The Department of Education mandated local school officials to implement disaster risk reduction plans. Being prepared, especially for children and staff, reduces school disasters. Limiting school property damage, organizing life-saving procedures, and preventing disruptions to instruction are also part of catastrophic risk management. Educators, students, parents, and community members should actively participate in disaster preparedness to raise risk awareness. Various studies suggest that administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students may work together to guarantee school safety and mitigate emergencies. In conjunction, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service says the Philippines is exposed to many artificial and natural dangers. The education sector is especially exposed to natural disasters. Disasters often disrupt school and DepEd office activities and the lives of students, staff, and other education stakeholders. The DRRMS promotes K–12 education’s resilience to natural and artificial hazards, integrates DRRM, into the work scope at all DepEd levels, and prepares students, staff, schools, and offices for safety and learning continuity.
PAGASA reports 19–20 tropical storms each year, which increases the risk of flooding and landslides. Fires, earthquakes, and volcanoes also threaten the nation. Political and separatist movements, violent extremism, cultural and traditional issues, and citizen brutality also threaten armed confrontation. Natural catastrophes, especially hydrometeorological ones like tropical cyclones, weather disturbances, flooding, and storm surges, continue to threaten the Philippines, according to DepEd Order No. 033, s. 2021. The DepEd Enhance Basic Education Information System (EBEIS) reported 47,188 schools dealing with natural disasters between 2009–2010 and 2018–2019. Of these, 26,221 schools experienced flooding and 39,956 tropical cyclones. To resolve vulnerabilities, the department produced DO No. 83 s. 2011 and DO No. 21 s. 2015. These documents offer information management, catastrophe risk reduction, and disaster preparedness guidelines.
The Olongapo City is susceptible to earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis. Hurricanes strengthen annually, and big earthquakes can strike sooner than expected. An individual’s “Disaster Preparedness” can be assessed by their ability to predict, respond to, and recover from risks and hazards and manage resources, according to Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10121. Disaster management and risk reduction may not be as effective in this case. Preparation methods address emergency reactions by preparing people to handle difficult situations and facilitate recovery. The best preparation method is to work with public information authorities and efficiently channel communication. Prepare for emergencies with emergency supplies, equipment, and backup plans. Participation, response exercises, and skill training are the greatest approaches to avert problems. Safety facilities, disaster relief strategies, and staff and student emergency preparedness training are considered when measuring school preparedness. Preparedness plans help vulnerable populations protect their property and themselves against disasters. Institutional structures, regulations, strategies, warning systems, and plan projections enable this. Schools have to create disaster management and risk reduction programs. The report addresses disaster risks and the need for school administrators to avert them and save lives and property. Some secondary schools’ disaster risk reduction awareness has improved disaster resilience. These plans attempt to improve disaster prevention and communication in educational institutions. Adding disaster risk reduction to the curriculum, increasing media influence, hazard comprehension, risk perception, and preparedness behavior affect earthquake readiness graduates. It evaluates and enhances a school disaster preparedness to create a thorough, long-term safety system. Improving disaster risk reduction education and actions can reduce students’ susceptibility, hence everyone can focus on learning.
Disaster Risk Reduction Management: A Matter of Concern
The Department of Education mandated local school officials to implement disaster risk reduction plans. Being prepared, especially for children and staff, reduces school disasters. Limiting school property damage, organizing life-saving procedures, and preventing disruptions to instruction are also part of catastrophic risk management. Educators, students, parents, and community members should actively participate in disaster preparedness…