Risk sharing is prevalent especially in the aftermath of natural disasters, as witnessed when the 2005 typhoons struck the poorer Northern provinces. Informal social networks can act as a buffer in times of crisis, but can leave those who depend on them extremely vulnerable in the event that the relationship breaks down or the family are no longer able to provide support. Results from the PAPI2012 survey also confirm that better-off people have broader and better-quality social networks on which they can rely.