HIGHWAY HILLS INTEGRATED SCHOOL - Senior High School DEPT.

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

In recent years, the Philippines has witnessed a surge in natural and

human-induced disasters, emphasizing the pressing demand for innovative

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies and fortified community

resilience. This urgency became starkly evident with the devastating

impact of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), underlining the need for

comprehensive preparedness and response measures (Smith, 2020).

Recognizing the renowned resilience of the Filipino population, there

is an untapped potential integral to the pursuit of proactive disaster

preparedness and response. This study pivots to the pioneering Batang

Emergency Response Team (BERT) project, an innovative initiative that

enlists Senior High School students as active participants in

community-based DRR efforts, positioning them as the vanguards of the

next generation of leaders and community members (Brown, 2021).

As existing research acknowledges, young individuals possess

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intrinsic motivation, diverse perspectives, and technological proficiency,

making them invaluable contributors (Brown, 2021) to the broader mission

of fortifying the resilience of the Philippines.

Nevertheless, while the existing body of research acknowledges the

potential of the youth, there is an uncharted territory within the Philippine

context—a dearth of research on the effectiveness of community-based

initiatives like the BERT project that harness the unique attributes of young

individuals. The current literature predominantly focuses on post-disaster

coping strategies, creating a substantial research gap concerning

proactive disaster preparedness and community-driven solutions,

particularly involving young individuals.

In response to the recurring disasters that have persistently tested

the resilience of the Filipino people, this study aims to scrutinize and

assess the effectiveness of the BERT project. It will delve into the

experiences of the students and the entire Highway Hills Integrated School

community involved in this innovative program, with the intent of

unearthing invaluable insights and offering practical recommendations.

These insights are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping a future where

Filipino resilience evolves beyond merely coping with crises and fully

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embraces proactive disaster preparedness and community-driven

solutions, ensuring the protection of lives and property.

Motivating this research is the recognition of a substantial research

gap within the domain of disaster risk reduction and community resilience

in the Philippines. Despite the recurrent disasters and the acknowledged

urgency for robust preparedness and response measures, there is a

conspicuous deficiency in the comprehensive understanding and

evaluation of community-based initiatives like the BERT project.

This study is dedicated to bridging this gap by conducting an

assessment of the BERT project's effectiveness, with a keen focus on the

untapped potential of young individuals and the collaborative approach it

employs. By addressing these specific research questions, it aims to make

a substantial contribution towards a future where Filipino resilience

transcends its historical reactive nature to disasters and fully embraces a

proactive, community-driven approach to disaster risk reduction.

The significance of this research lies in its potential to introduce

pioneering approaches to DRR, empower the youth as key stakeholders,

provide a model of collaboration, and directly address the pressing need

for proactive and community-driven solutions within the realm of disaster

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resilience efforts. These contributions are not confined to the Philippines

alone; they have the capacity to catalyze transformation in disaster risk

reduction and community resilience efforts, not only in the Philippines but

also in other disaster-prone regions.

Background of the Study

Community resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) have

in recent years, particularly in areas vulnerable to both natural and

man-made disasters, have been significant areas of concern. The

Philippines presents a constant struggle in reducing the devastation

caused by these risks due to its geographic location in the typhoon belt

and susceptibility to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. With disasters

occurring often, the necessity for creative DRR strategies and for building

community resilience has become more and more apparent.

The catastrophic effects of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013

served as a crucial turning point that emphasized the need for prompt

preparation and response measures. The Philippines and the rest of the

world received a wake-up call from this tragic occurrence, which caused a

large number of fatalities and significant property damage. It brought

attention to the nation's susceptibility to severe weather and underscored

the need for all-encompassing disaster management plans (Smith, 2020).

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The Filipino population is distinguished by its resilience in the face

of adversity, a characteristic that has been consistently demonstrated

during and after disasters. Acknowledging this resilience, there is a rising

interest in harnessing the potential of the Filipino people as active

participants in proactive disaster preparedness and response. This shift in

focus has given rise to community-based initiatives designed to engage

various segments of the population, including youth, as essential

contributors to disaster resilience efforts.

One such pioneering initiative is the Batang Emergency Response

Team (BERT) project. BERT represents a groundbreaking approach that

involves Senior High School students as vital contributors to

community-based DRR efforts. By positioning these young individuals as

the vanguards of the next generation of leaders and community members,

the project seeks to harness their unique attributes, including intrinsic

motivation, diverse perspectives, and technological proficiency, for the

broader mission of fortifying the resilience of the Philippines (Brown,

2021).

While there is existing research that acknowledges the potential of

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young individuals in disaster resilience efforts (Brown, 2021), there

remains an unexplored frontier within the Philippine context. Specifically,

the effectiveness of community-based initiatives like the BERT project that

specifically harness the unique attributes of young individuals is yet to be

comprehensively assessed.

The current body of literature predominantly focuses on

post-disaster coping strategies and response mechanisms, leaving a

significant research gap concerning proactive disaster preparedness and

community-driven solutions, particularly involving the youth. To address

this gap, this research aims to scrutinize and assess the effectiveness of

the BERT project. It will delve into the experiences of the students and the

entire Highway Hills Integrated School community involved in this

innovative program, with the intent of unearthing invaluable insights and

offering practical recommendations.

The importance of this research lies in its potential to

innovative approaches to DRR directly address the urgent need for

proactive and community-driven solutions in the field of disaster resilience

measures, while also empowering young people as crucial stakeholders

and providing a role model for teamwork. These contributions are not

restricted to the Philippines; they have the potential to inspire changes in

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community resilience and disaster risk reduction initiatives in other

disaster-prone communities as well.

Statement of the Problems

The study aims to evaluate whether SHS students have sufficient

skills and knowledge in disaster risk management through BERT. The

researchers have set specific goals for this study, which include answering

the following questions:

1. What socio-cultural and environmental factors contribute to the

development of resilience among Filipino Senior High School

students when facing disaster experiences?

2. How do different teaching methodologies (e.g., experiential learning,

traditional lecture-based approaches, and more) influence students'

retention of emergency response knowledge?

3. Is there a significant relationship between the emergency response

skills of Senior High School students and their level of

preparedness and resilience in disaster situations?

4. What practical skills and resources are necessary for Senior High

School students to adequately prepare for various types of

emergencies?