INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON RECENT ADVANCES IN SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY - Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2019-02-20)

DISASTER READINESS: EXPLORING THE CAPACITIES AND VULNERABILITIES OF THE COASTAL INHABITANTS
Abstract: Hazards and disasters, either natural or structural, disturb human habitation, destroy non-human resources, and deprive human life. Its increase in frequency of occurrence and its intensity of destruction necessitate compelling attention to put disaster risk reduction and management at one’s high level of consciousness. Anchored on the theories of Maslow’s needs hierarchy, expectancy value, self-determination, and personal values, this qualitative research utilized case study to explore the disaster capacities and vulnerabilities of the inhabitants of the Pacific coastal barangays of Salcedo, Eastern Samar, Philippines. First-hand data elicited through face-to-face interview of the 12 participants representing the important sectors of the area such as barangay officials, people’s organizations, persons with disabilities, and households were saved in electronic recorder with permission, transcribed as captured by the electronic recorder, analyzed, and triangulated with reliable data sources. In vivo coding was adapted to keep the data rooted in the participants’ own language. Data in sentence codes were linked to categories. The themes were generated based on analytic reflection on the codes and categories. The major thematic areas that emerged in the study were awareness, capacity, vulnerability, and intervention programs or activities. The participants and the in-charge for disaster risk reduction and management were fully aware of the prevailing hazards and were highly conscious about occurrence of disasters. Awareness represents a good start of getting ready for any disaster-related activity and a forerunner of building capacity. Participants described capacity as the strength and ability to respond in times of disasters, and vulnerability as the incapacity to protect themselves during disasters. Identified intervention programs and activities comprise the observance of ordinance, saving mother earth, conduct of DRRM seminars, trainings, and drills, and enhanced information dissemination. The study further disclosed that exposure to various hazards such as super typhoons, earthquakes, and floods put the inhabitants of the Pacific coastal areas to be at high risk. However, these inhabitants have high opportunity for disaster readiness due to their high level of awareness about the commonly recurring hazards and disasters in their place. By comparing the capacities with the vulnerabilities identified by the participants, more indicators of vulnerability were disclosed which indicated that the inhabitants of the Pacific coastal barangays were more vulnerable rather than capacitated during occurrence of disasters. The study likewise disclosed that to be able to answer the need to cope with the worsening consequences of the recurring disasters, local leaders together with the representatives of peoples’ organizations, persons with disabilities, and households must initiate activities or programs to strengthen capacities, starting with strengthening collaboration among the constituents of the barangay, division of labor through assigning of working committees, identifying private houses as potential evacuation centers, coming up with sound DRRM plans, creation of DRRM teams with proper trainings, and the development of the evacuation area. In the same context, local leaders must address vulnerability issues identified in their barangay and they must tackle concerns about relocation and zoning, giving priority concern to the vulnerable groups, planting trees near the shore line, and conducting of activities geared towards saving mother earth. With proper implementation of the programs and activities enumerated by the participants, it is with certainty that the inhabitants of the Pacific coastal barangays shall be more prepared and resilient to disasters. In general, it is concluded that the inhabitants of the Pacific coast of Salcedo, Eastern Samar, Philippines are not totally ready for a disaster occurrence. The identified capacities and vulnerabilities of the participants could be sound bases for the local leaders in coming up with quality DRRM program and activities to fully prepare or capacitate the coastal inhabitants. Keywords: Case study, disaster capacity, disaster readiness, disaster risk reduction and management, disaster vulnerability
Mr. Noel Yanga, Mrs. Agnesia Machica, Mr. Apolonio Machica