BACLIG, LORNA G.

18-1205
BSCE 4-2

RESEARCH CRITIQUE
ON
IMPACT OF MAGNITUDE 6.5 EARTHQUAKE ON THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOOD
OF AFFECTED COMMUNITIES: THE CASE STUDY OF BARANGAY LAKE DANAO,
ORMOC CITY, LEYTE, PHILIPPINES
Lyca G. Ipong, Elvira E. Ongy *, Milagros C. Bales
(2020)

Title

The study was entitled “Impact of magnitude 6.5 earthquake on the lives and livelihoods
of affected communities: The case of Barangay Lake Danao, Ormoc City, Leyte Philippines”. It
was conducted by Lyca G. Ipong, Elvira E. Ongy, and Milagros C. Bales of Visayas State
University. The study was published on February 8, 2020 at International Journal of Disaster
Risk Reduction.
This study aimed to examine the impacts of magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck Leyte
in July 6, 2017, with the main objective of assessing and understanding the impacts of the
earthquake on physical, human, social and financial assets of the affected community in
Barangay Lake Danao.
After reading the whole study, I can approve that the title of this study succinctly reflect
the content of the work, not only the different factors assess in order to answer the main
objective but also on the scope of the study. Moreover, the title also stimulates the reader’s
interest by mentioning the source of the problem why the study was conducted which is the
magnitude 6.5 earthquake happened in Leyte, given that it’s very informative and interesting
topic for the readers residing in the Philippines because this disaster is very common in the
country.

Introduction

The introduction started in discussing that natural disaster is one of the significant issues
affecting the lives and livelihoods of people worldwide and one of those natural disasters is the
earthquake considering that it’s the most destructive and terrifying. After that, they specify
Philippines as one of the hazard prone country because it is located along the “Pacific Ring of
Fire” where earthquakes and volcanic activities are experienced frequently.
To further specify the scope of the study, they also discussed the 2017 Leyte Earthquake,
including the location of the study which is the Brgy. Lake Danao, Ormoc City, Leyte;
limitations and constraints in conducting study; and also the significance of the study to
community specially to the leaders for determining the needs of the people and for planning and
preparation for the possible reoccurrence of the disaster.
Upon reading the introduction, even if it was short, I noticed that it provided the
necessary information that would help readers to understand the problem of the study. The
objective, scope and limitations, and significance of study were also included in such brief
introduction. However, in citing their references, they just indicated the reference number as
reflected in the references making it difficult for the readers to know immediately when and who
are the source of the background information they included in the text. But, I also think that the
way the author cites their reference is more effective because it can reduce the confusion that
longs citations could cause.

Conceptual Framework

The researchers adapted and modified the conceptual framework from Lindell and
Prater's "Assessing Community Impacts of Natural Disasters" study for the conceptual
framework. The researchers take into account the hazard mitigation process and emergency
preparedness measures, as well as the features of an earthquake and its impact on the
community's physical, human, social, and financial assets, using this conceptual framework. As a
result, the earthquake characteristics, hazard mitigation procedure, and disaster preparedness
techniques become dependent factors, while the physical, human, social, and financial assets of
the impacted community become independent variables.
Upon assessing the conceptual framework, I concluded that the modified framework
adapted from "Assessing Community Impacts of Natural Disasters" is appropriate for
determining answers to their key research questions. However, the researchers quickly determine
that the hazard mitigation process and emergency preparedness are inadequate. This discussion
should take place at the end of the investigation, not in the conceptual framework. Furthermore,
the researchers do not give enough or compelling proof that hazard mitigation techniques are
lacking, despite the fact that this is most likely true.

Methodology, Results and Conclusion

In acquiring data for this study, the researchers used both primary and secondary data, as
well as a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. For choosing the respondents of
the study, the researchers followed a probability sampling technique using random sampling
strategy. The researchers used interviews, survey questionnaires, observation, and recording to
ensure that all necessary information was collected.
 According to the findings, damage to basic physical assets displaced affected households,
negatively impacted the community's education system, harmed the community's health system,
hampered the community's sanitary condition, and reduced the income of affected families,
particularly those who work in agriculture. They also come to the conclusion that the
earthquake's effects were enhanced owing to a lack of hazard mitigation methods and insufficient
planning. This has a detrimental influence on the community as a whole.
The research's strength is in establishing a comprehensive method for measuring and
describing the consequences of an earthquake on particular locations. What the researchers
performed can be recreated in other earthquake-stricken areas, as well as in areas afflicted by
other natural calamities. Another benefit is that the specific impact of the event may be measured
rather than the overall impact. They begin with specificity and work their way up to generalities,
quantifying earthquake's impact in terms of physical, human, social, and financial assets rather
than simply physical and social damage.
However, one disadvantage of this study is that the researchers did not assess the impact
of natural disasters. The researcher's constraints and limitations resulted in an insufficient
evaluation of the community's capabilities resulted from the earthquake. As a result, their
research on the earthquake's impact is insufficient. Furthermore, the researchers consider far too
many independent variables. It also allows the researchers to manipulate the results, as
independent variables are also known as "manipulative variables." As a result, the credibility of
the research is questioned.
The use of stratified random sampling in the selection of the families to be interviewed is
another advantage of this study. Through this sampling technique, the interview will represent
the general condition of the affected families in the area, and it is a methodical approach of doing
the interview. Furthermore, using both primary and secondary data has advantages and
disadvantages. The benefit is that the range of data analyzed in this research is broad,
guaranteeing that the research is contextual. Secondary data given by the local government unit,
on the other hand, may contain errors. In addition to that, the employment of qualitative and
quantitative methods is particularly suitable to the research's purpose since it demands
understanding the views of earthquake victims as well as evaluating, quantifying, and providing
meaning related to the study.
They performed an excellent approach assessing and interpreting the data collected. To
find out the influence of factors, the study employed appropriate statistical methods such as
frequency distribution and percentage. They discussed and tabulated the data after categorizing
the information in terms of the factors (physical, human, social, and financial), resulting in good
results and discussion, as well as the conclusion and recommendations.
Comments and Suggestion
Upon assessing every part of this study, I certainly assure that the researchers get most of
the information they need to accomplish the study's objectives. What the researchers performed
can be recreated in other earthquake-stricken areas, as well as in areas afflicted by other natural
calamities. They begin with specificity and work their way up to generalities, quantifying
earthquake's impact in terms of physical, human, social, and financial assets rather than simply
physical and social damage.
Nonetheless, despite the positive outcomes presented in the overall study, I found
significant flaws, particularly in the method of data collection, which affected the credibility of
the result of the study. Additionally, considering the differences in community’s condition in
each impacted barangay, I believe the researchers should broaden the scope of their
investigation. Instead, they might have obtained more data and more trustworthy information if
they had covered all of the afflicted barangay.