 Other signs of shifting ground, such as
SINKHOLE
A sinkhole is also known as a “wallet snake
hole” and is a natural hole on Earth’s surface. This
hazard is caused by the chemical dissolution process
in sandstone or chemical dissolution of carbonate
rocks that causes erosion of soil beneath the ground.
Geologically speaking, a sinkhole is a
depression in the ground that has no natural external
surface drainage. Basically this means that when it
rains, all of the water stays inside the sinkhole and
typically drains into the subsurface. Sinkholes are most
common in what geologists call “karst terrain”. These
are regions where the type of rock below the land
surface can naturally be dissolved by groundwater
circulating through them. Soluble rocks include salt
beds and domes, gypsum, limestone, and other
carbonate rocks. When water from rainfall moves
down through the soil, these types of rocks begin to
dissolve and spaces and caverns develop
underground.
DIFFERENT TYPES AND VARIOUS SEVERITIES
 SOLUTION SINKHOLES- are common in area
where there is very thin soil cover. Water
erodes the area gradually creating bowl-
shaped depressions. Over a period of time, a
small depression is formed. It is at this point
where the hole forms. The hole is usually
bowl-shaped and can be quite large.
 COVER-COLLAPSE SINKHOLES- develop
abruptly (over a period of hours) and cause
catastrophic damages. When this happens, a
number of weak points begin to form in the
layers of soil and strata above it. Finally, it
comes to a point when the weak points
become a large hole within the bedrock that
cannot support the weight above it.
 COVER SUBSIDENCE SINKHOLES- are
formed over a long period of time. This usually
happens when sand mostly covers the
bedrock. Areas that have soil comprising
largely of clay or sand often face the
occurrence of this hole. Once the bedrock
starts to erode, the clay or sand starts
permeating through the cracks and settles into
the spaces left behind.
WHERE AND WHEN SINKHOLES WILL OCCUR
Sinkholes are definitely dangerous as they
result to property damage, contaminate water supply,
and kill people. The clues are as follows:
 Holes or concentric cracks in the ground
 Sagging fence posts or trees
 Newly exposed areas at the bottom of fence
posts, trees, and foundations
 Cracks in the foundation of a building
ceiling separating from the wall or improperly
closing doors and windows
 Cloudy water pumped from a source that
was previously clear
 Standing pools or rainwater in unusual
places.
The Philippines is in Northern Hemisphere which is
above the equator. The area near the equator, known
as Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), is where
trade winds meet. Trade winds flow in opposite
directions and this is the reason that strong swirling of
wind happens. As a result of this swirling movement,
frequent natural hazards in the atmosphere and
oceans take place.
HYDRO METEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS
Process or phenomenon of atmospheric, hydrological
or oceanographic nature that may cause loss of life,
injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss
of livelihoods and services, social and economic
disruptioin, or environmental damage.
 The extreme weather hazards tend to be more
widespread in their distribution.
 They are growing in frequency.
 They are increasingly unpredictable in their
locations.
Hydrometeorological conditions also can be a factor in
other hazards such as landslides, wildland fires, locust
plagues, epidemics, and in the transport and disperal
of toxic substances and volcanic eruption material.
Hydrometeorology is a branch of meteorology and
hydrology that studies the transfer of water and energy
between the land and surface and the lower
atmosphere.
TYPHOON
A Typhoon is a type of large storm system
having a circular or spiral systems of violent winds,
typically hundreds of kilometers or miles in diameter.
The winds spiral around a region of low atmospheric
pressure.
“Typhoon” is the name of these storms that occur in
the Western Pacific. “Hurricane” is the name given to
these storms in the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific.
In the ocean, they are called “Ttopical Cyclones”. For
stronger typhoons, a characteristic structure caled the
“eye” forms when the maximum wind speeds exceed
about 85 miles per hour, or 140 kilometers per hour.
 The eye is a region of clear air with no clouds, and is a
few tens of kilometers in diameter.
A typhoon is a violent tropical cyclone , in
meteorological term, which is a low pressure system
occurring in tropical oceans. The winds above the
ground circulate around the center counterclockwise
for a typhoon occurring in the northern hemisphere
and clockwise for that occurring in the southern
hemisphere.
THUNDERSTORM
Thunderstorms affect small areas
when compared with hurricanes and winter storms.
The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and
lasts an average of 30 minutes.
Thunderstorms need three things:
 Moisture- to form clouds and rain
 Unstable Air- relatively warm air that can rise rapidly.
 Lift- fronts, sea breezes and mountains are cable of
lifting air to help form thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms are most likely to occur in the spring
and summer months and during the afternoon and
evening hours, but they can occur year-round and at
all hours of the day or night. A thunderstorm is a storm
with lightning and thunder. It is produced by a
cumulonimbus cloud, usually producing gusty winds,
heavy rain and sometimes hail.
LIGHTNING
Lightning is a bright flash of electricity
produced by a thunderstorm. Lightning kills and injures
more people each year than hurricanes or tornadoes.
Lightning is an electric current. Within a thundercloud
way up in the sky, many small bits of ice bump into
each other as they move around in the air.
All of those collisions create an electric charge.
After a while, the whole cloud fills up with electrical
chrages. The positive charges or protons form at the
top of the cloud and the negative charges or electrons
form at the bottom of the cloud. Since opposites attract,
that causes a positive charge to build up on the ground
beneath the clouds. The grounds electrical charge
concentrates around anything that sticks u, such as
mountains, people, or single trees. The charge coming
up ffrom these points eventually connects with a
charge reaching down from the clouds and –zap-
lightning strikes.
FLOODS
Floods are among the most frequent and costl
natural disasters. Conditions that cause floods include
heavy or steady rain for several hours or days
tahtsaturates the ground. Flash floods occurs
suddenly due to rapidly rising water along a stream or
lowlying area. A flood is an excess of water (or mud)
on land that’s normally dry and is a situation wherein
the inundation is caused by high flow, or overflow of
water in an established watercours, such as river,
stream, or drainage ditch; or ponding of water at or
near point where the rain fell.
 Flooding occurs whe the capacity of a river channel is
exceeded by the water discharge.
 Persistent rain, over a period of days or weeks, leads
to more widespread flooding.
 Widespread flooding tends to cause property damage
as houses and fields remain underwater for days or
weeks.
 Flooding has complex causes, often partly human, e.g.
deforestation and poor river management.
 Flash floods often occur due to intense precipitation
over a small area. These sudden floods can have a
devastating effect.
TYPES OF FLOODS
1. Flash floods- floods occurring within six hours, mainly
due to heavy rainfall associated with towering cumulus
clouds, thunderstorms, tropical cyclones or during
passage of cold weather fronts, or by dam failure or
other river obstruction. A flash flood generally results
from a torrential rain or “ cloudburst” on relatively small
and widely-dispersed streams.
2. River floods- floods caused by precipitation over a
large catchment’s area, melting of snow or both. Built
up slowly or on a regular basis, these floods may
continue for days or weeks.
3. Coastal Floods- floods associated with cyclonic
activities like Hurricanes, Tropical cyclones, generating
acatastrophic flood from rain water which often
aggravate wind-induced storm and water surges along
coast.
4. Urban flood- as land is converted from agricultural
fields or woodlands to roads and parking lots, it loses
its ability to absorb rainfall.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOODS
 Depth of water- building foundations and vegetation
will have different degrees of tolerance to bring
inundated water.
 Duration- damage structures, infrastructure
vegetation related to duration 1 of time with water
inundation.
 Velocity- high velocities of flow create erosive forces,
hydrodynamic pressure, which destroy foundation
supports and may occur on floodplains or in the main
river channel.
 Frequency of occurrence- the frequency of
occurrence measured over a period of time determines
types of construction or agricultural activities on the
floodplain.
 Seasonality- flooding during a growing season
destroy crops while cold weather, floods seriously
affect the community.
FLASHFLOOD
A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic
low-lying areas: washes, rivers, dry lake and basins. It
may cuased by heavy rain associated with a severe
thunderstorm, hurricane, tropical storm, or meltwater
from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields.
Flash flooding occurs so quickly that people
are caught off-guard. Their situation may become
dangerous if they encounter high, fast-moving water
while traveling. If people are at their homes or
businesses, the water may rise quickly and trap them,
 or cause damage to the property without them having  Ocean
a chance to protect the property. temperatures of 4-6 °F
 Ocean temperatures
above average are
FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING of 4-6 °F below average are
commonly observed
observed in the eastern
FLOOD: Any high flow, overflow, or inundation by between the International
Pacific Ocean.
water which causes threatens damage.  Dateline and the
 Cold water in the
west coast South America.
FLASH FLOOD: A rapid and extreme flow of high Eastern Pacific shifts the
 Warm ocean
water into a normally dry area, or a rapid water level location of thunderstorms,
waters cause increases in
rise in stream or creek above a predetermined flod rising air, and lower
tropical rain and
level, beginning within six hours of the causative event. pressure to the western
thunderstorms.
Pacific.
FLOODING CAUSED BY TROPICAL CYCLONES  Atmospheric
 Cold water from the
pressure increases near
deep ocean provides
In tropical storms and hurricanes, wind speeds Indonesia and in the
increased nutrients for fish
and surge are not only danger- flooding and flash western.
and plankton, leading to
flooding have claimed the most live in tropical cyclones.  Pacific and
improved fishing and
decreases in the eastern
People generally underestimate the force of sustenance for birds and
pacific.
moving flood water. If flooding occurs, take the other predators in the
 Pressure changes eastern Pacific Ocean.
following precautions:
lead to the sub-tropical jet
 Move to higher ground and stay away from low-lying  Pressure shifts
strem moving into Florida,
flood prone areas. cause the subtropical jet
southern Georgia, and
stream in the U.S. to shift
 Do not allow children to play in flood waters, no Alabama, steering cloudy,
north, moving the storm
matter how fun it might look. rain bearing systems into
track to northern Georgia
region in winter.
 Never drive on a flooded road. and Alabama and leaving.
 Because of
 Florida sunnier and
 Do not set up capms along streams or washes when changes in jet stream
drier than usual.
there’s a chance of rain or thunderstorms. strength, hurricanes are
 La Nina can last for
 Be extra cautious during nighttime flooding situations. less likely.
one to three years.
 El Nino lasts for no
STORMSURGE
 The likelihood of
more than one year.
tornadoes and severe
 The likelihood of
A stormsurge is a coastal flood or tsunami- like weather increases in
tornadoes and severe
phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with Alabama and Georgia.
weather increases in the
low pressure weather system., the severity of which is
Florida peninsula.
affected by the shallowness and orientation of the
water body relative to storm path, and the timing tides. Fire has been used for thousands years by early
Most casualties during tropical cyclones occur as the humans for survival. Indeed, his contorl of fire brought
result of storm surges. him a long way. Fire has been one of the important
 Meteotsunamis: Intense depressions such as tropical tools in building both ancient and modern civilizations.
cyclones can generate a type of surge called a Up to this day, fire still maintains an important role in
meteotsunami, which raises water heights very ma’s daily life- it is still being used in cooking. Fire
suddenly at the shoreline. In the case of deep tropical plays a natural role affecting necessary change in
cyclones, this is due to very low atmospheric pressure ecosystems around the world. But when fire comes
and inward swirling winds causing an uplifted dome of loose, its destructive side is revealed?
water to form under and travel in tandem with the
FIRE HAZARD
storm.
 Extratropical strorms: Similar to tropical cyclones, Fire hazards include all types of live flames,
extra-tropical storms cause an offshore rise of water. causes of sparks, hot objects, and chemicals that are
Extra-tropical storms can cause higher water levels potential for iginition, or that can aggravate a fire to
across a large area for longer periods of time, become a large and uncontrolled. Fire hazards also
depending on the system. include all typess of potential threats to fire prevention
practices, firefighting, built-in fire safety systems and
Storm surge is an abnormal rise of water situations that are resrict the escape of people from an
generated by a storm, over and above the predicted affected building or area in the event of a fire.
astronomical tide.
TYPES OF FIRES
 It is the change in the water level that is due to the
presence of the storm. Many fires are small at origin and may be
 Since storm surge is a difference between water extinguished by the use of protable fire extinguisher.
levels, it does not have a reference level. The proper type of extinguisher for each class of fire
will give the best control of the situationcand avoid
compounding the problem. The classification of fires
given here is based on the type of material being
consumed.
EL NINO VERSUS LA NINA  CLASS A FIRES- fires in ordinary
combustile materials, such as wood, cloth,
EL NINO LA NINA paper, rubber and many plastics. Almost any
 fire extinguisher is effective on a class A fire,
but water is the best extinguishing agent.
 CLASS B FIRES- fires in ordinary liquidsd,
gases, oil, paint and greases. Foam, dry
chemical or CO2 extinguishers are the most
effective on class B fires. Do not use water.
 CLASS C FIRES- Fires which involve
energized electrical equipment where t
electrical non-conductivity of the extinguishing
agent is of importance. Use carbon dioxide or
dry chemical extinguishers. Do not use water.
 CLASS D FIRES- fires in combustile metals,
such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium,
sodium, lithium, zinc and potassium. Use
metal fire extinguishing agent at safety
stations or sand, or vermiculite.
FIRE TRIANGLE
A fire triangle is used as a model for conveying the
components of a fire. The fire triangle’s three sides
illustrate the three elements of fire which are heat, fuel
and oxidation.
 HEAT- which is perhaps the most essential of fire
elements. A fire cannot ignite unless it has a certain
amount of heat, and it cannot grow without heat either.
 FUEL- a fire needs a fuel source in order to burn.
The fuel source can be anything that is flammable,
such as wood, paper, fabric, or chemicals.
 OXYGEN- which is also an essential component of
fire. A fire needs oxygen to start and continue.
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Fire extinguishers are portable devices used to
extingushed small fires or reduce their destruction
before firefighters arrive at the scene. These are kept
handy at places, namely fire points, in building,
factories, public places or transportation. The types
and numbers of extinguishers legally required for an
area are governed by the safety regulations in force in
that particular area.
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
There are three main types of fire
extinguishing agents in the building, the carbon dioxide
extinguishers, the dry chemical extinguishers, and the
metal fire extinguishing agent.
 CARBON DIOXIDE EXTINGUISHERS- these
extinguishers are intended primarily for use on class B
and class C fires. They have a limited range; thus,
initial application must start reasonably close to the fire.
 DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHERS (ABC)- dry
chemical extinguishers are intended for use on class A,
class B and class C fires. The discharge should be
directed at the base of the flames. Best results are
obtained by attacking the near edge of the fire and
progressing forward, moving the nozzle rapidly with a
side-to-side sweeping motion with care not to blast
flaming liquid around the area.
 DRY POWDER EXTINGUISHING AGENT (D)- dry
powder extinguishing agent is intended primarily for
use on metal fires. The application of the agent should
be of sufficient depth to adequately cover the fire area
and provide a smothering blanket. Care should be
taken to avoid scattering the burning metal.
PHASES OF A FIRE EMERGENCY
Fire is the visible effect of the process of
combustion- a special type of chemical reaction. It
occurs between oxygen in the air and some sort of fuel.
The products from the chemical reaction ae completely
different from the starting material.
 IGNITION PHASE- this first phase begins when heat
oxygen and a fuel source combine and have a
chemical reaction resulting in fire. This is also known
as “INCIPIENT” and is usually represented by a very
small fire which often goes out in its own, before the
following phases are reached. Recognizing a fire in
this phase provides your best chance at a suppression
or escape.
 GROWTH PHASE- the growth phase is where the
structures fire load and oxygen are used as fuel for the
fire. There are numerous factors affecting the growth
phase including where the fire started, what
combustibles are near it , ceiling height and potential
for “thermal layering”. It is during this shortest of the
phases when a deadly “flashover” can occur;
potentially trapping, injuring or killing firefighters.
 FULLY DEVELOPED PHASE- when the growth
phase has reached its max and all combustible
materials have been ignited, a fire is considered fully
developed. This is the hottest phase of a fire and the
most dangerous for anybody trapped within.
 DECAY PHASE- usually the longest phase of a fire,
the decay phase is characterized a significant
decrease in oxygen or fuel, putting an end to the fire.
Two common dangers during this phase are first- the
exisence of non-flaming combustibles, which can
potentially start a new fire if not fully extinguished.
Second, there is danger of a backdraft when oxygen is
reintroduced to volatile, confined space.
Do you recall from news and accounts the disasters
brought by the Pinatubo volcano’s eruption in 1991
and those brought by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013?
How about the most recent eruption of Taal volcano in
2020? The occurrence of these events was
successfully predicted well in advance. Pinatubo
resulted in relatively smaller casualties than Yolanda
but both of it wrought devastation to the areas affected.
On the other hand, PHIVOLCS alarmed people near
the Taal area to use face mask as a protection to ash
deposits of the eruption. All of these actions
contributed to a lesser risk. What would have
happened if the responsible agencies did not
anticipate these events?
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
Generally refers to human and environment
protection. DRR means reducing the “loss of life,
property, and other assets through hazard mitigation
and vulnerability reduction.” In addition, they also
contain that the reduction of risk is the foundation of
community-based disaster management.
Examples of DRR activities, which are done before
a disaster strikes, are the following:
 Building code revision and implementation
 Hazard and vulnerability analysis
 Zoning and land use management
 Public awareness and education
 Early warning systems including forecasting
and dissemination of warnings
The diagram above shows that disaster risk reduction
is a process which is done before a disaster strikes
and consists of five steps: risk identification, risk
analysis, prioritization of risks, treatment of risks, and
monitoring and evaluation.
 The risk identification stage identifies the
hazards; potential threats are identified based
partly on experience and records. This step is
necessary in prioritizing targets of mitigation
measures.
 Risk analysis aims to establish the magnitude
and the likelihood of occurrence of the event.
This step is also necessary in prioritizing target
areas of mitigation measures.
 The risk prioritization step analyzes and
identifies priority subjects (hazards, areas, and
elements at risk) requiring treatment.
 The risk treatment stage identifies the cause of
the risks, identifies and evaluates treatment
strategies, and prepares and implements
treatment plans.
 Monitoring and evaluation oversee the
implementation progress of the disaster risk
management process. This stage also
conducts periodic investigation of progress
and analysis of impact and achievement.

For us to better understand on how Disaster Risk
Reduction plays a vital role in our lives and on how to
take part in the society we live, let us discuss its
principle and priority actions.
PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
PRIORITY ACTION 1: Ensure that disaster risk
reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong
institutional basis for implementation
 This framework must allow for an effective
monitoring and measurement of risk reduction
and management, and a policy or
organizational structure to facilitate consensus,
engagement, and compliance with risk
reduction measures across all sectors of
society.
PRIORITY ACTION 2: Identify, assess, and monitor
disaster risks and enhance early warning systems.
 Communities are obliged to know the hazards,
and the physical, social, economic, and
environmental vulnerabilities they face. They
are also mandated to know the ways in which
hazards and vulnerabilities change both in the
short and long term, and the actions that must
be undertaken in view of this information.
PRIORITY ACTION 3: Use knowledge, innovation, and
education to build a culture of safety and resilience at
all levels
 This requires collecting, organizing, and
disseminating relevant information about
hazards, vulnerabilities, and capacities.
PRIORITY ACTION 4: Reduce the underlying risk
factors
 Relocate schools away from disaster prone
areas
 Build earthquake resilient school buildings
 Segregate and dispose waste properly to
avoid the spread of disease
 Label substances and chemicals which are
potentially hazardous
 Contain easily combustible materials away
from ignition sources
PRIORITY ACTION 5: Strengthen disaster
preparedness for effective response at all levels
 Continued education and training for disaster
preparedness and response
  Nurture a culture of disaster resilience across
all sectors of the community
 Improve or acquire the technology needed to
track and monitor risks.
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
THE PHASES OF DRRM
1. DISASTER PREVENTION AND
MITIGATION
According to RA 10121, disaster prevention is
“the outright avoidance of adverse impacts of
hazards and related disasters”. Meanwhile,
disaster mitigation is “the lessening or
limitation of the adverse impacts of hazards
and related disasters”.
2. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
 RA 10121 defines this thematic area as “the
knowledge and capacities developed by
governments, professional response and
recovery organizations, communities and
individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to,
and recover from, the impacts of likely,
imminent or current hazard events or
conditions”.
3. DISASTER RESPONSE
 The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010 defines disaster
response as “the provision of emergency
services and public assistance during or
immediately after a disaster in order to save
lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public
safety and meet the basic subsistence needs
of the people affected”.
4. Disaster rehabilitation and recovery
 RA 10121 defines rehabilitation and
recovery as “measures that ensure the ability
of affected communities/areas to restore their
normal level of functioning”. This can be
achieved through rebuilding livelihood and
damaged infrastructures and increasing the
communities’ organizational capacity for them
to build back better.
Filipinos are very well known of the ‘Bayanihan’ spirit
anytime and anywhere. This proves that when disaster
strikes, no Filipinos are left behind. Here in the
Philippines, there are lot of programs and interventions
we undertake as precautionary measures to upcoming
disasters. One good example is the Community-Based
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CBDRRM).
Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management
 A process in which at-risk communities are
actively engaged in the identification, analysis,
treatment, monitoring and evaluation of
disaster risks In order to reduce their
vulnerabilities and enhance their capacities.
Capacities of local people are enhanced to
help them assess the situation, identify risk
reduction measures and implement them. Risk
reduction measures include mitigation and
preparedness activities before a disaster
occurs as well as response and recovery
activities during and after the disaster.

Elements and Features of CBDRRM
 People’s Participation is providing or
allowing people more power to be able to
participate and contribute to the initiatives in
looking for possible answers to many
problems and issues including disaster.
 In CBDRRM, the priority sectors include the
vulnerable sectors in the urban areas such as
the urban poor and informal settlers and in the
rural areas, which consist of the subsistence
farmers, fisher folks, and indigenous people.
Also included are the elderly, the differently-
abled, children, and women.
 The measures applied in risk reduction are
community specific and defined based on the
community’s disaster risk analysis.
 Existing coping mechanisms and capacities
are acknowledged. It builds on common social
and organizational values and mechanisms
such as cooperation, community/people’s
organization, local knowledge, and resources.
 The goal is to reduce vulnerabilities and
build resilient communities.
 Disaster risk reduction also
includes addressing the roots of people’s
vulnerabilities and contributes to transforming
and eliminating structures that breed inequity
and underdevelopment.
 Institutions such as the government and
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have
a role to play. The NGOs have supporting,
facilitating, and catalytic roles in disaster risk
reduction. Nevertheless, their presence in
communities is only temporary. The
government’s role, on the other hand, is
integral in the institutionalization of the
CBDRRM process.
Essential Requisites of CBDRRM
 Capability Building in Disaster Management-
sustained education and training activities;
sustained public awareness using local
language and culture.
 Community Disaster Response Organization-
disaster management teams, disaster
response committee, disaster management
committee, and disaster management network.
  Counter Disaster Plan-
emergency/contingency plan, counter disaster
plan, preparedness and mitigation plan, and
community development plan.
 Disaster Risk Reduction- Development
Continuum- linking vulnerability reduction and
capacity building to achieving sustainable
people-centered development.
 Partnerships in Disaster Risk Reduction-
partnerships of the vulnerable sectors with
less vulnerable groups in CBDRRM,
partnerships of the community with the local
government, NGOs, and other communities.
ELEMENTS OF DRRM PLANS
1. ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS- this is also
known as the needs and risk assessment. Risks
are identified and assessed based on the
following:
 HAZARD PROFILE- likelihood, frequency,
severity, warning, and likely impact of the hazard(s)
 VULNERABILITY OF THE AREA- exposure of
the community or other elements to the identified
hazard and how they could be affected, whether
directly or indirectly
 CAPACITY OF THE COMMUNITY-
identification of all available and accessible
facilities and services that can minimize or prevent
the hazard from turning into a disaster.
2. DESIGN- this is modelled on the findings from
the Assessments and analysis stage
3. RESULTS OF IMPLEMENTATION- implementing
the DRRM plan is usually in the form of drill. Regular
implementation is important because new conditions or
unforeseen situations always arise in the communities
because of their dynamism. In this component,
relationship of all sectors involved and efficiency of all
their identified roles and services. This becomes
crucial during emergency situations as priorities are
usually done based on the established relationship of
the beneficiary of assistance.
4. MONITORING AND EVALUATION- are being
undertake in the different phases of during and post
disasters. Through monitoring and evaluation, you can
acquire information that determines the things that
need to be done in disaster management. Treating
primary stakeholders as active participant in M&E, not
just sources of information
 Building the capacity of local people to
analyse, reflect, and take action;
 Facilitating joint learning by all key
stakeholders; and
 Catalysing the commitment of stakeholders
to taking corrective actions.
Do you remember the back-to-back typhoons
which hit Metro Manila badly in 2009? Typhoon Ondoy,
for instance, left many parts of the Metropolis under
water like no other typhoon has done before. The
enormity of the impacts of the typhoons, earthquakes,
and other natural hazards tell us how helpless many
areas had been despite the systems in place during
those times. More than a decade before creation of the
NDRRMC in 2010 had already been lobbying for
institutional change, but to no avail.
RELEVANT LAWS ASSOCIATED WITH DISASTERS
1. CLIMATE CHANGE ACT OF 2009, also known
as RA 9729
 The law recognizes the constitutional right of
people to have a cleaner environment. It mandates
the formulation and implementation of plans and
strategies that would lower the vulnerability of local
communities, especially the most vulnerable
sectors of the society (e.g., poor, women, and
children). It encourages the integration of disaster
plans into all climate change and activities,
programs, and initiatives.
2. THE PEOPLE’S SURVIVAL FUND ACT OF
2011, also known as RA 10174
 This law was established to help achieve the
objectives of the climate change adaptation
programs. The People’s Survival Fund was initially
set at 1 billion pesos per year and may be
augmented from various sources through
donations, endowments, grants, and contribution.
3. THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2010,
also known as RA 10121
 Following this law is the birth of the NDRRMC.
The key objective of the organization is “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” (Sec. 2 RA 10121). This
paved the way for the development of policies,
plans, actions, and measures toward reduction of
disaster risk and establishment of preparedness
for effective response and speedy recovery. The
executive arm and undersecretariat of the
NDRRMC is the Office of Civil Defense (OCD),
which is under the Department of National
Defense (DND).
DRRMC ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTIONS
 National Defense as Chairperson. The
Department of National Defense (DND) is the
agency mandated to guard against external
and internal threats to national peace and
security in times of peace, war, and disasters.
 Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is the
implementing arm of the NDRRMC and has
the primary mission of administering a
comprehensive national civil defense and
DRRM program. It is the lead agency in the
continuous development of strategic and
systematic approaches as well as measures to
reduce the vulnerabilities and risks to hazards
and manage the consequences of disasters.
  NDRRMC is empowered to do the following
functions:
1. Develop the NDRRM framework
2. Development of NDRRM plan
3. Advise the president on the status
of DRRM in the country
4. Ensure a multi-stakeholder
participation
5. Establish a national warning and
alert system
6. Develop appropriate risk transfer
mechanisms
7. Monitor the development and
enforcement act of the Act
8. Manage and mobilize resources
9. Monitor and provide guidelines on
LDRRMF (Local Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Fund)
10. Develop assessment tools in
coordination with the Climate Change
Commission
11. Develop vertical and horizontal
coordination mechanisms
12. Formulate a national institutional
capability building program
13. Formulate a national agenda for
Research and Technology
Development on DRRM
14. Formulate and implement a
framework for CCA ( Climate Change
Adaptation) and DRRM
15. Constitute a Technical
Management Group
16. Task OCD to conduct periodic
assessment and performance
monitoring of the member agencies
17. Coordinate or oversee the
implementation of the country’s
obligation with disaster management
treaties.
 Under the chairman are four Secretaries
who act as Vice-Chairmen of the frontline
agencies, namely: The Department of Science
and Technology, the Department of the Interior
and Local Government, the Department of
Social Welfare and Development, and the
National Economic and Development
Authority.
ROLE OF LGUs
Under Republic Act 10121, there shall be a DRRM
Council for each region. LGUs, from the provincial to
the barangay level, are also mandated to form and
operated DRRM Councils. Each of these offices must
come up with a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Plan covering aspects of disaster
preparedness, response, prevention and mitigation,
and rehabilitation and recovery.
The Regional DRRM Council is NDRRMC’s regional
arm. It maintains an operating facility on a 24hour
basis, known as the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction
and management Operations Center. The country’s 17
RDMMCs coordinate, integrate, supervise, monitor
and evaluate Regional Council Member Agencies and
the LDRRMCs. These ensure the integration of
disaster risk reduction into local development plans,
programs, and budgets as strategy in sustainable
development and poverty reduction.
Depending on the scope or size of a disaster, the
Implementing Rules and Regulations of the new
DRRM law defines when different national and local
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils
will be activated:
 Barangay Development Council (BDC)- if a
barangay is affected
 City/Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council- if two or more
barangays are affected
 Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council- if two or more cities or
municipalities are affected
 Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council- if two or more provinces
are affected
 National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council- if two or more regions
are affected

RECOGNITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANIZATIONS (CSOs)
 The CSOs in the disaster management
structure include civic organizations, NGOs
(NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS),
people’s organizations, and other volunteer
entities. Many social institutions like the church,
schools, media and professional associations
have also become channels for popular
participation in disaster management. These
are highly organized groups that had been
engaged in disaster situations and other public
services.
GENERALIZATION:
Sinkholes happen when the ground below the
land surface cannot support the land surface. There
are three types of sinkholes, these
are Solution/Dissolution sinkholes, Cover Collapse
sinkholes and Cover Subsidence sinkholes. Sinkholes
can be caused by water, human activities and induced
earthquakes.
Hydrometeorological hazards are caused by
extreme meteorological and climate events, such as
floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, or landslides.
They account for a dominant fraction of natural
hazards and occur in all regions of the world, although
the frequency and intensity of certain hazards and
society’s vulnerability to them differ between regions.
Severe storms, strong winds, floods, and droughts
develop at different spatial and temporal scales, but all
can become disasters that cause significant
infrastructure damage and claim hundreds of
thousands of lives annually worldwide.
Fire is the visible effect of the process
of combustion – a special type of chemical reaction. It
occurs between oxygen in the air and some sort of fuel.
The products from the chemical reaction are
completely different from the starting material.
Fire can be helpful but when not appropriately
used, it can destroy, damage and even kill humans.
Fire can be prevented if a person is knowledgeable of
the different stages of fire. The Phases of fire
are Incipient/Ignition, Growth fire, fully developed fire
and Decay.
Historically, dealing with disasters focused on
emergency response, but towards the end of the 20th
century it was increasingly recognized that disasters
are not natural (even if the associated hazard is) and
that it is only by reducing and managing conditions of
hazard, exposure and vulnerability that we can prevent
losses and alleviate the impacts of disasters. Since we
cannot reduce the severity of natural hazards, the
main opportunity for reducing risk lies in reducing
vulnerability and exposure.
The CBDRRM is a process in which at risk
communities are actively engaged in the identification,
analysis, treatment, monitoring, and evaluation of
disaster risks in order to reduce their vulnerabilities
and enhance their capacities. This means that people
are at the heart of decision-making and
implementation of disaster risk management activities.
Three Philippine laws were formulated and
instantly executed to guide and direct efforts to
mitigating disasters: CLIMATE CHANGE ACT OF
2009, also known as RA 9729, THE PEOPLE’S
SURVIVAL FUND ACT OF 2011, also known as RA
10174 and THE PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2010,
also known as RA 10121
As the country’s highest policy-making body
for disaster risk reduction and management, the
NDRRMC advises the President regarding all phases
of disasters from preparedness to rehabilitation. The
following are assigned as the leaders in case of
calamities: National Defense as Chairperson, Office of
Civil Defense, The Department of Science and
Technology, the Department of the Interior and Local
Government, the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, and the National Economic and
Development Authority.