Jagmany, Jenelle F.

The Filipinos’ preparedness and coordination as regards to natural hazards and disaster
management: A reflection paper on Disaster Management Webinar

Disasters are produced by human action in their environment, whereas seen as the
consequences for unpreparedness, system failure, and lack of planning. This affects the
surroundings through environmental changes, economical damages, the devastation of
properties, and adverse impact on human lives, especially to the most vulnerable ones. Disaster
Management is a strategic planning and practice that is administered and used to protect vital
infrastructures from serious damage when earthquakes and destructive accidents occur, whether
natural or human.

As mentioned by Mr. Sonny Pura in the Webinar, the Philippines is immensely prone to
disasters. Owing to its geological conditions, the Philippines by virtue is vulnerable to natural
disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, and flooding. Worsening the
situation by the little preparedness, lack of awareness, and failure to take adequate measures;
rendering it further to one of the world's most disaster-prone nations.

Disaster management is crucial to lessen the impact of disasters or catastrophe, which is

even harder to recover from. As we ascend in time, more data becomes accessible and available,
particularly through the study of calamities as they frequently occur, plans should continually
evolve. Increasing awareness, creating action plans, and executing those correctly through
practice are the golden rules for effective recovery at all stages. Waiting for a crisis to occur
before setting out a plan is not the best time to prepare.

All things considered, despite the fact that the Philippines has been a disaster-prone
nation for years, unfortunately, it's still 20 or 10 years behind when it comes to disaster response
and technology, according to Mr. Pura. A certain question lingered on my mind: how so?
Through the years, shouldn't the Philippines' disaster management be one of the most advanced
since our exposure and frequency are high in terms of experiencing natural hazards? What is
interrupting us from developing more sophisticated planning and measures?

Having said that, I somehow have formulated answers to these matters further to the web
conference and afterward. As stated by Mr. Pura, Filipinos are not prepared physically,
financially, and psychologically in case of a calamity strike, which relates to the study by
Harvard-HI (Harvard Humanitarian Initiative) that Filipinos are unprepared because the residents
said so and notably due to lack of finances.
 The lack of funds is the same reason why the Philippine Government is deficient in
providing adequate equipment for disaster response. And besides that, one of the reasons is their
misplaced priorities especially when it comes to allocating the resources. Science and research
are not widely appreciated by the government as it does in other nations, this comes from an
obvious point not just from me but everyone.

Are we really ready to face a new disaster in the new normal?

As for how I see it and as to how the Webinar speaker, Mr. Sonny Pura, views it: we
haven't always been. Whether from disasters to experiencing a pandemic, we aren't ready; and
ironically, what more if those two factors combined. Resources and manpower are needed to
address this systemic problem. If the Filipino residents are not financially struggling anymore
and if the government starts to recognize the importance of research and health-allied workers,
this nation will be as advanced as ever as regards to Disaster Management. Nevertheless, I do
believe that someday we will be ready, individually, and as a nation.