Disaster Pr

In partial fulfillment of the requirements in Introduction to Hazards, Vulnerabilities and

Respectfully Submitted by:

Nannette Aguilar
Katrine Fatima Castilla
Reymark Reglos

Respectfully Submitted to:

Dr. Yolanda S. Agawa
 Disaster Preparedness Community Profiling

Disasters are emergencies that cannot be handled by the affected communities without
any outside assistance. They are a result of the interaction of a particular hazard with the
community’s vulnerability and its coping capacity. Disasters impede human development for it
causes loss of lives, properties and services. The Philippines, because of its geographical
location, is one of the top countries that are highly at risk when it comes to natural disasters.
According to the World Risk Index published in 2015, Philippines is among the top three
countries (along with Vanuatu and Tonga) in the entire planet in terms of disaster risk. It is
highly logical considering the fact that our country is surrounded with bodies of water and is also
located in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are just some
of the many natural calamities that strike our country killing thousands of people, threatening
biodiversity and damaging billions worth of infrastructure and properties.

Disasters are inevitable. However, we can always lessen its damaging effects especially if
all the members of the community are properly educated of their vulnerabilities. Proper
preventive measures and mitigation measures can only be done if we are all aware of the nature
and the characteristics of the hazards within our locality. Because of this, each barangay must
have their own Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan complete with all the disaster
preparedness and mitigation measures. Such plan will be essential in reducing the possible
casualties and damages brought about by the different disasters that might happen on specific
community.

Part of making a DRRM Plan is to conduct vulnerability assessment to identify hazards

and the number of individual who will be directly affected by these hazards. Then, barangay
officials must take pro-active measures to intensify the preparations against disasters through
identification of evacuation centers, educating their constituents through evacuation drills and
teaching them what to do before, during and after a disaster.

As part of the requirements of this course. We have conducted a field work highlighting
disaster preparedness of Barangay Pandan, Cabusao, Camarines Sur.

Cabusao is a fifth class municipality located on

the second congressional district of the province of
Camarines Sur. It has a total land area of 48.2 square
kilometers. It is composed of nine barangays namely
Barcelonita, Biong, Camagong, Castillo, New
Poblacion, Pandan, San Pedro, Santa Cruz and Santa Lutgrada. According to the 2015 National
Census, it has a population of 18, 397.

Barangay Pandan is a flatland making it suitable for agriculture, but there are some parts
of the barangay which faces the San Miguel Bay giving the residents another source of income.
The geographical location of Barangay Pandan is not all beneficial for it makes them vulnerable
to various hazards such as flooding and storm surge. Whenever there are typhoons, precautionary
measures are being conducted to avoid further damages caused by these hazards. Local officials
warn the people of possible flooding and evacuate those who are highly at risk.

Although we tried to look into their DRRM Plan, the barangay officials said that they
forwarded it to the DILG for revision. As a result, most of the data that we have gathered came
from the interview that we have conducted with some of the barangay officials. Some
information such as their hazard map is readily available because it is posted on their bulletin
board. The tables below summarize the status of the DRRM Plan and the Hazard map of
Barangay Pandan.

Table 1. Status of the DRRM Plan

Status of the DRRM Plan of Barangay Pandan, Cabusao, Camarines Sur
Status Remarks
Operational The DRRM Plan always used every time there is a calamity.
 But, is now at the DILG for revisions.

Ground shaking Hazard Map of the Barangay.

Table 2. Status of the Hazard Map

Status of the Hazard Map of Barangay Pandan, Cabusao, Camarines Sur

Status Remarks
Operational There is a hazard map posted but it is only for ground shaking.
No hazard map for floods and storm surge although these are
the hazards that they are highly vulnerable of.

Types of Vulnerability and Capacity

Physical/ Material

Majority of the households in the Barangay is made up of light materials. Most of them
are nipa huts but there are also some households which are made up of concrete and strong
foundations. Pandan Elementary School serves as their evacuation center whenever there is a
typhoon. The school was built several years ago, thus some buildings are old and can be easily
damaged if a strong typhoon hits the area. To address this two new classrooms were built and are
being utilized as additional evacuation shelters.

Most of the houses are made up of light materials adding to the vulnerability of the community to typhoons and
floods.

Social/ Organizational

Barangay Pandan’s Population as of November 2016 is 2430 individuals. Given that most
of the families there are extended families, the average number of people living on one
household is five and the maximum is 16. To address the needs of their big families, people there
have various sources of income. Because of their geographical location, they are more inclined to
farming and fishing. However, calamities make it hard for them to continuously plant palay and
catch fish so others chooses to engage in livestock raising as their alternative sources of food
and income.

Barangay Officials also has a good coordination and a balance task delegations whenever
there are calamities.
Some parts of the barangay are facing the San Miguel Bay making it possible for them to catch fish .

Attitudinal/ Motivational

The efforts of educating the people of their vulnerabilities to certain hazards allows some
people to develop a sense of initiative to prepare and make their houses safe when there is an
impending threat of flood due to a typhoon. They themselves prepare their things so that they
will be ready to evacuate when need arises. Yet, many people still rely on indigenous knowledge
in dealing with natural calamities. Many people do not believe weather forecast because it
sometimes contradict to what people are experiencing. There are instances wherein people do not
prepare for a typhoon even if there area is placed under PSWS # 2 because they believe that if it
still hot because of the sun, the weather is good and the typhoon will not hit their area.

The table below summarizes the perception of the barangay officials on the different
variables of vulnerability and capacity.

Table 3. Summary of Vulnerabilities and Capacities of Barangay Pandan considering different

variables.
Variables Vulnerability (%) Capacity (%)
Physical/ Material 90 10
Social/ Organizational 60 40
Attitudinal/ Motivational 70 30

The average vulnerability of Barangay Pandan considering the different variables is

73.33% while their capacity is 26.67%.

Preparedness CVA Matrix

Vulnerability Assessment

Although a hazard map is posted on the bulletin board, it is only limited to Ground
shaking. People might not know they are vulnerable to other hazards because the information is
only limited to Ground Shaking.

Planning

The DRRM Plan of the barangay is operational however it is currently not on the hands
of any barangay officials since it is under revision. Some of the community members have been
consulted in the formulation of some parts of the plan.

Institutional Framework

An organized institutional framework and allow results to a well-managed preparation for

a natural calamity. The barangay officials coordinate with the MDRRMC which also coordinates
to the provincial and national authorities.

Information System and Local Warning System

Before calamities strike, barangay officials always warm the people to prepare and
evacuate. A meeting of the officials is conducted to delegate tasks and disseminate information
coming from the municipal and the national authorities. After the meeting barangay tanods will
go house to house or use their megaphone to inform as many people as possible regarding the
content of the meeting. While other barangay officials will prepare the evacuation center.

Resource Base

In case a power interruption might occur, the barangay has their own generator set to
provide electricity in the evacuation center. They also have rain gauge to measure the amount of
rain fall and keep watch of the river that might overflow and cause flooding in their barangay.
However, some of their rain gauges are not functioning well and must be subjected to necessary
repair.
(Left) The emergency lights used when there is power interruption in the barangay. (Right) Pandan
Elementary School, the primary evacuation center of the people who are vulnerable to various hazards
during calamities.

Table 4. Summary of Vulnerabilities and Capacities of Barangay Pandan.

Vulnerability (%) Capacity (%)
1. Vulnerability Assessment 50 50
2. Planning 10 90
3. Institutional Framework 30 70
4. Information System 0 100
5. Resource Base 20 80
6. Local Warning System 0 100
7. Response Mechanism 30 70
8. Public Education and Training 50 50
9. Rehearsals or Drills 20 80

The average vulnerability of Barangay Pandan specifically to Floods brought about by

typhoons is 23.33 % while their capacity is 76.67 %. The main reason for this high capacity and
low vulnerability according to the barangay officials is that they have learned their lessons every
time there is flood due to typhoons. People in the barangay knows how to prepare for this hazard
and so the effects are minimized.
 DOCUMENTATION

MS DRM Batch 14 (from left) Aguilar, Castilla, Reglos together with Hon. Purisima A. Ubaldo,
barangay captain, Pandan, Cabusao Camarines Sur.
MS students write their name on the Visitors’ Logbook as part of the barangay’s SOP.
The interview with the Barangay Officials serves as the primary source of information regarding their
DRM Plan due to its inaccessibility.

Hon. Purisima A. Ubaldo explains how they disseminate information to their constituents during the
strike of a natural calamity.
The barangay DRR information Board although existing needs to be updated.

A simple snacks was served after the interview.

 A group picture with the other barangay officials.

AREA INSPECTION TO VALIDATE SOME INFORMATION

IN THE INTERVIEW
Houses made up of light materials making them vulnerable to different hazards.

Houses very close to the river allows them to become vulnerable to flooding
 Agricultural products are easily damaged by typhoons and flooding..

Fishing provides an additional source of income for the residents of the barangay. However the
geographical implications of this exposes them to hazards such as flood and storm surge.
 Poultry and Livestock raising as an alternative source of food for the residents of the barangay.

Sources

Vulnerability and Risk. Retrieved from www.odpm.gov.tt/node/162

Philippine Disaster Risk Profile. Go Green SOCCSKSARGEN. Retrieved from

https://gogreenr12.org/philippine-disaster-risk-profile/

Philippines Disaster and Risk Profile. Retrieved from www.preventionweb.net/countries/phl/data

Most of the data included in this report came from the interviews conducted to the people of Brgy.
Pandan, Cabusao, Camarines Sur.

Photo Credits

Google Map
Mr. Bong Aguilar

A Special thanks to Hon. Purisima A. Ubaldo and the people of Barangay Pandan,
Cabusao, Camarines Sur