The level of disaster preparedness of UPHSD Las Pinas campus

Statement of the Problem

The aims of this study are to know the level of disaster preparedness of University of
Perpetual Help System DALTA Las Pinas Campus as perceived by UPHSD students and staffs.
Specifically, the study seeks to answer the following;
1. What is the profile of respondents of in terms of?
1.1. age;
1.2. sex;
1.3. educational attainment; and,
1.4. department/college?
2. What is the level of disaster preparedness of UPHSD Las Pinas Campus, in terms of:
2.1. systems and procedures;
2.2. manpower resources; and,
2.3. equipment and logistics?
3. Is there a significant difference on the level of disaster preparedness when grouped
according to their profile?
4. What action plans may be formulated to enhance the disaster preparedness of UPHSD
LP?

RATIONALE
The purpose of the study is to find out the level of disaster preparedness of students and
staffs of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Las Pinas Campus. The level of
knowledge of students and, different ideas about to with concerning to disaster preparedness.
The different activities and training conducted by the UPHSD Las Pinas Campus, ensure that the
students are aware and prepared for unexpected disasters.
Level of disaster preparedness of UPHSD Las Pinas Campus in terms of the system and
procedure, on how they conduct different training to enhance the skills and ability of
criminology students. In terms of manpower resources, the total supply of persons is available
and fitted for unexpected disasters. Why are manpower resources so important in disaster
preparedness? Productivity. Manpower is essential particularly because they cannot maintain
operations without it. The school which has more manpower will be able to accomplish more
tasks and take on more projects. Those schools with barely enough manpower are hardly going
to get any work done. Manpower is the most important asset of an organization because only
men are the sole living organisms while the other resources are nonliving things. On how to
prepare the equipment and logistics of the UPHSD Las Pinas Campus. The availability and
accessibility to emergency response equipment as well as trained volunteers with a prepared
search and rescue plan.
This study will also give knowledge and ideas to the future readers on what level of
disaster preparedness the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Las Pinas Campus has.
For them to have the freedom of fear when they are in our university.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(IFRC) disasters are severe disturbances to a community’s functions that surpasses the
community’s ability to cope up to the situation using its own resources. Disasters occur when a
natural or man-made danger and technical risk strikes at a human settlement that is under-
resourced or under-organized to endure the impact, and whose population is susceptible due to
poverty, exclusion, or other forms of social disadvantage (Mitzuri, 2020).
The term "disaster preparedness" refers to a set of actions aimed at making a community
more resilient in the event of a disaster. When a calamity strikes, such as during an earthquake,
people's lives are put in jeopardy. The ability to respond in an emergency to safeguard property
and contain a situation damage and disruption caused by disasters, as well as the ability to
participate in post-disaster recovery efforts activities aimed at restoring the environment and
assisting with the early stages of recovery Efforts in preparedness focuses at ensuring that all of
the necessary resources for effectively responding in times of disaster are in place, and those who
are tasked to respond at a certain situation knows how to use those resources. The usual activities
that related with disaster preparedness includes developing planning process to ensure
effectivity, formulating plans for disaster, gathering necessary resources to effectively respond to
the disaster that can occur, and enhancing individual skills to effectively perform in times of
disaster and other related tasks. (Sutton & Tierney, 2006)
The motivating ideals that underlie disaster management, namely minimizing harm to
people, property, and the environment, are generally the same all over the world. The ability to
carry out this mission, on the other hand, is far from uniform. The terrible reality is that certain
countries and regions are better capable than others at solving the problem, whether for political,
cultural, economic, or other reasons. However, no nation, regardless of its riches or power, is so
evolved as to be completely immune to the harmful impacts of calamities. Furthermore, as a
result of the globalization of the economy, it is becoming increasingly impossible to restrict the
repercussions of disasters inside a single country's borders (Coppola, 2007)
Measures done to prepare for and mitigate the effects of disasters pertains to
disaster preparedness. It necessitates a high level of preparation and restriction that may have an
influence on vulnerable persons, as well as the ability to properly respond and cope with the
consequences. Berl D. Jones Jr. (2017) states in his study that disaster preparedness and response
necessitate a thorough understanding of the needs and approaches for disaster preparedness and
response. At the same time, these critical activities and approaches are heavily influenced by
contextual factors that determine both the scope and nature of preparedness and response.
Disaster preparedness and response is not based on unconstrained flexibility to meet all needs.
There are limits, permissions, and definitions that apply at all levels of government and to nearly
all elements of preparedness, response, and recovery. In order to assure an integrated response
and a reduction in misunderstandings, all parties benefit when the various authorities are
understood and tested in exercises. (Shultz et al,. 2017).

Methods to follow for better execution are developed through disaster preparedness. There
are several procedural approaches to perform and conduct for addressing a great plan for disaster
response by institutions.  Furthermore, once informed and thoroughly imparted to the students
and faculties, it will be executed well and developed the preparedness towards disaster. As stated
by Tkachuck, M. (2016) with his study, The methods used were essential in the initiation of what
will become a much more comprehensive model of disaster preparedness research. By first
getting an idea as to where students stand in regards to natural disaster preparedness, the
institution and researchers can move forward more effectively applying a strong evidenced-based
framework to both research methods and the dissemination and implementation of preparedness
techniques used within the institution.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices have a significant relationship and positive intercorrelation.
(Balila et al,. 2017) Their study reveals that non-teaching employees have a better attitude and
practices for disaster preparedness than students, but their knowledge is statistically comparable.
It concludes that the study's findings serve as the foundation for a disaster preparedness plan,
emphasizing the need for budget allocation for safety precautions and resources required by the
University.

Natural catastrophes and climate change have made the Philippines one of the most
susceptible countries in the world. The COVID-19 epidemic was not the only tragedy to strike
the Philippines in 2020. A volcanic eruption began the year, and it ended with two magnitude 6
earthquakes, one of which struck on Christmas morning. Typhoon Goni, a late-season
superstorm that was the strongest in the globe last year, came in between. Due to the
archipelago's location along both the route of tropical storms building in the western Pacific and
the Ring of Fire, at least 60% of the country's total land area, approximately 300,000 square
kilometers (116,000 square miles), is exposed to natural disasters. Knowingly how vulnerable
the country is to catastrophes, a number of government institutions have launched a series of
applications to assist local government officials in developing local disaster solutions. Mitigation
efforts rely on a constantly fine-tuned network of early-warning systems and the establishment of
procedures to respond more swiftly to natural disasters. The National Exposure Database (NED),
which identifies sensitive locations so that agencies and local governments may conduct real-
time analysis and respond quickly in the event of a disaster, is the latest source of assistance. It
also aids in the development and implementation of disaster-preparedness measures (Mina,
2021).
It's critical to assess the level of awareness and preparedness among those who are regarded
school's external stakeholders. Awareness is often linked to one's understanding of a
phenomenon. Provided reputable sources of information and authorities to him/her. Being
knowledgeable or aware does not always imply that a person is adequately prepared in the event
of tragedies or disasters, because logistics and infrastructure preparedness play a crucial role in
the preparation cycle (Maminta, 2019).
According to Soriano G. P. (2019) with the topic” Disaster Risk Reduction Knowledge
among local people in a Selected Community in the Philippines,” the Philippines has been
designated as being extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. As a result, strengthening
communities' resilience to the risk and negative consequences of natural disasters is critical for
reducing vulnerability and managing disasters. The study assessed disaster-related knowledge of
local people in a selected community, including (1) disaster preparedness and readiness, (2)
disaster adaptation, (3) disaster awareness, and (4) disaster risk perception. Methods: A
descriptive-cross-sectional study was used, and the 60 participants were chosen using a
convenience sampling technique. The Disaster Risk Reduction Know-How Scale was used to
assess disaster risk reduction knowledge.
Disaster Preparedness provides for the key strategic actions that give importance to
activities revolving around community awareness and understanding; contingency planning;
conduct of local drills and the development of a national disaster response plan. Risk-related
information coming from the prevention and mitigation aspect is necessary in order for the
preparedness activities to be responsive to the needs of the people and situation on the ground.
Also, the policies, budget and institutional mechanisms established under the prevention and
mitigation priority area will be further enhanced through capacity building activities,
development of coordination mechanisms.
The success and realization of this priority area rely heavily on the completion of the
activities under both the prevention and mitigation and preparedness aspects, including among
others the coordination and communication mechanisms to be developed.
On-the-ground partnerships and the vertical and horizontal coordination work between
and among key stakeholders will contribute to successful disaster response operations and its
smooth transition towards early and long-term recovery work. Disaster Preparedness entails
essential strategic initiatives such as community awareness and understanding, contingency
planning, local drills, and the creation of a national disaster response strategy. In order for
preparedness activities to be responsive to the requirements of the people and the circumstances
on the ground, risk-related information from the preventative and mitigation aspects is required.
Additionally, through capacity building initiatives and the creation of coordination mechanisms,
the policies, budgets, and institutional processes developed under the preventative and mitigation
priority area would be reinforced. Co-operation is facilitated by these.

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