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Disaster Preparedness in the Philippines

The document discusses disaster preparedness and management in the Philippines. It outlines common types of disasters the country faces, their effects, and approaches and policies for disaster preparedness, management, and response at national and community levels.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
116 views5 pages

Disaster Preparedness in the Philippines

The document discusses disaster preparedness and management in the Philippines. It outlines common types of disasters the country faces, their effects, and approaches and policies for disaster preparedness, management, and response at national and community levels.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CHAPTER 5

CALAMITY AD DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Introduction
A disaster is an event, natural or manmade, sudden or progressive, which impacts with such severity,
that the effected community has to respond by taking exceptional measures.
It is a serious disruption of the functioning of a society causing widespread human, material,
financial, and environmental losses which exceed the ability of the society to cope using its own resources.
The Philippines is oftentimes subjected to different natural disasters and calamities because we are
surrounded by water. It is considered as an Archipelago because our country is composed of 7,000 islands.
These ocean and seas that surround us are considered blessings because they are the sources of
marine wealth.

What are the Common Types of Disaster?


The different disasters that Filipinos experience is:
1. Earthquake
2. Volcanic eruption
3. Tsunami
4. Tropical cyclone (typhoon, hurricane)
5. Flood
6. Landslide
7. Bushfire (or wildfire)
8. Drought (worse than La Nina)
9. Epidemic (bird flu, different diseases)
10. Major accidents
11. Armed conflict and civil unrest

What are the General Effects of Disasters?


1. Loss of Life
2. Injury
3. Damage to and destruction of property
4. Damage to and destruction of subsistence and cash crops
5. Disruption of production
6. Disruption of lifestyles
7. Loss of livelihood
8. Disruption of essential services
9. Damage to national infrastructure and disruption of governmental systems
10. National economic loss
11. Sociological and psychological after-effects.

With the different calamities presented, there is a need for calamity and disaster preparedness so that
the people will be aware of how they will at least, manage their families accordingly during these
calamities.
What is Disaster Preparedness?
These are measures, which enable government agencies, organizers, communities, and individuals to
respond rapidly and effectively to disaster stations.

What is the General Disaster Counter-Measures?


1. Development of possible warning indicators
2. Land-use regulations
3. Building regulations
4. Relocation of communities
5. Public awareness and education programs
6. Evacuation plans and arrangements
7. International cooperation in information and technology sharing

What are the Philippine Approaches to Disaster Management?


1. Prevent/mitigate
2. Prepare
3. Take adaptive action
4. Take corrective action

What are the Common Problems in Disaster Management?


1. Lack of appreciation for the Disaster Preparedness Program by local officials themselves;
2. Lack of a strong and effective Disaster Coordinating council installed in the LGU;
3. Absence of Disaster Preparedness Planning;
4. Lack of effective linkages for disasters operating;
5. Absence of a functional Disaster Operating Center;
6. Erroneous disaster reporting and monitoring.

What are the components of Disaster Management?


1. Prevention. These are actions designed to impede the occurrence of a disaster or its harmful effects
on communities and key installations.
2. Mitigation. These are programs intended to reduce the ill effects of disaster.
3. Preparedness. These are measures, which enable governments, organizations, communities and
individuals to respond rapidly and effectively to disaster situations.
4. Disaster Impact. This reminds us that the impact of disaster can vary between different types of
disasters.
5. Response. These are measures taken immediately prior to and following disaster impact.
6. Recovery. This is a process by which communities and organizations are assessed in returning to
their proper level of functioning following a disaster.
7. Development. This provides the link between disaster-related activities and national development.
What can influence disaster warning?
The following can influence disaster warning:
1. The source and timing of the warning
2. The warning messages
3. The warning transmission
4. The recipient’s response

What are the Disaster Management Policies?


1. Self-reliance through self-help and mutual assistance
2. Maximum utilization of resources in the affected areas
3. Planning and operation to be done on the barangay level, in an interagency, multisectoral basis to
optimize existing resources.
4. Documentation of plans of DOC members.
5. Local leadership take charge at their respective levels.
6. National government to support local government efforts
7. Exercise and periodic drills to be conducted, principally at the barangay level, to ensure readiness by
all concerned.

What are the different tasks of the National Disaster Coordinating Council?
1. Advises the President on the status of disaster preparedness programs, disaster operations and
rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the government and the private sector.
2. Establishes policy guideline on emergency preparedness and disaster operations involving rescue,
relief and rehabilitation
3. Establishes priorities in the allocation of funds, services, disaster equipment and relief supplies.
4. Advises the lower-level Disaster Coordinating Councils through the Office of the Civil Defense in
accordance with the guidelines on disaster management.
5. Recommends to the President the declaration of a state of calamity in areas effectively damaged and
submits proposals to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
6. Creates an Action group composed of permanent representatives from the member departments and
other government agencies with the Executive Office as head; and
7. Utilizes the facilities and serves the Office of Civil Defense in Camp Aguinaldo. Quezon City, in
discharging its functions.
There is a government agency, which takes charge during the calamity and disaster, and this is the
National Disaster Coordinating Council. This is the highest governmental body responsible for
advising the President on the status of the preparedness program and disaster relief and rehabilitation
efforts at the national level.

Who are the members of the Council?


The Chairman is the Secretary of the Department of National Defense. The members are:
1. Department of Public Work and Highway (DPWH)
2. Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC)
3. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
4. Department of Agriculture (DA)
5. Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) – now it is the Department of Education
(DepEd)
6. Department of Foreign Affairs (DOF)
7. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
8. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
The different coordinating councils have personnel stationed in their respective operation centers,
composed of the following:
1. Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis Unit
2. Emergency Management Information Service Unit
3. Vulnerability Risk Reduction Management Unit
4. Plans and Operations Unit
5. Resource Unit
Each council shall provide operating units for:
1. Communication. transportation Services and Early Warning Devices
2. Health services
3. Auxiliary Fire and Police Services
4. Relief and Rehabilitation Services
5. Public Information Services
6. Rescue, Evacuation, and Engineering Services.

What are the Objectives of Disaster Management?


1. To avoid or reduce physical and economic losses,
2. To reduce human personal sufferings and personal losses,
3. To achieve rapid and durable recovery.

What does the National Disaster Management Program contain?


1. Disaster preparedness
2. Construction of disaster reduction facilities
3. Disaster response and short-term rehabilitation
4. Public information
5. Research and development

What are the Suggestions to Enhance Community Preparedness?


1. Appreciation of the fact that any disaster can occur with or without warning
2. Awareness on the characteristic and corresponding effects of calamities
3. Identification of vulnerable and disaster-prone areas in the locality
4. Readings in responding to the threats of natural and man-made hazards
5. Capability to do what must be done and when to do it in case disaster strikes
6. Application of counter-measures to cushion the impact of the calamity.

Common questions

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International cooperation can significantly enhance disaster preparedness and response by facilitating information and technology sharing, which can help speed up the response to disasters and improve overall management capabilities . It provides access to a broader range of resources and expertise, enabling countries like the Philippines to implement more effective disaster warning systems and recovery plans. Additionally, partnerships with international organizations can offer financial and logistical support in times of crisis, ensuring that response efforts are well-coordinated and sufficient .

The concept of self-reliance through self-help and mutual assistance influences disaster management policies in the Philippines by promoting community-based interventions where local resources are maximized during disasters, enabling communities to manage disruptions using internal capabilities before external help arrives . This policy encourages planning and operations to be localized, specifically on the barangay level, ensuring that responses are tailored to specific community needs. By emphasizing mutual assistance, it fosters cooperation among local stakeholders, improving collective readiness and resilience against disasters .

Education and public awareness programs play a fundamental role in enhancing disaster resilience in the Philippines by equipping individuals and communities with critical knowledge about disaster risks and response strategies . These programs inform the public about the nature and effects of various calamities, promote understanding of the necessary preparatory measures, and encourage proactive behavior towards disaster risk reduction. By increasing awareness and understanding, these programs facilitate better coordination and cooperation among community members, leading to more effective implementation of disaster preparedness and response plans . Moreover, they contribute to fostering a culture of preparedness, which is vital for sustainable disaster resilience .

Prevention in disaster management involves actions designed to impede the occurrence of a disaster or its harmful effects on communities and key installations, while mitigation refers to programs intended to reduce the ill effects of disasters once they occur . These concepts influence each other as effective prevention can reduce the need for mitigation by minimizing disaster occurrence, while robust mitigation strategies can limit the impact should prevention measures fail. Together, they form a comprehensive approach aiming to reduce both the likelihood and severity of disasters.

Common problems encountered in disaster management at the local governance level in the Philippines include a lack of appreciation for disaster preparedness programs, absence of strong and effective disaster coordinating councils, and inadequate disaster preparedness planning . These issues can be addressed by increasing investments in capacity building for local officials and stakeholders, enhancing interagency coordination, and strengthening community engagement in disaster preparedness activities. Establishing functional disaster operating centers and improving monitoring and reporting systems can also enhance local disaster management. By addressing these challenges, local governments can improve their disaster response and resilience .

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in the Philippines plays a critical role in advising the President on the status of disaster preparedness programs, operations, and rehabilitation efforts . It establishes policy guidelines for emergency preparedness and operations, sets priorities for fund and resource allocations, and recommends the declaration of a state of calamity when necessary. The NDCC also coordinates with lower-level disaster councils and creates action groups composed of different government departments to ensure comprehensive disaster management efforts .

Philippine Local Government Units (LGUs) face several challenges in implementing effective disaster preparedness programs, including a lack of appreciation for these programs by local officials and the absence of strong disaster coordination councils within the LGUs . There is often a lack of effective linkages for disaster operations, resulting in poorly coordinated responses. Additionally, the absence of a functional Disaster Operating Center and erroneous disaster reporting hinder efficient management and response efforts. These challenges are compounded by limited resources and capacities, making it difficult for LGUs to adequately prepare and respond to disasters without external support .

Conducting periodic disaster readiness exercises at the barangay level in the Philippines has practical implications for enhancing community preparedness and resilience. It ensures that residents are familiar with emergency protocols and procedures, thereby reducing response times and increasing overall coordination during actual disasters . These drills also help identify potential weaknesses or gaps in existing plans, allowing for adjustments before real incidents occur. Moreover, regular exercises increase public awareness and gradually build a culture of preparedness within the community, which is crucial for effective disaster management .

Effective warning transmission is crucial in influencing disaster outcomes as it ensures that communities receive timely and clear warnings about impending disasters. This allows individuals and local authorities to take prompt protective actions, such as evacuation or securing necessary resources, reducing the potential for loss of life and property damage . A warning system with clear transmission reduces confusion and panic, helping maintain order and increasing the effectiveness of the community's response measures .

The Philippine National Disaster Management Program includes several major components: disaster preparedness, disaster response and short-term rehabilitation, construction of disaster reduction facilities, public information, and research and development . Disaster preparedness aims to equip communities to efficiently react to disaster scenarios. Disaster response and short-term rehabilitation are focused on the immediate aftermath, aiming to restore vital services and aid recovery. The construction of disaster reduction facilities is intended to physically mitigate disaster impacts. Public information spreads awareness and educates the public on disaster risks and responses, while research and development seek innovations in disaster management techniques and technologies .

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