Final Case Study

Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines
NES NORTE STATE COLLEGE
A CASE STUDY ON THE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ON TYPHOONS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
LABO, CAMARINES NORTE
INTRODUCTION
In the context of the changing climate relative to the development and industrialization
of countries in the global spectrum, humanity is challenged by nature that fights back through
calamities. Since then, people found little and slow measures to mitigate or lessen the effects of
unexpected disasters as such, countries frequently visited by natural calamities have become
vulnerable to severe damage of properties and a number of casualties.
Tropical countries such as the Philippines is prone to typhoons as it lies in the Pacific
Ocean where cyclones are mostly formed. Being in this location, the Philippines experiences an
average of twenty (20) tropical cyclones every year. Half of these are destructive which includes
other weather hazards such as thunderstorm, heavy rainfall, southwest and northeast
monsoons (DRRRM, 2008).
One of the world’s strongest typhoon in recent history that hit the Philippines on
November 8, 2013, with a wind speed of 305 kilometers an hour was super typhoon Haiyan
known as Yolanda in equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean (National
Geographic Daily News, 2013). The BBC News reported that the National Disaster Agency says
that 5, 209 people are now known to have lost their lives, with many more still missing
(November22, 2013).
The World Health Organization emphasizes preparedness as the “activities and measures
taken in advance to ensure effective response to the impacts of hazards, including the issuance
of timely and effective early warnings and the temporary evacuation of people and property
from threatened locations. It also pertains to the pre-disaster activities, including an overall
strategy, policies and institutional and management structures that are geared to helping at risk
communities safeguard their lives and assets by being alert to hazards and taking appropriate
action in the face of an imminent threat on the actual onset of a disaster.”
On the other hand, “preparedness connotes a decision process for future anticipated
events with estimated probabilities of occurrences and of consequences, in which decisions and
their associated actions are implemented in advance of a natural or human-made disaster and
are aimed at reducing disaster consequences (e.g. response/recovery) to levels considered
acceptable (Haimes, 2012:289).”
Moreover, the United States Department of Homeland Security (2014) defines
preparedness as “a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising,
evaluating and taking coercive action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during
incident response."
In this study, the researchers believe that by choosing the municipality of Labo, Camarines
Norte as the locale of the study, it may ameliorate the disaster preparedness of the focused
community and other municipalities. Furthermore, choosing Labo may also encourage other
researchers in choosing research locales which are not given much attention and thus improve
their disaster preparedness.
PROBLEM SITUATION
In the province of Camarines Norte, the municipality of Labo is the first class
municipality in the province. According to the census 2020 it has a population of 109,245
people. Bicol region is usually hit by typhoons yearly. Since then the municipality of Labo has
mandated a law, the RA 10121 known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act for the authority to be prepared whenever here is a sudden calamity. It
includes overall program such as emergency preparedness and response management. And ever
since then the province of Camarines Norte works together and plan a preparedness for a five
year disaster preparedness plan, where the authority could help people of Camarines Norte.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The researchers conduct this study to know how well prepared the Municipality of Labo,
Camarines Norte when it comes to the disaster preparedness, specifically it shall answer the
following questions:
1. What are the Disaster Plan in the Municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte?
2. What are the activities made by the local government unit of Labo, Camarines Norte in
preparation to the typhoon?
3. What are the shortcomings experienced by LGU of Labo, when responding to calamities
like typhoons?
4. What are the possible recommendations to be undertaken in terms of responding to the
typhoons?
OBJECTIVES
This research study aims to look into the disaster preparedness on typhoons in the
municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte. Furthermore, this study aims to achieve the following
objectives:
 To look into the availability of the Disaster Plan in the Municipality of Labo,
Camarines Norte.
 To know the activities made by the local government unit of Labo, Camarines
Norte in preparation to the typhoons.
 To identify the shortcomings experience by LGU of Labo, when responding to

calamities like typhoons.
AREAS OF CONSIDERATION/ANALYSIS
In order to assess the Disaster Preparedness of the Municipality of Labo,
Camarines Norte, the following of consideration were analyzed:
• The two main problems of the ‘disaster preparedness of the municipality of Labo,
Camarines Norte based on an in-depth interview conducted include:
LIMITED RICE SUPPLY/ RELIEF GOODS
Unfortunately, they can't stock the rice and other relief goods because it may
have expired. Also lack of financial resources to provide foods. A limited supply of rice
and relief goods of Social Welfare would cause a shortage.
LACK OF CITEZEN COORDINATION, AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ABOUT DISASTER
Some of the citizen didn't cooperate and not aware of what they need to do
during a disaster because of lack of Information. All citizens should go through disaster-
preparedness training. They should pay attention to emergency warnings and stay
aware of critical situations. They should include first aid and supplies for different kinds
of emergencies.
• Causes of disasters come from the two main reasons:
Face the danger of death or physical injury. They may also lose their home, possessions,
and community. Such stressors place you at risk for emotional and physical health
problems. Stress reactions after a disaster look very much like the common reactions
seen after any type of trauma.
• The Disaster Preparedness of the Municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte need to
improve two things:
1.) Conduct disaster preparedness training.
2.) Engage the community in emergency preparedness.
ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION
1. The GO is usually quickest to respond and make decisions among the three entities. The NGO
then must make decisions to attract private donors to provide additional relief goods. Donors
provide relief goods according to the decisions already made by the GO and NGO. Donors expect
relief goods to reach the affected areas as soon as possible, so high-performing NGOs gain more
donor utility. Areas with low-performing NGOs are more likely to receive goods directly from
donors.
2. The Disaster Preparedness of the Municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte preparedness plans
should be developed based on the identification of potential disasters and the related risks
associated with those disasters. When possible, this should include hazard mapping to specify
locations at high risk for specific disasters. The plan should include training of health personnel,
community members, and other potential first-responders, as well as establishing systems for
communicating warnings to the community.
RECOMMENDATIONS
 Along with these content, the researchers think that it would be best to the assigned
personnel to be always updated whenever there is a revision on the Disaster
Preparedness plan. Moreover, the needed equipment’s and materials for search and
rescue whenever there is a disaster must be given.

 It is also recommended that the expertise of the members of the Local DRRM Council be
enhanced for the purpose of improving their activities with regards to preparations for
disasters.
 In order to enhance local government transparency, it is recommended that the local
government would declare their activities concerning disaster preparedness such as the
preparation of relief goods and the designated evacuation sites for the local
constituents
CONCLUSION
The results of this case study have provided answers to the objectives which focused on the
availability of the disaster plan, the activities of the Local Government Officials in the
Municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte, and the shortcomings the MDDRMO experience in
responding to the calamities, such as typhoons.
Despite the threats of the different calamities and disasters, THE MUNICIPAL DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION MANAGEMENT OFFICE of the municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte, have
managed to respond well on the typhoon cases their municipality have experienced. Through
the crafted and updated disaster plan, or otherwise known as the Contingency plan, responding
to typhoons becomes more effective and efficient. Also, collaboration among all the offices and
agencies of the LGU, enables them to respond well on the upcoming typhoons. However, in
terms of the shortcomings, MDDRMO experiences shortage of supplies of relief goods and
coordination among the citizens.
To sum up everything that was stated, we can conclude that MDDRMO is prepared in terms
of responding to typhoons. Given the shortcomings and barriers they experienced, we can still
say that MDRRMO is prepared for the upcoming typhoons. Coordination from the citizens and
responding to the needs in supplies, will be a great help for everyone to ease the effects and
threat of calamities like typhoons.

Final Case Study

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Final Case Study

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Republic of the Philippines

Republic of the Philippines

LABO, CAMARINES NORTE

vulnerable to severe damage of properties and a number of casualties.

monsoons (DRRRM, 2008).

known as Yolanda in equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean (National

action in the face of an imminent threat on the actual onset of a disaster.”

are aimed at reducing disaster consequences (e.g. response/recovery) to levels considered

acceptable (Haimes, 2012:289).”

Moreover, the United States Department of Homeland Security (2014) defines

preparedness as “a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising,

their disaster preparedness.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

preparation to the typhoon?

4. What are the possible recommendations to be undertaken in terms of responding to the

 To identify the shortcomings experience by LGU of Labo, when responding to

In order to assess the Disaster Preparedness of the Municipality of Labo,

Camarines Norte, the following of consideration were analyzed:

Camarines Norte based on an in-depth interview conducted include:

LIMITED RICE SUPPLY/ RELIEF GOODS

and relief goods of Social Welfare would cause a shortage.

LACK OF CITEZEN COORDINATION, AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ABOUT DISASTER

• Causes of disasters come from the two main reasons:

seen after any type of trauma.

• The Disaster Preparedness of the Municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte need to

improve two things:

1.) Conduct disaster preparedness training.

2.) Engage the community in emergency preparedness.

ALTERNATIVE COURSE OF ACTION

communicating warnings to the community.

personnel to be always updated whenever there is a revision on the Disaster

rescue whenever there is a disaster must be given.

 In order to enhance local government transparency, it is recommended that the local

responding to the calamities, such as typhoons.

REDUCTION MANAGEMENT OFFICE of the municipality of Labo, Camarines Norte, have

coordination among the citizens.

threat of calamities like typhoons.

You might also like