QUARTER 1/WEEK 1

DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

LESSON 1: DISASTER

Hi! I am your teacher for this subject, my name is Jayson Desear. Welcome to our class on Disaster
Readiness and Risk Reduction. We all know that our country is frequently affected by disasters, either
man-made or natural. On this subject, you will learn the different disasters affecting our country, how
can they effect on the community level, and how can we prepare to mitigate/lessen their effect.
We will start on a brief introduction on Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction.

Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction is a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and reducing
the risk of disaster.
Bakit mahalagang pag-aralan ang subject na ito?

Napakaimportanteng pag-aralan ang DRRR sa kadahilanang makakatulong ito sa pagharap sa iba`t

ibang sakuna, para mas maging ready tayo kung sakaling magkaroon ng bagyo, lindol, volcanic
eruption, etc. Of course, kung mas ready tayo sa mga disaster na ito, mas malelessen ang potential
damage na pwedeng maidulot ng mga ito.

What is Disaster?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), disaster is an occurrence disrupting the normal
conditions of existence and causing a level of suffering that exceeds the capacity of adjustment of the
affected community.

Examples of disasters are earthquake, typhoons, terrorism, arson, etc.

We often confuse the true meaning of disaster and hazard. It is important to take note that hazard is the
event which has the possibility to cause damage, (pwede pa lang siyang mangyari). Halimbawa,
nagdadrive ka, pwede kang makabunggo or even mabunggo, that`s the hazard of you driving. Disaster
on the other hand, is a dangerous situation that has become out of control, nangyari na, di na siya
pwedeng maagapan. Again, imagine nagdadrive ka, may possibility na mabunggo or makabunggo ka,
that`s the hazard, now nabangga ka, or nakabangga ka, yun na yung tinatawag natin na disaster.

Two Types of Disaster

Natural disasters are those catastrophic events that are caused by nature or natural processes of Earth.
So, in short, di na natin mapipigilan ang mga disasters na ito. Pwede lang nating ilessen ang damages na
pwedeng idulot ng mga ito. Examples are earthquake, volcanic eruption, typhoons etc. Unless, may
kakilala kayong pwedeng makapigil ng mga yan!

However, man-made disasters have an element of human intent, negligence or error involving a man-
made system. Sinabi ko kanina na di natin mapipigilan ang natural disasters, maaarin naman nating
pigilan ang man-made disasters. Examples of man-made disasters are oil spill, arson, or even terrorism.
Different Risk Factors Underlying Disasters

Addressing the underlying risk factors is fundamental to reducing disaster risk that will lead to saving
more life and property.

Different risk factors include:

• Climate Change
• Environmental Degradation
• Globalized Economic Development
• Poverty and Inequality
• Poorly planned and Managed Urban Development
• Weak Governance

Climate Change
Climate change can increase disaster risk in a variety of ways – by altering the frequency and intensity of
hazards events, affecting vulnerability to hazards, and changing exposure patterns.

Malaking factor ang climate change sa effect ng disaster. May mga bansa na nakakaexperience ng
extreme drought dulot ng climate change na nakakaapekto sa kanilang pananim, na nagdudulot ng food
shortage sa kanilang bansa. Even here in the Philippines, palakas nang palakas ang naeexperience
nating mga bagyo na nagdudulot ng mas madaming taong namamatay, mga infrastructure and
agricultural supplies na nasisira ng mga bagyong ito.

Environmental Degradation
It is both a driver and consequence of disasters, reducing the capacity of the environment to meet social
and ecological needs.
Maaaring maging cause and effect ang environmental degradation in relationship with disaster. For
example, dahil sa kaingin or deforestation tumataas ang chance ng landslide sa isang lugar. Sa kabilang
banda naman, nakakalbo ang mga bundok dahil sa wildfire or malalakas na bagyo na tumatama sa mga
kabundukan.

Globalized Economic Development

Developing urban areas can have a big expense on the environment.

Economic development is all good, as long as hindi ito nakakaapekto ng malaki sa environment natin.
Halimbawa sa Baguio, pinuputol yung mga puno para gawing mall or subdivisions.Same scenario sa
kanina, mas tumataas ang chance ng landslide dahil sa pagtatayo ng mga iba`t ibang infrastructure sa
bundok.

Poverty and Inequality

Poverty is both a driver and consequence of disasters, and the processes that further disaster risk
related poverty are permeated with inequality.

Parehas rin sa environmental degradation, pwede rin siyang maging cause and effect ng disaster. Pwede
siyang maging cause in the sense na, mas vulnerable yung mga taong illegal settlers at dikit-dikit ang
bahay sa sunog or bagyo, compared sa mga bahay na nasa subdivision. Effect dahil sa damage ng
disasters sa mga tao, specifically agriculture. Mas nababaon sa utang yung mga farmers natin, dahil
nasisira ang mga pananim nila sa bagyo, maraming negosyo ang Nawala at mga taong nawalan ng
trabaho dahil sa pandemic ngayon.

Weak Governance
Weak governance zones are investment environments in which public sector actors are unable or
unwilling to assume their roles and responsibilities in protecting rights, providing basic services and
public services.

Syempre malaki ng role ng gobyerno sa pagharap sa mga disasters. Isipin mo na lang kung incompetent
yung mga tao sa gobyerno. Hindi nila alam kung anong gagawin, or palpak yung mga decisions nila.
Malamang sa malamang eh, mas lalaki ang effect ng disasters sa bansa. Dagdag mo pa if corrupt yung
government, yung 3,000 na galing sa national level, 2,000 na lang iabot ni governor kay mayor, si mayor
naman, 1,000 na lang iabot sa barangay captain. Then sa wakas, umabot na sa atin, kaso 500 na lang.

And that is the end of our first lesson, next topic will be the effect of disaster and disaster on different
perspectives.

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