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CONTEMPORARY ISSUES How does an issue become

Contemporary?
Issues
SOCIALLY- ORIENTED
- cause disturbances to people in all
- It relates to the experiences of and
corners of the planet.
interactions of groups of people.
- These created constant debates and
- The issue may be discussed on a local or
disagreements among societies due to
international level.
differences in values and beliefs.
- These are events which are the causes UNRESOLVED CONFLICT
and bases for peoples’ disagreements
and debates and are widely affecting Some issues were not addressed in the past and
their lives in the society. continues to affect or disrupt the present-day
situation.

SOCIAL DISORDERS
Contemporary Issues It has the potential to inflict harm and disrupt
individual relationships.
- affects the majority of the Philippine
population and these are all the
protagonists in much of the
conversations here in the country. As a
result, we can consider them
as CONTEMPORARY.

WHAT IS A CONTEMPORARY ISSUE?

An event, idea, opinion, topic, or problem that
is relevant and is a public discourse in our
community, nation, or the world at present
(Kendall, 2013).

Contemporary Issues is also synonymous to

"current issues".

These are discussed/present in news, radio

reports, television, internet, or even in public
discourse.

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TYPE OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES SOCIAL ISSUES

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

POLITICAL ISSUES
To summarize, contemporary issues are threats to
our unity and order for these events create social
ills that destroys the stability of every country.
These arguments exist due to our variety in
cultures, ideologies, and values. It covers all
aspects of one's life therefore, a person cannot
escape its drastic effects. In the next lessons, we
are going to start making a change by creating
little steps. Contemporary issues need to be
addressed so the generation ahead of us may live
in peace and happiness.
Economic issues

Contemporary issues adversely affect

our society.
One of the major effects is that our harmony is
disturbed and instead, there is hostility and
suspicion in the community. These also result in
large-scale social dissatisfaction and create
suffering and misery. Overall, these effects do not
at all help in solving any problem but creates
problem of serious magnitude, which is
disadvantageous to the whole society.

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LESSON 2: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN
THE PHILIPPINES

MAN-MADE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

These are issues brought by human
activities that result in disease and
death of living beings, including, plants,
animals, and human beings.
Example:
Deforestation, Plastic Pollution, Wars,
Chemical Pollution

NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

These are events brought by the natural
processes of the Earth. It results to loss
of life or damage to property.
Example:
Earthquake, Volcanic Eruption,
Wildfires, Typhoon

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HURRICANE VS. TYPHOON

Location where the storm occurs is the only

difference of these two terms.

If it’s above the North Atlantic, central North

Pacific or eastern North Pacific oceans (Florida,
Caribbean Islands, Texas, Hawaii, etc.), we call
it a hurricane.

If it hovers over the Northwest Pacific Ocean

(usually East Asia), we call it a typhoon.

LESSON 3: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN

THE PHILIPPINES
Philippines ranked third among all of the countries
with the highest risks worldwide according to the
World Risk Report 2018. At least 60% of the TROPICAL CYCLONES
country’s total land area is exposed to multiple
Derive their energy from the latent heat of
hazards, and 74% of the population is susceptible to
condensation which made them exist only over
their impact (GFDRR, 2017). This is largely due to
the oceans and die out rapidly on land. One of
the location and geographical context as the risk
its distinguishing features is it having a central
involving coastal hazards such as typhoons, storm
sea-level pressure of 900 mb or lower and
surges and rising sea levels is high.
surface winds often exceeding 100 knots. They
Also, as the islands are located within the “ Ring of reach their greatest intensity while located
Fire” between the Eurasian and Pacific tectonic over warm tropical waters and they begin to
plates, earthquakes and volcanoes are posing weaken as they move inland. The intensity of
serious risks to the safety of the populace. tropical cyclones varies; thus, we can classify
them based upon their degree of intensity.
COMMON DISASTER IN THE PHILIPPINES

TYPHOON

- It is a low pressure area or a tropical cyclone that is

large and violent. It rotates counterclockwise with warm
air rising above the warm water of the Pacific Ocean

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EARTHQUAKES
It is an unexpected and rapid shaking of the
Earth due to the breakage and shifting of layers
underneath and strikes all of a sudden at any
time of the day.
An earthquake can be tectonic or volcanic.
Tectonic earthquake refers to the movement or
shifting of tectonic plates. On the other hand,
volcanic earthquake is triggered by volcanic
activity near the surface.
VOLCANIC ERUPTION
It occurs when magma is released from a
volcano. Volcanic eruptions can be quite calm
and effusive, or they can be explosive. Effusive
eruptions produce lava flows, while explosive
eruptions produce ash and pyroclastic density
currents.
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WHY DOES THE PHILIPPINES HAVE MANY
VOLCANOES?
The Philippines sits on a unique tectonic setting
ideal to volcanism and earthquake activity. It is
situated at the boundaries of two tectonic plates
– the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian plate
– both of which subduct or dive beneath the
archipelago along the deep trenches along its
east and west seaboard.
LANDSLIDE
A landslide is the mass movement of rock, soil,
and debris down a slope due to gravity. It occurs
when the driving force is greater than the
resisting force. It is a natural process that occurs
in steep slopes. The movement may range from
very slow to rapid. It can affect areas both near
and far from the source.
Landslide materials may include:
Soil, Debris, Rock, Garbage
LANDSLIDE TRIGGERS
Natural triggers
Intense rainfall
Weathering of rocks
Ground vibrations created during earthquakes
Volcanic activity
Man-made triggers
LANDSLIDE TRIGGERING CONDITIONS
Steep Slopes
Weakening of slope material
Weathering of rocks
Overloading on the slope
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WHAT IS A DISASTER?
It is a serious disruption of the functioning of a
community or a society causing widespread
human, material, economic, or environmental
losses, which exceed the ability of the affected
community to cope using its own resources.
Similarly, the WHO (2002) describes disaster as
"any occurrence that causes damage, ecological
disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of
health, and health services, on a scale sufficient
to warrant an extraordinary response from
outside the affected community or area".
Moreover, a disaster may be man-made or
natural.
BASIC CONCEPTS IN UNDERSTANDING A
DISASTER
Disasters are frequently described as a result of
the combination of the following:
1. the exposure to a hazard
2. the conditions of vulnerability present
3. insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or
cope with the potential negative consequences
Hence, in understanding disaster, it is necessary
to have a good grasp of the concepts of hazard,
vulnerability, and capacity.
WHAT IS A HAZARD?
A hazard is a situation or an occurrence with the
capacity to bring damages to lives, properties,
and the environment.
Taking the form of natural, man-made, or a
combination of the two, a hazard is a dangerous
phenomenon or a human activity that may also
cause loss of livelihoods and services, as well as
social and economic disruption.
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WHAT IS A DISASTER?
It is a serious disruption of the functioning of a
community or a society causing widespread
human, material, economic, or environmental
losses, which exceed the ability of the affected
community to cope using its own resources.
Similarly, the WHO (2002) describes disaster as
"any occurrence that causes damage, ecological
disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of
health, and health services, on a scale sufficient
to warrant an extraordinary response from
outside the affected community or area".
Moreover, a disaster may be man-made or
natural.
TYPES OF HAZARDS
1. Natural Hazards
Natural phenomena that pose threats or cause
negative impacts to people and property.
Examples of the following are:
Typhoon, storm surge, flood/flash flood,
earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, lahar
flows, drought, red tide, wildfire, etc.
2. Man-made Hazards
Human-made hazards include civil conflict,
displacement due to development projects,
environmental degradation, industrial-
technological hazards like leakage of toxic waste,
oil spill, fish kills, etc.
3. Combination or Socionatural Hazards
Flooding and drought can fall under this category
if these are due to deforestation. Most events are
combinations or interplay of both natural and
human-made factors. Typhoons are natural
hazards that can also cause flash floods. At the
same time, environmental degradation, like
excessive and illegal logging, aggravates the
impact of the typhoon and flash floods. The flash
flood in Ormoc in Southern Leyte in 1991 is one
example.
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VULNERABILITY (WEAKNESS)
This is a condition determined by physical, social,
economic, and environmental factors or
processes, which increases the susceptibility of a
community to the impact of hazards. These long-
term factors affect a household or community's
ability to absorb losses after a disaster and to
recover from damage.
Vulnerability is present in the community even
before a disaster happens. It precedes disaster;
contributes to its severity, impedes disaster
response, and may continue to exist after a
disaster has struck.
VULNERABILITY (WEAKNESS)
MOST VULNERABLE SECTORS
They are the community members whose capacities
are low and insufficient to withstand and overcome
the damaging and adverse effects of disasters.
Examples: farmers, urban poor, laborers, indigenous
people, person with disabilities (PWDs), women, and
children
LESS VULNERABLE SECTORS
They are the community members whose capacities
start from their own ability to acquire material
resources; skills, and training; and position in society.
Their role is to extend assistance and support the
most vulnerable sectors.
Examples: professionals, small entrepreneurs, and
others similar to those who belong to the higher levels
of society
NOT VULNERABLE SECTORS
Sectors in the society having a high position in the
community
Most of the time, they are the targets of the vulnerable
and less vulnerable sectors in advocacy work in
relating disaster issues to the structure and policies
implemented by the government that is the root
causes of vulnerability of the community.
Examples: government officials, barangay leaders
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CATEGORIES OF VULNERABILITIES
1. Physical/Material
For example, poor people who have few physical
and material resources usually suffer more from
disasters than rich people; they don't have any
savings or insurance, they are in poor health.
-location & type housing/building materials
-infrastructure and services: roads, health
facilities, schools, electricity, transport, housing,
etc.
-population rate, mortality, diseases, nutritional
status, literacy
2. Social/Organizational
- Weak family structure
- Leadership qualities and structure
- Legislation and Laws
- Decision-making structures (who is left out, who
is in, effectiveness)
- Participation levels
- Divisions and conflicts
- Degree of justice, equality, access to political
processes
- Isolation or connectedness
- Community organizations: formal, informal,
traditional, progressive
3. Attitudinal/Motivational
People who have low confidence in their ability to
affect change or who have "lost hear" and feel
defeated by events they cannot control are
harder hit by disasters than those who have a
sense of their ability to bring the changes they
desire.
Attitude towards change
Faith, determination, fighting spirit
Initiative
Consciousness, awareness
Unity, solidarity, cooperation
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WHAT IS CAPACITY?
Capacity refers to "all the strengths, attributes,
and resources available within a community,
organization, or society that can be used to
achieve an agreed goal".
These qualities give space to citizens and
communities to cope with, overcome the adverse
effects of, and reduce the risks of disasters
through preparation, mitigation, and recovery.
Hence, the call is to develop and build these
capacities categorized as socioeconomic,
political, ideological/cultural, physical,
organizational, and leadership.
Rather than on any single agency, professional
discipline, or stakeholder group; the development
of capacity is the concern of the entire society.
Coping capacity is the ability of people,
organizations, and systems, using available skills,
and resources to face and manage adverse
conditions, emergencies, or disasters
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CATEGORIES OF CAPACITY
1. Physical/Material
- Well-built structure of the house/building
- Adequate income/savings
- Numerous health facilities and evacuation
centers
- Emergency kits and materials
- Disaster Preparedness Trainings
2. Social/Organizational
- Equal access to opportunities
- Strong family relationships
- Presence of laws and legislations
- Strict implementation of laws
3. Attitudinal/Motivational
- Open-mindedness
- Faithfulness
- United, and cooperative
- Motivated
- High Societal Awareness
Capacity Assessment
Refers to the process whereby people identify the
resources they rely on in times of crisis to reduce
the damaging effects of hazards and to secure
the sustainability of their livelihood.
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DISASTER RISK

It is the chance or likelihood of suffering harm

and loss as a result of a hazardous event. It
closely depends upon the exposure of a person or
a community to a hazard.

Disaster Risk is also defined as the probability of

harmful consequences, expected losses (death,
injuries, properties, livelihoods, etc.) resulting
from interactions between natural or human-
induced hazard and vulnerable conditions.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

It can be defined as the organization and

management of resources and responsibilities for
dealing with all humanitarian aspects of
emergencies, in particular preparedness,
response and recovery in order to lessen the
impact of disasters.

The first people to respond to a disaster are those

living in the local community. They are the first to
start rescue and relief operations.

MAIN GOAL OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

RESILIENCE
Disaster resilience is the ability of individuals,
communities, organizations and states to adapt to and
recover from hazards, shocks or stresses without
compromising long-term prospects for development.

According to the Hyogo Framework for Action (UNISDR,

2005), disaster resilience is determined by the degree to
which individuals, communities and public and private
organizations are capable of organizing themselves to
learn from past disasters and reduce their risks to future
ones, at international, regional, national and local levels.

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APPROACHES IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

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LESSON 5: COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER PRINCIPLES OF CBDRRM
RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT
(CBDRRM)

COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

The Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

Management (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 (ADPC, 2003).

This means that people are at the heart of decision-

making and implementation of disaster risk
management activities. The CBDRRM indicates that the
participation of the most vulnerable social groups is
significant, whereas the contribution of the least
vulnerable groups is essential for the effective
implementation of this approach

COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

The Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction

Management (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 (ADPC, 2003).

This means that people are at the heart of decision-

making and implementation of disaster risk
management activities. The CBDRRM indicates that the
participation of the most vulnerable social groups is
significant, whereas the contribution of the least
vulnerable groups is essential for the effective
implementation of this approach

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