Republic Act No.

10121 - PHILIPPINE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2010

HAZARDS - A situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property or environment.

RISKS - A probability or threat of a damage, injury, liability, loss, or other negative occurrence that is
caused by external or internal vulnerabilities, and that may be neutralized through preemptive action.

VULNERABILITY - The level of susceptibility or resiliency of the people and communities Center for the
Epidemiology of against the based on the state of physical, social, and economic conditions in a given
area.

DISASTERS - A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread

human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the
affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

THE DISASTER EQUATION

H x R + V = Disaster

 Hazards (H). Physical impact of disturbance

 Risk (R). Likelihood of harm, loss, disaster
 People or Community (Exposure). Elements affected by hazard
 Vulnerability (V). Susceptibility and capacity to prepare, absorb, and recover from hazard

HAZARDS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Natural Hazards are natural processes or phenomena occurring in the biosphere that may constitute a
damaging event.

1. GEOGRAPHICAL - Natural earth processes or phenomena in the biosphere, which include

geological, neo-tectonic, geophysical, geomorphological, geotechnical and hydro-geological
nature. Examples: earthquakes, tsunamis; volcanic activity and emissions; Mass movements i.e.
landslides, rockslides, rockfall, liquefaction, submarine slides; subsidence, surface collapse,
geological fault activity.
2. HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL - Natural processes or phenomena of atmospheric, hydrological or
oceanographic nature. Examples: floods, debris and mud flows; tropical cyclone, storm surge,
thunder/ hailstorms, rain and wind storms, blizzards and other severe storms; drought,
desertification, wild land fires, heat waves, sand or dust storms; permafrost, snow avalanches.
3. BIOLOGICAL - Processes of organic or those conveyed by biological vectors, including exposure to
pathogenic micro-organism, toxins and bioactive substances. Examples: outbreak of epidemics
diseases, plant or animal contagion and extensive infestations.

TECHNOLOGICAL HAZARDS - Danger originating from technological or industrial accidents, dangerous

procedures, infrastructure failures or certain human activities, which may cause the loss of life or injury,
property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation.

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION - Environmental Degradation processes induced by human behavior

and activities (sometimes combined with natural hazards) that damage the natural resource base or
adversely alter natural processes or ecosystems.