CETE 40 – DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

End-of-Course Project
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan
for the Municipality of Albay

Prevention and Mitigation:

I. Improved communication systems

- Improving the communication systems within the community may help the residents to
hear and understand the incoming typhoon and what to what strength the typhoon will be.
Media and other forms of spreading information are quite useful in these situations as it
helps in alerting the residents to evacuate as early as possible. Communication not only
through technology but through vocal approach in helping the residents to understand why
is there a need to evacuate in the first place. A seminar is an example of communication in
which the residents are taught why is there place prone to this type of disasters. The
residents will now understand why they will be evacuated to a safe zone as early as
possible.

II. Pre-evacuation Plan

- Early warning systems can help the residents notice the path and the time that the storm
or typhoon may hit their place. The evacuation must start a day before the typhoon lands.
The evacuation must start immediately and the residents must also be informed on what to
items to bring in the evacuation site. The evacuation site can either be a school or any public
structure that is safe and can accommodate a large group of people. The path to the
evacuation site must be clear of debris and can easily be accessed.

III. Dams/Dikes for altering flood water and lahar flow

- Although this preventive structures cannot completely eradicate or stop the flow of flood
water and lahar flow but they can alter the course to nearby rivers or empty basins.
Changing its direction to prevent further damage to structures and also take lives of the
residents. Dams/Dikes have capacities that can only withstand the strength force in which
they are designed.

IV. Permanent Danger Zones should not be resided

- These areas are prone to hazards in which anyone and anything within this range will be
affected of the disasters. These areas are strictly advisable that no settlement shall be
established here. The government should address the residents that this area is not safe for
settlement because it will be likely to be hit by disasters. Warning signs should be
implemented in these areas for the locals to be aware of the hazard it brings.
Preparedness:

Thyphoon reming devastated thousands and left them to pick up the pieces of their
shattered lives. A massive damage to infrastructures from volcanic mudflows coming from
Mt. Mayon leaving hundreds of dead body. This was the scene in Albay more than a decade
ago, but in order to prevent this kind of disaster the government should give a budget for
disaster preparedness in every city that ranges from 40 – 50 million.

The response of the community to minimize disaster, this must be leaded by the
government so that communities, individuals and recovery organizations will follow. In the
case of albay, the city should have early warning devices monitored by PAGASA and DOST to
aware people that there is a hazard near their area. NDRRMC should provide stockpiling of
equipment and supplies for the city of Albay. The government should educate the people in
every barangays in how to prepare for a disaster, a seminar should be held leaded by local
officials of every barangays. Stockpilling of food and non-food items should be done, it
should be kept in a warehouse constructed for disaster emergency purposes.

The local government of Albay should ask budget for the construction of temporary facilities
and evacuation centers, this will help the city to recover faster if they’ll be hit by another
tropical storm, so that temporary houses will not become a problem in the middle of a
surging storm. Lastly the city of Albay should form a disaster troop monitoring the city and
ready to response anytime, each member of the troop should undergo basic DRRM training,
specialized trainings conducted to indentified agencies, workshop on warning and
forecasting capabilities, resource mapping workshop, and first aid workshops. This disaster
preparedness plan will surely make the city become stronger and prepared for any disaster.

Response:

 Assess in areas that are affected

- When responding in a typhoon, the government should know to the places that
are affected for example the barangays. Also, when assessing the government
should know the number of families affected, number of family members,
number of the family evacuees in the evacuation centers, number of members in
the family evacuees, individuals like the children, pregnant, senior citizens, and
PWDs in each barangays that are affected. This response is very helpful for the
data gathering to know how many will be given the relief goods and assessment.

 Call for Donations

- For the donations, the government should know how many relief goods should
be delivered in the affected areas. Food, water, clothes, hygiene kits and in cash
are basically important in donations. For the food, canned goods that are “Halal”
is important for our Muslim brothers and sisters that are affected by the
typhoon. For hygiene kits, a very basic things that are included are bath soap,
 shampoo, towel, toothbrush, toothpaste and tissues. With this response, it can
really help the affected individuals for their daily needs.
 Psychosocial
- In every disaster that a person experience trauma is common on each person.
Psychosocial can help the person to recover from the trauma that him/her
experience. It helps the person to move on from the disaster and continue on
his/her daily routine in life.
 Research
- What should the government do?
- What would be the best move to prevent the disaster again?
- Why did it happen?
And many more questions related to response. The research is very important to
response after the disaster happen because it can prevent the next disaster. The
government and the people can prepare their selves if it will happen again. For the
government, it is start a plan on preventing the disaster especially the typhoon like
building strong and high evacuation centers, dikes and other things.

Rehabilitation and Recovery:

More than a month after Typhoon Reming, Albay residents are slowly recovering from the
incident. Residents of Busay, a baranggay (village) north of Daraga are temporarily relocated
after the typhoon Reming hit the Bicol region last November 30. The typhoon, considered as
one of the worst in the history of Bicol, left a carnage of death and destruction. According to
Amado Lorejo, baranggay captain of Busay, Busay is one of the most affected places in
Albay. The typhoon buried around 45 percent of the entire baranggay under tons of sand
and boulders. At least 49 were killed during the typhoon last November 30 in Busay alone
and some are still missing. Families who used to live in the baranggay are now sheltered at
an evacuation center in Busay Elementary School. P500 million to P1 billion savings from the
Countryside Development Fund (CDF), also known as “Pork Barrel”, would be used for the
rehabilitation of the areas hit by Typhoon Reming. The president that time launch a flash
appeal to the international community through the UN-OCHA to generate funds to support
the relief and rehabilitation requirements of the affected communities. Short term issues of
rehabilitation will be medium size tents, medium sized Tent for clinic and food kitchen,
medicine kits. Additional ORS and basic antibiotics, water tank, water treatment tabs. Long
term rehabilitation will be rehabilitations of clinic, schools and houses. Support permanent
relocation of communities in hazardous zones. Provide technical assistance in sitting new
camps. New communities will have to be established in safe areas in line of those located in
dangerous areas. This would entail support for basic public utilities like electricity and water.
Provide materials for core shelter because many families in rural communities would just
need inexpensive materials like GI sheets, CW nails, nylon cords and indigenous materials
like nipa and sawali shingles to rebuild their homes. Support the
rehabilitation/reconstruction of schools because schools are the traditional refuge of
communities during disasters. Quick repair to make them safe and habitable can ease the
congestion in some evacuation centers. These can also provide much needed income or
food (if food for work scheme is adopted) to affected community members who can be
tapped for manual labour. Provide teaching and learning materials like books, school
equipment and educational supplies because most of it were destroyed in many schools.
These have to be replaced. Students have to be provided with basic school supplies to
motivate them to go back to school. Support the rehabilitation/reconstruction of day care
centers, early childhood care and development should not be overlooked. They should be
supported to normalize their services as quickly as possible.

Reflection:

The Massive damage of the Typhoon Reming was an eye-opener for us people that even if
we are well prepared for the casualties that may arise, we cannot still assure how much the
damage of the disaster will affect us. The government may have lack of giving major
information about the upcoming typhoon that the Albay people will experience. The
outcome of the casualties of the typhoon is the effect of how the people are vulnerable of
any disasters. The people that have the power must help those who are need, they must
double their efforts so that we can less the damage and we can improve our life together.
Related agencies such as DPWH and PAGASA have to make their data and role sharing
clearly and continuous. Especially in a time of emergency and after the disaster, more close
contact and cooperative framework must be established. LGU’s and the private sector
should work hand in hand to help lessen the improper disposing of trash. Irresponsible
throwing of trash is one cause of a disaster. The earth and all life on it are part of God’s
creation. We are called to respect this gift. We are responsible for taking care of the world
we live in and for sharing all the wonders and resources the earth gives us. Our changing
environment prompts us to stop and think about how we live on our planet. As a future Civil
Engineer, I will help in protecting the natural wonders and resources on this earth and the
people living on it. Sometimes, it is the world’s poorest communities who are affected by
changes to our planet. Things like these tell who are the most human on this earth, people
who have the heart to help and give without counting the cost or people who just watch
and do nothing. Maybe disaster is one way of God telling us to take care of our one and
only home.