GEOSPATIAL ASSESSMENT OF VULNERABILITIES OF CROPLANDS TO FLOODING RISKS: A CASE STUDY OF PHILIPPINE RIVER BASINS

Abstract. This study utilized the Analytic Hierarchical Process and spatial analysis using various datasets to produce sub-provincial vulnerability maps with 20 km resolution. Five (5) indicators for exposure, four (4) for sensitivity and seven (7) for adaptive capacity were selected and weighted using aggregated rankings from twenty-three (23) experts. Based on these indicators, gridded maps of exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability were produced. Using river basins as the unit of analysis, the Pampanga River Basin was determined to be the most vulnerable, followed by the Agus River Basin, having the highest sensitivity, and Buayan River Basin, having the lowest adaptive capacity. These areas have large agricultural regions and river systems with high flooding risk. Coastal regions in southern Mindanao and eastern Visayas were also highly vulnerable to flooding. High poverty rates with high dependence on agricultural incomes and low adaptive capacities characterize these areas. Vulnerability hotspots can easily be identified through these maps, which have value in planning initiative to reduce potential damages of floods to agricultural areas.