April Ann Krizel Galang

Section 101

A disaster plan is a strategy that enables individuals to lessen the harm brought on by
calamities. Conflicts caused by natural disasters like earthquakes, typhoons, and floods
are unavoidable. Despite the fact that disasters are unavoidable, being ready might
lessen their danger or damage. Here in the Philippines, we separate our disaster plans
by barangay, town, or village because if each city just had one action group, it would be
difficult for the rescuers to act immediately due to the variety of handled regions.
In our barangay, Brgy. Dutung-A- Matas, Concepcion, Tarlac we also have a
disaster plan yearly and approved by the government. The contact number of the
barangay is posted almost everywhere on the road or highway so is it easy for me to
contact the barangay officials about the updated barangay disaster plan. But
regrettably, the government has not yet approved the 2022–2023 disaster plan, despite
it being finished. I went to the barangay hall and inquired if I could view or obtain the
most recent disaster plan that had been authorized by the government. They agreed
and even brought me inside to photograph the most recent catastrophe plan that our
barangay officials had created for the years 2021–2022. They helped me right away to
receive the disaster plan despite the fact that our barangay is now conducting a
vaccination drive. One of the Sangguniang Barangay members assisted me in gathering
all the necessary information, didn't make me wait for hours, and even inquired about
other services they provide because they claimed to have a vaccination site. For me,
my barangay is very willing to bring about service to our citizens because of how they
treated me when I asked for a barangay disaster preparedness plan.
I discovered that my barangay takes disaster response seriously after looking at
the barangay disaster preparedness plan. Even contingency plans and hazard maps
were included in our barangay disaster plan and were easily accessible to residents
upon request. My main worry is that many of the residents in our barangay are unaware
that disaster plans are accessible because I didn't learn about them until the NSTP
orientation. Since not everyone is familiar with how to read hazard maps or even where
the evacuation routes are, I believe the barangay should do more than just establish
barangay plans. Barangay plans could help reduce the major risks associated with
disasters, but how could they do so if few people are aware of them? What I did was in
my family, I explain why I needed the barangay plan because it is not only for my NSTP
subject but also knowing the content so that I can inform people about the disaster plan
as well. In my opinion, it is everyone’s job to know how to be prepared in times of
disaster, and it is the barangay’s job to help people with the preparation. This task by
the NSTP subject really helped me realize the importance of being educated about
disasters and being informed that there is a barangay plan.