tradition, Values, and Religion in a Center-Periphery Explanation of Disaster Governance

This study examines three flood governance models in Metro Manila: a government-centered relocation model, a collaborative model, and a civil society initiative model. Drawing on center-periphery theory, it analyzes how power asymmetries and cultural values shape disaster governance and recovery outcomes. The study uses qualitative data collected between 2009 and 2024, including semi-structured interviews, archival documents, and field observations. Findings show that state-driven relocation policies often marginalize vulnerable populations by prioritizing technocratic efficiency over social equity and community participation. In contrast, grassroots initiatives and civil society-led responses leverage local knowledge, community networks, and cultural and religious traditions to foster resilience and collective action. Collaborative approaches occupy an intermediate position, partially mitigating exclusion while retaining centralized authority. The study highlights the importance of integrating local knowledge and participatory governance into disaster management frameworks to enhance social equity and sustainability.

David Berlan, PhD, earned his doctorate in Public Administration from Syracuse University in 2013. Dr. Berlan is an associate professor at the Askew School. He teaches in the areas of nonprofit management and public and nonprofit financial management. His research examines the role of competing ideas in the change and evolution of nonprofit organizations and the networks in which they participate. Most of this research is in the context of global health and development, though he also seeks to tie his teaching and research into the local nonprofit community. Dr. Berlan published an article in The Conversation (“What the Staff Does Matters More than What’s in an Organization’s Mission Statement”) on why employee perspectives matter more than formal mission statements, a perspective informed by his most recent journal article (Berlan, 2018).