RELATED LITERATURE

Local

Disaster

Disasters are the consequence of a sudden disastrous event which

disrupts the normal function of society or the community. A disaster occurs when a

hazards exposes the vulnerability of the community in such way that threatens their

ability to survive. Disasters are the dangerous events or a situation that unexpectedly

strikes anytime and anywhere. The most common type of disaster is natural disaster.

Natural disasters are the disasters resulting from natural forces like floods, tsunamis,

earthquakes, cyclones and volcanic eruption. These situations results from

environmental phenomenon that produces stress, injury, physical damage and

disruption of great magnitude. (3G E learning FZ LLC, 2017)

According to Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and

Humanitarian Assistance (2018) Philippines has a high vulnerability to natural hazards

which are attributed to the nation’s geographic position in Southeast Asia. These

hazards are the causes of natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, floods,

volcanic eruptions, landslides, and fires affect the country. Volcanic eruptions and

tsunamis are related to the continental plate activity around “the Ring of Fire”. Because

it is one of the most geologically active areas, it is nicknamed “The Ring of Fire”. This is

a circular arm of active volcanoes that surrounds the Pacific Ocean basin. This area in

the Pacific Ocean covers nearly 25,000 miles from the southern tip of South America, to

the west coast of North America, across the Bering Strait, through Japan, and into New
Zealand. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda), one of the

deadliest disasters to strike the Philippines, affected 26 million people and claimed at

least 8,000 lives. Rising sea levels are also a direct threat to approximately 70 percent

of the Philippine population, which has forced many to relocate as a result. In addition,

climate change has also increased the severity and frequency of natural disasters in the

country.

Disaster Education and Practices

According to Arellano Law Foundation (2010) there’s an Act in Philippines

that talks about the Disaster Education and Practices, Republic Act No. 10121. An Act

strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System,

Providing for the National Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Framework and

institutionalizing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan,

appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes. This Republic Act aims to provide

the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan and Appropriating Funds.

Its effect is that it immediate the release of calamity funds to local government units so

they can prepare for disaster mitigation and preparedness. In Section 2 of the RA

10121, it states that the state shall "develop, promote, and implement a comprehensive

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) that aims to

strengthen the capacity of the national government and the local government units

(LGUs), together with partner stakeholders, to build the disaster resilience of

communities, and to institutionalize arrangements and measures for reducing disaster

risks, including projected climate risks, and enhancing disaster preparedness and

response capabilities at all levels." This is the essence of the DRRM Act of 2010. The
country cannot stop disasters from happening, but we can reduce the impact if

continuing and the right disaster preparedness measures are taken.

In regards to this law, according to Miasco (2017) The Department of

Education and the Commission on Higher Education have incorporated disaster risk

reduction and management in their curricula. She stated that topics about disasters

from basic information to disaster management have already been incorporated into the

curricula of elementary and senior high school students. For elementary and junior high

school, DRRM education is not a school subject itself but only a component of subjects

like science and technology, and social science. But DepEd made DRRM education as

an independent subject for senior high school students. They are taught about factors

affecting disasters, disaster happening nearby their places and precautionary measures

that needs to be done in order to prepare for disasters.

Romero (2010) stated college students may soon be required to attend a

25 – hour course on disaster preparedness and national security before selecting the

National Service Training Program (NSTP) component that will enroll in. Its other

components are the Civic Welfare Training Service, which encouraged students to

participate in developmental programs, and the Literacy Training Service, which trains

students to become teachers of school children and other sectors that need educational

training about disaster preparedness. The 25 – hour module is relevant as it would

make students knowledgeable about disaster response measures. The NSTP replaced

the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), making it just one of the three

programs open to students. The mandatory ROTC program was abolished in 2002 after

President Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 9163. (Romero, 2010)
Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Preparedness encompasses the field of emergency assistance and long

term maintenance for refugees and displaced persons. Disaster Preparedness’

objective is to decrease the dreadful effects of the disaster to people and community.

Likewise, it aims to help the people to go back to their normal flow of life. This includes

the search and rescue, monitoring, reconstruction, reliefs and rehabilitation operations.

It consists of plans and actions to manage the disasters and the combination of different

mechanism like alerts, fast response, timely warning and efficient coordination. (3G E

learning FZ LLC, 2017)

ACT Alliance (2019) showed the value of disaster preparedness when the

Typhoon Mangkhut made Landfall in Cagayan. Despite the strength of the typhoon,

ongoing emergency preparedness initiatives from the local government in collaboration

with churches limited human suffering in the Barangay. The Centro 1 Barangay

community center conducts disaster preparedness training twice a month where senior

citizens, widowers and other vulnerable groups are urged to participate. Before

Typhoon Mangkhut, residents received training on how to secure their homes from

strong winds and heavy rainfall. Other capacity building sessions offered include

preparedness and response to tsunamis, earthquakes and fires. Residents are also

encouraged to ensure that they keep a fully equipped emergency pail in their homes,

consisting of canned food, water, a first aid kit, a radio, a flashlight, extra batteries,

clothes and other essentials. Many families relied on their emergency pails once the

typhoon made landfall. “The trainings are critical to ensuring that everyone in the

community is prepared for an emergency,” said Mangasing. “Because of our efforts in

this Barangay, we were more prepared than we were last time.” As the Philippines is

particularly prone to typhoons and other disasters, emergency preparedness and

disaster risk reduction initiatives will remain essential for the resilience of the Filipino

people. NCCP will continue to work with local government units in the areas which they

responded to Typhoon Mangkhut to build the capacity of communities to better cope

with disasters.