The Disaster Risk Reduction Management: My Reflection on What I had learned and Barangay Canlubang's DRRM Plan

Good Day, Acuities and Verities!

                Thank You for visiting my Very First Blog Site. I hope you may appreciate my first blog and I hope you may learn something from it. I also hope it may be an eye opener for each and every one of you, Acuities and Verities.

                For my first blog, this would tackle about my reflection on the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), especially with what I learned from the DRRM Seminar initiated by the University of Santo Tomas National Service Training Program (UST NSTP) and my interview with Ma’am Anabel Murillo, a member of the Barangay Canlubang Quick Response Team.

                But before we get lost through the topic, let me now discuss the DRRM briefly. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), it aims to reduce the damage caused by natural hazards like earthquakes, floods, droughts and cyclones, through an ethic of prevention. According to pakstatus.com, DRRM is a means of mitigating to reduce the risk of brought about by natural hazards.

                It is a very good opportunity to learn more about DRRM since it makes you a more resilient and prepared individual, especially in the times of natural disasters. I am very glad that the UST NSTP initiated the DRRM Seminar last September 2015. In this seminar I had learned so many things that can equip me enough knowledge that can help me in preparing and mitigating for the disasters and natural hazards that is present in our community.

                In this Seminar/Workshop/Training/Practicals, I had learned many things. First are the concepts in which the DRRM Seminar had inculcated upon me. These concepts might help you to understand more about the DRRM even further.

                First is the Disaster, for what I had learned from the seminar means that these are man-made or natural occurring events that brought forth destruction, not just in physical structures, but also to human life. Another concept is Hazards, which are natural and is present in any given time and place given that it causes a high risk of danger in any given time and place. Another is Risk, which are natural since there would always be danger that might arise given that there is a chance of danger. Another is Risk Reduction which is a means of mitigating the risks present in one’s own home or even in the community. Another is Capacities, which are the one we call as the “strengths” of one’s own community. This can be known in lay man’s term as an “Asset”. These are what contribute more to the safety of the community. Next is Vulnerabilities, this are what we can call as the “weaknesses” of one’s own community. These are the factors that make your community full of hazards that might not just bring forth danger, but also unease to the lives of the residents in the community. Next is the Participatory Management of Disasters or what can we call as the Bibingka Approach, wherein those who are from the lower side of the society and those from the higher side of the society would participate with one another to achieve a certain goal, which in this case is to reduce the risks and the community’s capacities. Next is Disaster Resilience which can be symbolised with the Bamboo wherein we stand still and strong even the worst disaster may hit our country. We will just sway with the strong storms and by the end of it, we stand strong still and still alive, ready to face the challenges that wait after the disaster. This much describes a Filipino when it comes with disasters, we still remain strong and even find ways to lighten up these darkest chapters of our fast changing world.

In the Seminar, we also played the Game “Bahay-Tao-Bagyo” which for me symbolises how we Filipinos prepare, deal, and mitigate with disaster that approaches our country.

The group "Tropang Thirdy" as we conduct the Basic Life
Support Workshop

                As part of the program in the DRRM Seminar, we also conducted a workshop on Basic Life Support and First Aid. This is helpful especially when our love ones or maybe your special ones are in a life threatening situation. As our NSTP Facilitator, Mr. Adrian Romero, had taught, which I may reflect that first, the First Aid as the words imply, is the fundamental, primary and intermediate administration of different wounds or any situation that needs to seek medical attention. This concept may also lead us to the concept of Basic Life Support, in which Mr. Romero had implied, is the most fundamental administration of different situation that needs medical attention but, since it is a life threatening condition, this is usually the very first resort in order to retain the life of the person who is in a serious need for medical attention.

                Knowing these concepts helped me to understand the current disaster situation of our country. For many years, disaster or calamities had already struck our country, from Super Typhoons to Earthquakes and to Landslides etc. But sometimes, we tend to be unprepared and sometimes apathetic about the issue. This kind of mind-sets may cause many casualties and some sort. And after the disaster, relief and rehabilitation efforts are slow.

                These issues need to be addressed for it is really important to be prepared for the upcoming disaster, in order to reduce the risks and casualties brought about by the impending disaster. When authorities had warned, we should follow it for your safety is more precious and important than other matters. Also the government should also take its part (and also duty) in the relief and rehabilitation efforts. For in these kind situations, we should be like cooking a Bibingka, we (those who are from the upper and lower side of the society) should participate and be hand-in-hand to achieve a sweet success, and that is to mitigate the risks and help one another even after the disaster.

The group "Tropang Thirdy" as we present our PCVA Output

                Back again to the DRRM Seminar, we also conducted the Participatory Capacities and Vulnerabilities Assessment (PCVA) workshop wherein we assessed the capacities, vulnerabilities, hazards, and some local knowledge that might help us to understand the current status of our community when it comes to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. In this workshop, we found out that there some of us that lives in the provinces that have a high risk landslides to the living near the Marikina West Valley Fault, in my community’s case, Barangay Canlubang, is in the southernmost part of the Valley Fault System. Adding to the vulnerabilities of our community are clogged creeks that when in

Barangay Canlubang (The Red Line represents the Fault Line)

time of heavy rains, might overflow. The medium-rised buildings that might collapse when an earthquake occurred, and also the poor urban planning and infrastructure especially the cemented part of the creek that had already collapsed since the Typhoon “Milenyo” in 2006. On the other hand, we had an advantage since we are far from the lowlands like the Laguna de Bay or Manila area, we are not flood-prone and no dangers of water arising from streams or rivers. It is luckily to know that there are prevailing local knowledge that is believed in our Barangay, snakes are sometimes living in the nearby creek, when a snake is like uncomfortable or had gone out of its home, there is an impending disaster. In this workshop, we had assessed our community’s capacities and vulnerabilities in what we had observed and known about our respected communities and what local knowledge is prevailing in our community.

Ma'am Anabel Murillo and me after the interview

              

Last November 28, 2015, I visited the Barangay Hall of Canlubang. There I met Ma’am Anabel Murillo, a member of the Quick Response Team of Barangay Canlubang. There I interviewed her regarding the DRRM Plan of the Barangay and what is the Barangay’s response with my observations of the risks or the hazards present in our community. To summarize the DRRM Plan according to Ma’am Murillo, the following are the points to be considered:   

1.    Information Drives like seminars on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

2.      The formation of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

3.      Hand-in-Hand participation of Barangay Officials and the people of the Barangay

4.      Attracting Volunteers for the Quick Response Team

5.      Adapting precautionary measures for those living near the fault zone

6.      Improvement of Infrastructures such as the Dikes, creeks, etc.

7.   Having the help of the Calamba City Government, Local and National Environmental and    Disaster Agencies

8.      School’s participation in DRRM Programs

9.      Training the Youth and Volunteers in Emergency Cases and Disaster Response

Barangay Canlubang is on its way to achieve the goal, but for now there is more place for improvement since the Barangay Canlubang’s DRRM Council is still on its developing stage.

The poster for the Barangay's Seminar on Disaster Preparedness

                But the Barangay Canlubang Officials had done many things to disseminate information regarding the Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction and Management and to encourage every citizen of the barangay, the youth, elderly, the PWDs, they had been welcomed in such activities. They also had done enough in raising the awareness of the people in the current disaster situation of the community. Last July 11, 2015, the Barangay Canlubang initiated the program “The BIG ONE. Handa na ba ang Canlubang?: A Community Disaster Preparedness Seminar” Series which is held at the Mary Help of Christians College which is in partnership with the St. Joseph the Worker Parish and the other sessions are held at different sitios in Canlubang.

Another step made by the Canlubang Barangay Officials is the initiation of Earthquake Drills in different schools in the barangay. Like in Canlubang Elementary School (September 10, 2015) and San Ramon Elementary School (September 11, 2015) which is such a big step in raising awareness and inculcating of Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction for the children of Barangay Canlubang.

Students of San Ramon Elementary School participated in the Earthquake Drill last Sept 10, 2015

Barangay Tree Planting activity
initiated by the Barangay Officials
in partnership with the Vice Mayor's
Office and the CENRO

Another project is the Tree Planting Activity initiated by the Barangay Canlubang Officials in partnership with the City Vice Mayor’s Office and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, wherein they planted trees in Ceris Subdivision also in Canlubang

On my interview with Ma’am Murillo, I take the opportunity to raise some questions to her regarding to what I observed that concerns me during my years of stay in Barangay Canlubang. The Following are raised:

1. There some parts of the creek's dike, especially in our side had been destroyed since 2006 by Typhoon "Milenyo". What are the actions or measures the Barangay is planning to do about it since there are reported fissures especially just in front of our house?
2. Some establishments are high, and I'm just concerned if those buildings are stable and capable to outwit the Earthquake if ever the Big One happens?
3. There are some families that live at the banks of the creek, which is dangerous since their homes might collapse especially in the rainy season wherein the soil is soft and with the movement of the Fault System. What is the Barangay Official's action regarding it?
4. What is the action of the Barangay Officials since Barangay Canlubang is the southernmost tail-end of the Marikina Valley Fault System and what about the residents of the sitios crossed by the Fault? and What would be its effects to those living in the Barangay?

For the Photographs of my observations, see the photos below

                Her response to me is first, for the broken dikes, the former Barangay Council had already took steps (but what about our side of the creek? till this time nothing is yet fixed). They are also coordinating to the City Environmental Management Group (CEMG) and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) for taking actions to the floods caused by the creek during the rainy season. For those establishment that is thought to be in danger of collapsing due to the Earthquake, She would try to raise my suggestion to the DRRM Council that the City Engineer's Office would conduct an investigation on the structural integrity of the different structures in the Barangay to ensure that those establishments would not collapse when the Big One arrives. As for those families who settled near the banks of the creek, they had already took actions by doing  personal investigation on these houses or structures by sending them memos or letters that they are not allowed to settle in the banks of the creek. As for the last question, Ma'am Murillo said that they already evacuated those families living or being crossed by the Fault System and put a marker about the location of the Fault System. As for its effects, M'a'am Murillo had argued that as they had talked with Mr. Renato Solidum, the Director of PHIVOLCS, those that live near the area would just experience tremors not as strong as the epicenter of the earthquake that movable, fragile, and objects that has a tendency to fall might just occur. She has advised that all objects that might fall or break should be kept in a much lower height than it is before.

                Equiping ourselves is helpful for all of us, we should be more proactive and more involved especially with these kind of opportunities. Now as a Filipino, Thomasian, and a part of Tomorrow's greatest hopes, we are expected to be more active not just with the academic but also to the community. Being a part of the community, I should be able to address the disaster situation one's own community. In order for me to address the different vulnerabilities of the community, one should put in mind that we should be more active when it comes with these kind situations, we should be more involved and more aware of the risks, hazards, and we should be equipped with the right knowledge, in order fro us to raise the awareness of the people with the vulnerabilities of the community. In order to increase the capacities of my community, first is to join and be a volunteer for the Barangay Quick Response Team. Another is to join seminars and encourage everyone, including your family, friends, colleagues, and other, so that they may have knowledge of the current disaster situation and vulnerabilities of the community. Another is to get involved with the Barangay and join them in raising the awareness.

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management issues should be addressed not just after the disaster comes but also before the disaster comes since the risks are more to be decreased when the people are informed, aware, and prepared. And one must understand that everyone is a part of these efforts. The youth, the elderly, the rich, the poor, the abled and the disabled, should take their part to achieve and increase the capacities and decrease the vulnerabilities of one's own community

Kudos! to the University of Santo Tomas National Service Training Program (UST NSTP) in giving a chance to experience interviewing the officials and giving me knowledge when it comes also to the DRRM. May God guide and bless you in many years to come

As for you, my Acuities and Verities, I hope you learned something for this post. Always remember. It's better to be prepared than sorry. 

I hope you appreciated my very first experience in posting such blog.

Thank You for dropping by!!! :)))))))))

By the Way, these are the photos of my observations as I roamed around Barangay Canlubang

Some houses or establishments can sometimes be found near the
sides of the creek

One of the Medium-Rised Buildings in the Barangay which is
actually a school building

This used to have a dike but destroyed by Typhoon "Milenyo" in
2006

This is evident that the creek is almost at the level of the
residential area

References

http://www.unisdr.org/who-we-are/what-is-drr

http://www.pakstatus.com/2013/09/what-is-disaster-risk-reduction-management-drrm/
Personal Interview with Ms. Anabel Murillo

Photo Credits to:
http://giphy.com/gifs/fireworks-IjmMzurYulKEw

Barangay Canlubang Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ilovecanlubang/?fref=ts

Jimenez III, Jose Alberto

Pueyo, Bianca