CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTORY PART OF THE STUDY

Introduction

Disaster Risk Management is defined as by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction (2015) is the application of disaster risk reduction policies and strategies to prevent
new disaster risk, reduce existing disaster risk and manage residual risk, contributing to the
strengthening of resilience and reduction of disaster losses. It is known for helping the
communities around the world face against the devastation of man-made and natural disaster.
Most people are unaware why such policies exists and its importance for the survivability and
preservation of life and property and most communities especially in poor regions around the
world do not have the resources to provide an adequate Disaster Risk Management plan. There
are also communities that struggle finding an approach that would help them manage such
calamities that are affecting their areas. With the recent development of Climate change it has
been quite difficult to adapt to the gravity of calamities and socio-economic factors also prove to
be a hindrance to its promulgation.

The role of Disaster Risk Management in mitigating losses and responding to the needs
of the community should not be overlooked. There are communities that suffer gravely from
natural and man-made disasters because of poor planning and application of Disaster Risk
Management. The necessity to establish policies and implement them is direly sought after by
the affected community in order to prevent massive losses. It is also impertinent that the affected
community knows the policies being implemented for awareness and to aid them during the state
of calamity. Disasters often result in substantial damage to property, infrastructure, and
livelihoods. Disaster risk management helps minimize these losses by implementing measures
such as building codes, insurance systems, and investment in resilient infrastructure. This

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT: ASSESSING ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN

MITIGATING LOSSES AND ENHANCING RAPID RESPONSE IN GUIMBA, NUEVA
ECIJA
1C DOCTOR, OLIVER JOHN N.
1C UY, JOSHUA EMMANUEL R.
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ensures that communities can recover more quickly and sustainably after a disaster. Disaster risk
management promotes the development of resilient communities that are better equipped to
anticipate, respond to, and recover from disasters. This involves empowering local communities,
fostering social cohesion, and building capacity to handle emergencies. With climate change
exacerbating the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, effective disaster risk management
becomes even more critical. It enables communities to adapt to changing climatic conditions,
protect ecosystems, and implement sustainable practices. Disasters can have long-lasting socio-
economic impacts, destabilizing communities and hindering development efforts. By investing in
disaster risk management, societies can maintain stability, protect economic assets, and ensure
the continued well-being of their populations.

Disaster Risk Management has a long history that takes its roots back to ancient times
when people often determine the climate and weather to give early warning that a possible
disaster might occur. Although their methods were not as accurate as that of the present day, the
principle of preparing for a possible calamity has remained. In Ancient Rome, people have
provided measures to form a fire-fighting brigade, and public works that mitigate the effects of
flooding and earthquakes. In the year 1666 at London, England a devastating fire known as the
“The Great Fire of London” prompted the implementation of building codes and fire prevention
regulations thus becoming the first modern urban disaster risk management effort. The
Yokohama strategy in 1994 established the first global framework for disaster risk reduction,
leading to the creation of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
(UNISDR) in 1999. In the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines in 2013,
the government and various organizations implemented several disaster risk management
policies and initiatives to improve response and recovery efforts. The National Risk Reduction
and Management Act in 2010 established the framework and guidelines for disaster risk
reduction and management in the country. It emphasizes the importance of disaster resilience,
preparedness, and coordination among different stakeholders.

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT: ASSESSING ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN

MITIGATING LOSSES AND ENHANCING RAPID RESPONSE IN GUIMBA, NUEVA
ECIJA
1C DOCTOR, OLIVER JOHN N.
1C UY, JOSHUA EMMANUEL R.
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 The aim of this study is to assess the role of Disaster Risk Management in providing
policies, strategies that would in the mitigation of losses and preserve life during times of
calamity. It is essential to determine the part of an adequate Disaster Risk Management plan in
order to enhance the capabilities of the community to manage risks and prevent new disasters
from being brought into fruition.

Statement of the Problem

The study aims to assess the role of Disaster Risk Management in mitigating losses and
enhancing rapid response thru determining the answers to the following questions:

1.How does Disaster Risk Management contribute to reducing economic damage caused by
natural disasters?

2.How does Disaster Risk Management strengthens the social and economic resilience of
individuals and societies in the face of residual risk?

3. How does Disaster Risk Management promotes the involvement of potentially affected
communities in disaster risk management at the local level?

4. How does Disaster Risk Management plans to set out the goals and specific objectives for
reducing disaster risks together with related actions?

5. How does Disaster Risk Management influences the success of disaster preparedness and
emergency response efforts?

6. How does Disaster Risk Management depends on past experience (information available on
successes and failures as well other related data) and the institutional arrangements designed to
manage risk?

7. How does Disaster Risk Management aims to avoid the generation of new risks, improves
resilience to the effects of extreme events and contributes to sustainable development?

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT: ASSESSING ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN

MITIGATING LOSSES AND ENHANCING RAPID RESPONSE IN GUIMBA, NUEVA
ECIJA
1C DOCTOR, OLIVER JOHN N.
1C UY, JOSHUA EMMANUEL R.
3|Page
8. How does Disaster Risk Management establishes shelters and evacuation centers to ensure
safe refuge for affected individuals?

9. How does Disaster Risk Management implements early warning systems to alert the
population of imminent hazards?

10. How does Disaster Risk Management provides financial support for rebuilding and recovery
efforts?

Significance of the Study

Disaster Risk Management provides communities with policies and strategies for
protecting lives, reducing economic losses, building resilience, adapting to climate change,
achieving sustainable development, and fostering collaboration. It is a multifaceted approach that
aims to minimize the impact of disasters and promote safer and more resilient communities.
Effective disaster risk management strategies can help save lives by mitigating the impact of
disasters. By implementing measures to identify risks, establish early warning systems, and
evacuate vulnerable populations, the number of casualties can be reduced. By implementing risk
reduction measures, such as constructing resilient infrastructure and promoting business
continuity planning, the economic impact of disasters can be minimized. Integrating disaster risk
management into development planning and decision-making processes ensures that
development is sustainable and resilient. By considering potential hazards and vulnerabilities,
development projects can be designed and implemented in a way that reduces the risk of future
disasters.

This study would be conducted in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, a community that has suffered
from both natural and man-made disasters. Providing an in-depth assessment of the role of
Disaster Risk Management may identify key aspects that would improve the implemented
policies and strategies in mitigating losses and enhancing rapid response in the community, thus

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT: ASSESSING ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN

MITIGATING LOSSES AND ENHANCING RAPID RESPONSE IN GUIMBA, NUEVA
ECIJA
1C DOCTOR, OLIVER JOHN N.
1C UY, JOSHUA EMMANUEL R.
4|Page
creating a system that would prove to be adequate to manage risks and prevent potential disasters
that would otherwise devastate the municipality.

The prevention of natural and man-made disasters and proper management of risks are
essential goals of an adequate Disaster Risk Management system. This would boost communities
for continued economic growth and provide social justice to the residents. The mitigation of
losses and establishment of a recovery plan for affected individuals, businesses, organizations
would be a crucial point to the success of a Disaster Risk Management system.

Scope and Delimitation

The study aims to assess the role of Disaster Risk Management in mitigating losses and
enhancing rapid response to determine the key factors that would be beneficial for the
community and its residents.

The residents of the Municipality of Guimba, Nueva Ecija are the chosen respondents of
the study. The community of Guimba is one of the rapid growing communities in the province
and along with socio-economic progress comes additional risks to protect the community against
disasters and hindrances in providing stability of growth. The data would be gathered from
residents in the community that would best provide insights as to the role of Disaster Risk
Management thru their first hand experiences.

Biased sampling method would be used to determine the respondents to the study in order
to ensure that the people involved in the study would come with experiences in Disaster Risk
Management planning and implementation. The study would be conducted for two weeks and
the results would then be collected, analyzed, and interpreted in the latter part of the study.

DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT: ASSESSING ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN

MITIGATING LOSSES AND ENHANCING RAPID RESPONSE IN GUIMBA, NUEVA
ECIJA
1C DOCTOR, OLIVER JOHN N.
1C UY, JOSHUA EMMANUEL R.
5|Page
 DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT: ASSESSING ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN
MITIGATING LOSSES AND ENHANCING RAPID RESPONSE IN GUIMBA, NUEVA
ECIJA
1C DOCTOR, OLIVER JOHN N.
1C UY, JOSHUA EMMANUEL R.
6|Page