As a member of a particular community, it is important for us to be aware of the current situation of the community we live in. This is one of the many lessons I have learned during my first semester in the National Service Training Program— Civic Welfare Training Service (NSTP-CWTS). Through this, I am given the opportunity to know more about my own community particularly in line of our Barangay’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management.
There’s no place like home as they say. This is the reason why I chose my permanent community namely Brgy. Villa Nava Gumaca, Quezon. A nice place to take a walk in the morning and a calm and quiet ambiance may be felt in the evening. Despite the good memories built in this community by each family, still it cannot run away from hazards and disasters, particularly those hazards that naturally occur.
Based on my interview with our Barangay Captain Mrs. Loida Moyano, with the rest of the Sanggunian ng barangay, they still remembered some natural hazards that occurred in our community. Our barangay has experienced numbers of typhoons which according to them resulted to the occurrence of flashfloods especially on those houses located near the river particularly in Sitio Gurong-Gurong and Sitio Tabing Ilog. Also, our community is also prone to landslides since our location have several landslide prone areas particularly places near the mountains such as Sitio Bagong Buhay. Other hazards were also specified which are heavy rains with thunderstorms, strong winds, and even fires.
According to our Barangay Captain, in terms of vulnerability assessment, most of the areas affected are families who lived in houses made of lights materials and as mentioned above, the location is also a factor of physical vulnerability. This usually results to the destruction of these houses. The destructions of houses and infrastructures lead to a big loss for the welfare of all. The Sanggunian also emphasized that social services were also delayed in times of disasters.
In times of threats of disasters, our Sanggunian were always alert like how they attentively watch the news on the television and hear from updates on the radio. Also, they collaborate with the local government in order to be more prepared and prevent the possible disasters that may result from the threat of these hazards.
As for their part, our Sanggunian made outlines and formulated ordinances that lessen chances of impact of such hazards in our community such as the prohibition of deforestation and avoidance of throwing trashes everywhere. Instead, throw the trashes properly and practice proper waste segregation. They also manage to distribute flyers that contains information about such hazards in order to spread awareness to the whole community on what they should do during those times of calamities. They also developed programs in order to aid such vulnerabilities of some families in our community such as Reforestation Program and Resettlement Program for those who live in the disaster-prone areas such as places near the river and mountains.
Barangay Development Plan
For me, our barangay used its capacity properly in order to prevent the worst for our community and provide safety and security for the members of the whole community. This is the reason why our community remained safe and casualty free during times of natural hazards particularly typhoons which is the common hazard that hit our community.
“Sa awa ng Dakilang Lumikha, bihirang mangyari sa ating pamayanan ang mga kalamidad na iyon.” -Kapitana Loida
From a child who grew up in this community, now a college student who is now aware of the situation of our community, I became also aware of the current issue in our community which is the issue of having a high number of informal settlers in our barangay. It became the main problem for our community because these informal settlers are residing in flood prone areas. Aside from the Resettlement Program proposed by our Sanggunian, protection of informal settlers must also be provided by the local government. Since they are the ones who are mostly vulnerable to hazards, the solution that the local government is to provide funds for the community’s program for the assurance that these informal settlers can resettle to safer places.
Community Walk
The town of Gumaca like our community in Brgy. Villa Nava is also well-prepared in terms of disaster risk reduction management. I am a witness of their actions mornings after a typhoon hit our town. They conduct inspections around town of what has the typhoon left with us and immediate action were taken by each sector in cooperation with each barangay. For me, I believe that collaboration is much needed especially in terms of disaster situations in our country today. Although one might think that managing the whole country in terms of disasters is much more complex which is of course true. However, if we work together from the smallest community to the largest, all will be well. We Filipinos are known for being compassionate and generous that is why despite every typhoon that hit our country, the optimism remains as we show such values to our fellow Filipino who are directly affected by such calamity. However, issues on the government as a whole about the gradual actions taken to aid the affected areas has remain questionable such as the inadequate distribution of donations during the times of Yolanda.
In my opinion, the problem that kept the vulnerability of people in our country during times of disasters start with the people themselves. Whenever I watch news when a typhoon is about to approach our country, people who were asked to live their homes and go to the allotted evacuation centers for them refused to live their homes. This increases the probability of risks because the government and even local communities are doing their job to keep them safe, but in the first place they are the ones who put themselves in danger.
Having been given a chance to have a ‘kwentuhan’ session with our barangay captain and some of the members of our Sanggunian, made me realize that as we grow up and be aware about our role in our community, we should be open and be participative on the community we live in. Personally, some people in our barangay see me as a quiet person who stays inside our house all day doing nothing. I admit that I am one introvert person who prefers isolation than participation. But this made me realize that I am capable of going out in my comfort zone. It is true that in order to develop yourself, you have to start small. This is why I am starting my development first in a place I considered my home which is Brgy. Villa Nava.
I also realized that there is more of our barangay besides its external beauty. Seeing the proper management of our local community by our very own Sanggunian ng Barangay made me felt safe and secured. Especially in times of disasters, which is our primary focus in our kwentuhan and community walk. I became more aware of our Barangay’s development plan which I think is properly established by our community because it focuses on the safety of the members of the community which is for the common good.
Like how I started small in developing myself, I believe that I country should be the same. I mentioned earlier that collaboration is very important in making our country a better place. Through this, with the participation of each and every member of different communities, we are able to increase our capacity to reduce risks. For me, the reason why we need to address the issue of disasters in our country is because our country is prone to it. With the presence of different factors of vulnerability in our country, it is a must to be prepared and have a proper disaster risk reduction management.
The most important thing to address these vulnerabilities is to start it in ourselves. I believe that what I can do to address such vulnerabilities is to use my capacities in order to lessen and better, remove these vulnerabilities that people have. What I will do is to be aware which I think is the first step that everyone should take. The next step is to participate in the community’s plan towards disaster risk reduction management and give my insights about the different kinds of vulnerabilities that needs to be focused on to be able to contribute on developing the plan. After all this planning and establishing a well-developed disaster risk reduction plan, I will help my community on spreading awareness to all members of our community. But I also know that this plan also should be shared to the local government in order for them to use this as an instrument to also have a well-developed disaster risk reduction management plan. I believe that this minor role of mine as the voice of the youth in terms of addressing the vulnerabilities encountered by the people of our country will have a major impact towards the whole town and it may also inspire other youngsters like me to participate in the development of their community. Through small beginnings like this, I have high hopes that it will result to a better, safe, and well-managed future.
Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management 