The Philippine is an archipelago of 7,107 islands divided into three big islands Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It lies in the typhoon belt and the western segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire exposing the country to natural hazard such as tropical cyclones, landslide, flood earthquake, volcano eruption and tsunami. Yearly the country experiences an average of 20 tropical cyclone including other weather hazards such as thunderstorm, heavy rain fall, and monsoon rains, cold front and inter tropical convergence zone. It is surrounded by 300 volcanoes 22 of which are active, together with active faults and trenches that are potential sources of earthquakes as such disasters have already been recurring phenomena in the country and have already cause destructive effect in the whole communities including their food and life, support system, apparently this hazards have become part of the Philippine landscape.
Across nations, the growing attention on disaster management is evident. This could be viewed as a common attempt to understand the situation whereby the last two decades witnessed the immense effect of disasters on human lives. Public and private institutions alike are exploring possible interventions that could be undertaken to prepare communities for and reduce the toll on lives and property caused by disasters. On an annual average, more than 200 million people have been affected by disaster all over Asia.
History has shown how the Philippines have, time and again, battled with the aftermaths of natural disasters. A strong earthquake hitting Metro Manila would be one of the gravest scenarios possible given the region’s role as the political, economic and social center of the possibility is not very far. An active fault system cuts across the Metro Manila region. This fault according to geologists may bring about a 7.2 magnitude near-field earthquake, the return period of which is believe to be several hundred years.. The Philippine Institute of Volcanologist and Seismology (PHILVOCS) have identified five seismic zones that hit metro manila area in the past. These are the Marikina Valley Fault System (now called the “West Valley Fault”). Philippine Fault Zone, Lubang Fault, Casiguran Fault and the Manila Trench. The primary seismic hazards to which Metro Manila is prone are ground shaking, liquefaction, and surface rupturing. Landslides and tsunami may occur but these are not expected to seriously affect the metropolis. Earthquakes from any of the five major seismic zones could generate ground shaking in Metro Manila but those from the Marikina Valley Fault Zone will most likely generate the strongest levels of ground shaking.
The tremendous effect of disaster in the country is caused by the fact that there has not been much reduction in what might be called traditional disaster threat; new disaster threats have already developed; and there is a relatively between disaster and its losses. The general effects of disaster includes loss of life, injury damage to property, damage to subsistence/cash crops, disruption of production and lifestyle, loss of livelihood, disruption of essential services, damage national infrastructure and governmental system national economic losses, and sociologically/psychological after effects.
Not so long ago, Central Luzon was critically hit by a disaster. PAGASA reported that there was no typhoon signal. Unfortunately monsoon rains devastated most of the communities around Central Luzon and other part of the Philippine area was devastated by flood. Properties, agriculture, school buildings and lives of the people were destructively affected by “habagat.”
Dinalupihan, Bataan encounters this devastating event yearly. Before, most people think that this is just a common “habagat,” heavy rain today and gone tomorrow. But this was different. A low pressure area followed by this monsoon rains over the Province of Bataan which started August 6, 2012 brought continuous heavy rains with occasional wind that caused massive flash flood in the majority of barangays of Dinalupihan. The disaster reached a level of 6 to 8 feet of water to the road leading to the destruction of facilities, files and documents of different government offices such as rural health units, municipal office, hospitals, business offices, municipal market and educational institutions. One may ask this question. What shall we do to avoid all these things? Millions of peso lost, lives destructed, time, teaching and learning were affected. People should recognized that preparedness in disaster is most necessary in ensuring that there will be no properties, lives, money wasted and families that will torn apart.
These are some examples that make one ask what could have been done if not to abate but to lessen the number of deaths and economic damages. Disaster Management, particularly disaster preparedness, is a continuous process. Achieving mature level of practice does not imply having perfected the system but rather connotes an enhanced state of protecting the citizenry from the impact of hazards. There lie ahead several opportunities for improvement. It seems that recognition of the threat is most essential. Disasters should be viewed as situations that can be prepared for. Interventions can be made in advance to respond to vulnerabilities posed by natural hazards to prevent disasters.
Based on my masteral thesis entitled “Awareness of Public Elementary Teachers and Administrators on Disaster Management”, it was found out that both respondents have high level of awareness. Meaning, they know what to do when disaster strikes. This is certainly commendable for it is vital for everyone to be aware on disaster management. It will help us to be more prepared in expected or even in unexpected circumstances.
By: Marisa B. Regala Teacher III (Colo Elementary School)
