DISASTER RISK MITIGATION
[MODULE NO. 1]
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
● Disasters and how can they be stopped/prevented
● Programs on Disaster Preparedness
● Early warning system
● Lessening foreseen risk
● Roles and projects of National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center
HISTORICAL CALAMITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Disaster and Calamity
● The words disaster and calamity are commonly perceived to mean the same thing,
because they are both about destruction of properties and loss of live that result to
suffering and pain.
● Calamity (Latin, calamitatem) refers to sufferings caused by being unlucky or losing.
○ Beyond human control
● Disaster (French, deastre, Italian, disastro) refer to man-made tragedies
DISASTER
● Philippine Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010
○ Severe destruction of a community that involves the loss of many lives,
properties, and livelihood and destruction of the environment that surpass the
ability of the affected community to recover using their own skills and funds.
○ Some of the negative effects of disasters are diseases, deaths, and destruction
of properties, society, livelihood, and environment.
State of Calamity
● Philippine Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010
○ Condition which many people lost their lives and properties, livelihood, bridges
and roads were destroyed. This has greatly affected the way people lived in the
affected community
Natural Calamities
● Philippines has most likely to experience disaster among Southeast Asian nations
(Asian Disaster Reduction Center, 2008, & Congress Policy and Research Budget of the
Congress, 2012)
● Third in the world (World Disasters Report, 2012)
● 237 calamities (1990-2009)
● More Filipinos died in calamities than any other nationalities
● Yolanda 🡪 6 190 Filipinos died
WORLD RISK INDEX, 2020
● Philippines ranked 9th
● Super Typhoon Goni (Rolly) was the strongest
● Part of the typhoon belt in the Pacific Ocean 🡪 20 typhoons annually
● Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire (volcanoes and earthquakes)
● Contribute to the existence of disasters like tsunamis, increasing water level, storm
surge, landslide, excessive flooding and drought
TYPES OF DISASTERS
DROUGHT (EL NINO)
● Abnormal weather condition brought by the warming of Pacific Ocean
● From 2009 up to the 1st quarter of 2010, 2.9 million people were affected (PHP 12.1
Billion properties damaged)
● Region 2 was the worst to be hit
● Water level in major dams went critically down which affected the supply of water for
irrigation and households
● Shift in the schedule of rainy season, short rainy season, monsoon weakening, weak
storms, lesser rains and high temperature
Tropical Cyclones
● 20 cyclones annually
● Categorized by the strength of the wind they carry, measured by the public storm signals
(Signal No. 1 to Signal No. 5)
● After Ondoy in 2009, PAGASA included the amount of rain it carries in their public
warnings
Volcanic Eruptions and Earthquakes
● Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire
● Because of the oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, volcanic belts and plate movements
● 452 volcanoes which is 75% of the worlds most active and inactive volcanoes
● 53 are in the Philippines
HISTORIC VOLCANOES IN THE PHILIPPINES
● Mt. Pinatubo
● Mayon Volcano
● Taal Volcano
EARTHQUAKES
● Caused by five major systems of faults in the country (West Valley Fault, Western
Philippine Fault, Eastern Philippine Fault, Central Philippine Fault and Southern
Mindanao Fault)
● July 16, 1990: 7.6 magnitude in Central Luzon (2,142 lives)
● October 14, 2013: 7.2 magnitude in Bohol and Cebu
TSUNAMI
● Japanese word tsu and nami which means harbor waves or waves in the shore
● From Philippine Trench, Mariana Trench and Cotabato Trench
● August 16, 1976 at the Moro Gulf (5, 000-8, 000 people)
DISASTER RISK MITIGATION
How to handle them?
● Even if disasters cannot be controlled, people can do something to mitigate the dangers
these disasters pose and prepare once they actually happen.
● In times disasters occur, plans and preparations should be implemented.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ON DISASTER RISK MITIGATION
● Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010
– aims to strengthen the Disaster Risk Reduction Management of the country; passed
under Arroyo Administration. Some of its provisions are:
○ Creating a program for National Risk Reduction and Management, implementing
its plans locally and gathering funds for the plans
○ Organized leadership and order during disaster
○ Evaluation of the threats of disasters and early warning system
○ Information dissemination and awareness
○ Risk mitigation
○ Preparedness for an effective response and fast recovery from the tragedy
Preparing for Disaster
● Disaster Preparedness refers to the information and capacity prepared by the
government, professional organizations that will help respond and recover, community
and individuals who effectively wait, respond and help in the recovery from threats of and
actual danger or condition.
● These plans are being implemented by both the numerous agencies in the government
and of the local governments. The government, together with non-government
organizations (NGOs) is conducting an annual exercises in different aspects of
responding to disasters and in conducting drills in schools and government offices.
● Through examining the danger a disaster will bring
● Giving an early warning signals, contingency planning or planning for alternative actions,
storing food and supplies, preparing evacuation centers, and information dissemination
to the public.
● For example, schools are required to annually hold an earthquake or fire drill among
their employees and students.
Early Warning Signals
● A provision for relevant and effective information dissemination by means of the
institutions identified, giving way for anyone who faces threats to conduct actions to
prevent or lessen the impact of disasters and to better prepare for effective response.
(United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction)
● The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010 (PDRRMA)
focuses on early warnings for people based on four elements: risk knowledge,
monitoring and predicting of hazards, disseminating of information regarding alerts and
warnings, and response from authority
● Knowledge of threats to be faced requires enough information and assigning priorities
for risk mitigation strategies to prevent this, and designing responsibilities of NDRRMC is
to organize a system for early warning and alert in time of immediate need to provide
specific and timely advise for national and local organizations responding to emergency
and for the public by means of mass media which includes digital and analog broadcast,
cable satellite television, radio wireless communications and landline communications.
● For example, PAGASA provides public warning on typhoons and gale warning in places
that will experience high tide whenever typhoons enter the PAR. The public is also
informed through Internet websites, television and radio.
● Early warnings are conducted by means of timely assessment of possible danger for the
communities, and destruction it might bring to people’s livelihood and to the
environment. Also, municipal officials and other localities are required to coordinate and
disseminate information in places that likely to be affected and so that preparation plans
could be put into actions even before disaster actually hit their place.
● Early warnings are important because if information is disseminated earlier and it is
accurate , government could assess the immediate and long-term dangers and could
mitigate their negative impact on the people, people’s livelihood, and the environment.
Project Noah
Earthquake and
Typhoon and Flood Drought
Volcanic Eruption
Public warning signal/strength Volcanic Hazard Identification and Monitoring the critical level of
of typhoon Mapping water in rivers and watershed
Rainfall Warning System National Lahar Mapping Program
Local Flood Early Warning Identifying dangerous objects from
System volcanoes
Identifying danger zones or places
Gale Warning that are near volcanoes or places
that are disaster prone
Do’s and Don’ts Before, During and After the Disaster
● Keeping everyone in the community alive and safe is not the sole responsibility of the
government but of everyone. Below are some of the suggestions of the Philippine Red
Cross on the do’s and don’ts before, during and after the typhoon and earthquake.
TYPHOON
BEFORE
● Store sufficient amount of food and water. Food must be easy or ready to eat
● Keep the flashlight and radio in places that are easily accessible.
● Examine your home and repair those that need fixing (ex. Roof)
● Monitor the news
● Harvest crops that can already be consumed
● Look for a place where you can keep your animals.
● For fishermen, place your boat in a safe place.
● If there is a need to evacuate, bring clothes, first aid kit, candle, flashlight, radio, food
and others.
DURING
● Remain inside your home
● Monitor the news
● If the water is contaminated, boil it for 20 minutes and store it in a container with lid or
cover.
● Lookout for lighted candles and lamps.
● Do not play in the flood to prevent electrocution and acquiring diseases.
● If there is a need to evacuate, remember the following:
● Remain calm.
● Close the windows and turn off the main power switch.
● Place the appliances and other important belongings in a high place.
● Do not go near the river.
AFTER
● If your home is damaged, make sure that it is safe before going back inside.
● Be careful of wild animals that could have entered your home.
● Check if there are electric cables that are submerged in the flood.
● Inform the authorities of destroyed electric cables and displaced posts.
● Take out the water from old tires, tin cans, and pots to prevent mosquitoes from breeding
there.
EARTHQUAKE
BEFORE DURING AFTER
HOME Inspect your companions and
Make sure that big and heavy Remain calm. Do not run outside members of the family and
appliances are by the wall. if you are inside a building. Stay employ first-aid kit if needed.
under a sturdy table or furniture to Inspect the source of gas and
be protected from falling debris or electricity. Repair these if needed.
Repair the parts of the houses things. Stay away from windows
that need fixing. Wear shoes, boots, or any cover
made of glass.
for the feed to protect them from
broken mirrors/glass.
If you are outside a building,
As much as possible, keep the Have the electric posts checked.
calmly look for a safe place and
materials light for the roof and Report to the authorities if these
keep away from displaced electric
ceiling need to be repaired.
posts, trees and walls.
Do not light a candle if there is a Stay away from the shore.
Always keep the following things gas leak in your surroundings. Tsunami might occur after the
in times of emergency: flashlight, Use the stairs instead of earthquake.
candle, match, first aid kits and elevators.
others. Use the telephone only for
If driving, do not pass by flyovers
emergency cases.
and bridges.
Prepare for the aftershocks or
Know where and when you can Park your vehicle far from places
small earthquakes. Stay away
ask for help from your relatives that might collapse. Remain inside
from structures that might
and neighbors. the vehicle while waiting for help.
collapse.
Know where the main power If you are in the shore, proceed
switch is. right away to a high place Follow the emergency plan of
Do not place heavy things in high because tsunami might occur if your local government
places. the earthquake is strong.
SCHOOL If your family needs to evacuate,
make sure to leave a message on
your whereabouts. Bring with you
Require the administration to If you are in a crowded place like
flashlights, candles, clothes, flat
annually conduct information a cinema, do not push people out.
sheet, food and water.
dissemination and programs to Remain calm, and stay away from
prevent disasters/accident caused structures that might collapse. . Headaches cannot be totally
by earthquakes by having drills. prevented after a disaster but it is
important to follow the said
reminders.
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR DISASTER MITIGATION
National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center (NDRRMC) and Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Center (PDRRMC)
● For planning and coordinating with other agencies on preparation for disaster and
disaster mitigation
● Through Republic Act no. 10121 or the Philippine Risk Reduction Management of
2010.
The tasks of the agencies include:
● Advise and update the President on preparation for disasters, disaster prevention, risk
mitigation, emergency response and rehabilitation
● Formulate national early warning system and alert system in times of emergency
● Create and develop correct mechanism for disasters to protect the society and the
economy;
● Monitor the creation and operation of agencies and organizations by passing laws,
regulations, code or technical guide following RA 10121
● Oversee and manage the resources for disaster risk reduction and management;
● Monitor and formulate rules and regulations in managing the Local Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF);
● Create instruments to evaluate or assess the possible risks brought about by climate
change in different parts of the country and to the ecosystem with coordination with the
Commission on Climate Change
● Coordinate with the local government for immediate impleentatin of rules on risk
mitigation in times of disasters
● Create technical groups to effectively manage and maintain the programs of the national
government in relation to risk mitigation brought by disasters
PARTNER AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT
● NDRRMC and its partner from the local government (PDRRMC) coordinate with other
local agencies and international governments in times of disasters
● They directly give the President updates on the status and actions being done by the
said agencies to properly respond to the situation.
To better understand this, the said agencies are grouped based on the Four Priority Areas of the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP):
Priority 1: Prevention And Mitigation
● The Secretary of the Department of Science serves as the head.
● To create rules, plan, and budget to prevent disasters and inform the affected areas of
the said disasters
● Agencies such as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (PHILVOLCS) are responsible for monitoring, forecasting or the early
detection, and warning the possible affected areas.
● The Department of Finance (DoF) in charge of assessing the funds needed in
preparing for disasters and in making sure that in times of disaster, affected areas have
access and would be able to use this financial assistance fund.
● The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) evaluates, maps, and assesses the danger areas
● Areas that need rehabilitation and additional infrastructures are under the Department
of Public Works and Highway (DPWH)
● Department of Environment and Natural Resources is responsible for informing the
public of ways on how to preserve and protect the environment so that the dangers
posed by natural and man-made disaster would be minimized.
Priority 2: Disaster Preparedness
● Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
● Its secretary heads the coordination and communication among local government
units (LGUs) and the affected areas.
● Together with OCD, DILG makes sure that communities have the right information and
capacity to mobilize in the midst of disasters.
● The Philippine Information Agency, on the other hand, informs the public and increase
their capacity to act accordingly and respond immediately in times of disasters. These
are done in the form of infomercials on radio and television.
● The Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) require schools to prepare for disasters through annual earthquake and fire drills
by their students and employees. Schools also serve as evacuation centers in times of
disasters.
Priority 3: Disaster Response
● The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the agency in charge
of responding in times of disaster
● Assess and provide for the needs of the victims and help in the recovery of the affected
areas
● Distribute relief goods and provide immediate assistance to those in need and those
whose homes were damaged
● Together with the local government units, they provide temporary shelter for the affected
communities
● Coordinate with OCD, DND, DoH, and the Philippine National Red Cross for speedier
search, rescue, and recovery of the victims’ bodies
● The DOG provides survivors their health and psychological needs.
Priority 4: Rehabilitation And Recovery
● The last part takes place during and after responding to the calamity.
● Government agencies are responsible for the immediate economic and social recovery
of the affected areas.
● The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) serves as the main
agency in charge of coordinating with different government agencies after receiving
news from OCD on its assessment of the total cost of damages, losses, and needs of
the people.
● Slowly, economic activities in affected areas should go back to normal.
● If a place is declared in a “state of calamity”, the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI) implements price freezing or they control the increase in the price of goods so that
hoarding, or the illegal storing of a big amount of goods, can be prevented.
● On the other hand, the National Housing Authority, PAG-IBIG Fund, SSS, GSIS offer
emergency loans to their members who are affected by the calamity. DPWH and
Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) prioritize the repair of
damaged infrastructures and electric, water and telecommunication lines
● It is important for people to also take responsibility for helping the government by
heeding the early warning signal systems, pre-emptive evacuation notice, and by
avoiding danger zones so that they be spared from danger and possible disasters.
● NDRRMC and other government agencies are also reminded not to abuse their power
and connections to get in the way of proper and immediate distribution of relief goods to
the affected families.
● According to Section 10 of the PDRRMA in 2010, anyone, any group, or any
corporation that violates this rule is accountable to the law and would be punished.
SUMMARY
● Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010
aims to outline and implement the plan to precent and lessen the danger and damages
caused by calamities and disasters.
● Aside from NDRRMC, there are other government agencies that play specific roles in
informing, responding to, rescuing and rehabilitating affected areas.
● There are also numerous NGOs, and private individuals or organizations wthat help the
victims.
● It is important to remember that people should take responsibility for helping the
government by heeding the early warning signal systems, pre-emptive evacuation notice
and by avoiding danger zones