Anticipatory action in practice: acting early ahead of typhoons in the Philippines

The aim of the research paper is to explore the effectiveness of anticipatory action measures in the Philippines in the context of typhoons, and to identify best practices and lessons learned for future implementation. Tropical cyclones are the most common hazard in the Philippines, with nine to ten making landfall each year on average. Around half of these are categorized as typhoons, which bring severe winds and/or heavy rains, as well as storm surges, floods and landslides.

The recommendations provided in the research paper include:

• Conduct an initial analysis before consulting a repository of early actions.
• Balance rigidity and flexibility – and complexity and ease of implementation
• Tailor early actions to national contexts to increase national interest.
• Developing and testing actions increases professionalization, for example through creating evidence-based standards and guidelines.
• Scale up impacts by working with other partners and making early actions replicable