Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System Implementation in the Third Congressional District of Pangasinan
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Journal of Education, Health, Arts, Sciences and Technology (JEHAST) ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System Implementation in the Third Congressional District of Pangasinan Madlyn D. Tingco1, Zosima M. Sison2, Raquel C. Pambid3 Assistant Professor, Public Administration Department, Pangasinan State University-Bayambang1 Associate Professor, Public Administration Department, Pangasinan State University-Bayambang2 Professor/Research Coordinator, Pangasinan State University-Bayambang3 [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Abstract Millions of people suffer from various natural or man-made disasters. Filipinos perennially suffer from different calamities since the Philippines is considered as one of the disaster-prone countries in the world. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the disaster risk reduction and management system implementation as perceived by the victims/beneficiaries in the Third Congressional District of Pangasinan which is composed of San Carlos City, and the Municipalities of Calasiao, Bayambang, Sta. Barbara, Mapandan, and Malasiqui. Specifically, this study aimed to (a) determine the extent of implementation of the disaster risk management programs along pre-disaster period, disaster period, and post-disaster period; and (b) determine the level of effectiveness of the disaster risk management programs as perceived by the victims/beneficiaries. This study made use of the descriptive method of research. Questionnaires were administered to the respondents with interviews and documentary analysis to supplement the data gathered. There were 2, 350 respondents out of the 147, 364 total population of the affected barangays in each of the component city and municipality in the Third Congressional District of Pangasinan. The study made evident that evacuation operations and the conduct of relief operations were properly managed by the LGUs. These are deemed effective as perceived by the victims or beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the extent of implementation of the disaster risk management programs before, during, and after the calamity period was rated as moderate. Keywords: Calamity, beneficiaries, LGUs (local government units) earthquakes adversely affected 1, 147,270 Filipinos INTRODUCTION according to a report of the World Health Organization. There are millions of people who suffer from various Another study released in Brussels in 2000 placed the natural or man-made disasters such as typhoons, country as the “most disaster-prone country on earth” based earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, flashfloods, on the existence of typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic landslides, and tsunami. The impact of these disasters is eruptions, floods, garbage, landslides and military actions aggravated by global warming, environmental degradation against rebels in the country. and population explosion. The Province of Pangasinan, in particular, is highly The susceptibility of the Philippines to various hazards susceptible to natural disasters. The project, Mapping can be highly attributed to its geographical location at the Philippine Vulnerability to Environmental Disasters, western part of the Pacific Ring of Fire which makes it included the province in the list of top ten provinces that are vulnerable to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. at risk to earthquakes due to the Manila Trench. Moreover, In fact, of the 300 volcanoes in the country, 22 are classified the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as active. It is also often hit by typhoons due to its location Mines and Geo-Science Bureau (DENR-MGB) ranked along the typhoon belt in the Western North Pacific Basin. Pangasinan as third most flood-prone and landslide-prone It is said that on the average, 20 tropical cyclones enter the province in the Philippines as of 2011. This concurs with the Philippine area of responsibility a year and five to seven of declaration of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and these can be destructive. Coordinating Council (RDRRMC) that Pangasinan is the Corollary to this, a recent study known as the World most flood-prone province in Region I. Finally, in a 2013 Disaster Report 2012 ranked the Philippines as the third report of the World Bank entitled, “Getting a Grip of most disaster-prone country in the world because of its high Climate Change in the Philippines”, Pangasinan is exposure to natural calamities. Likewise, it topped the list considered one among those provinces which are high risk of Asian countries hit by disasters in 2011 based on a report for typhoons with strong winds and heavy rainfall and of the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters consequently, are at a very high risk to flooding. (CRED). In fact, the occurrence of floods, storms and 17 ISSN-2704-2901 (Print) www.psubc.com.ph Journal of Education, Health, Arts, Sciences and Technology (JEHAST) ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Given this scenario, the Philippine government has long municipality or city which are considered as always affected established an institutional structure to respond to disasters by natural calamities such as typhoon and flood. The through the enactment of PD 1566 or “An Act Strengthening researchers also consulted the Pangasinan Provincial the Philippine Disaster Control and Capability and Disaster risk Reduction and Management Council Establishing the National Program on Community Disaster (PDRRMC) as well as the local government units concerned Preparedness” in June 11, 1978. which initially gave the list of most affected barangays in Recognizing the need to adopt a more comprehensive the third district. policy, the government formulated R.A. 10121, also called the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management The researchers randomly selected the respondents from Act of 2010.” It was signed into law last May 27, 2010. The the total population of the identified barangays. There are law enjoins the government to “adopt a disaster risk 2,350 respondents out of the 147, 364 total population of the reduction and management approach that is holistic, affected barangays in each of the component city and comprehensive, integrated, and proactive in lessening the municipality in the Third Congressional District of socio-economic and environmental impacts of disasters Pangasinan. Table 1 shows the distribution of respondents including climate change, and promote the involvement and by local government unit. participation of all sectors and all stakeholders concerned at Table 1 all levels, especially the local community.” Distribution of Respondents Disaster risk reduction and management, as defined in Local Average Population Sample RA 10121, is the systematic process of using administrative directives, organizations, and operational skills and Government Unit of the Sample Size capacities to implement strategies, policies and improve (LGU) Barangays in Each coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse impacts of LGU hazards and the possibility of disaster. Prospective disaster risk reduction and management refers to risk reduction and management activities that address and seek to avoid the development of new or increased disaster risks, especially if San Carlos City 20,093 392 risk reduction policies are not put in place. It is with the above premises that the researchers became (San) interested in knowing the disaster risk reduction and management system implementation in the Third Calasiao (Cal) Congressional District of Pangasinan. 36, 372 396 Bayambang (Bay) OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 8, 417 382 This study determined the disaster risk reduction management system implementation as perceived by the Sta. Barbara (Sta) victims/beneficiaries in the Third Congressional District of 34, 760 395 Pangasinan, which is composed of San Carlos City and the Mapandan (Map) Municipalities of Calasiao, Bayambang, Sta.Barbara, 14, 853 390 Mapandan, and Malasiqui. Malasiqui (Mal) Specifically, it aimed to (a) determine the extent of 32, 869 395 implementation of the disaster risk management programs as perceived by the victims/beneficiaries along pre- disaster/calamity period, disaster/calamity period, and post- TOTAL 147, 364 2, 350 disaster/calamity period; and (b) the level of effectiveness of the disaster risk management programs as perceived by the victims/beneficiaries. The main data gathering tool used in this study was a MATERIALS AND METHODS questionnaire developed by the researchers themselves based from the provisions of R.A. No. 10121, otherwise This study used the descriptive method of research. The known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and subjects of the study were the residents in the Third Management Act (PDRRMA) of 2010. It was divided into Congressional District of Pangasinan, to wit: San Carlos two parts. Part I focused on the extent of implementation of City and the Municipalities of Calasiao, Bayambang, Sta. the disaster risk management programs while Part II Barbara, Mapandan, and Malasiqui. The researchers only centered on the level of effectiveness of the disaster risk chose respondents from the selected barangays in each 18 ISSN-2704-2901 (Print) www.psubc.com.ph Journal of Education, Health, Arts, Sciences and Technology (JEHAST) ____________________________________________________________________________________________ management programs. The questionnaire was subjected to validation