Risk-Informed or Merely Compliant? A Qualitative Review of Barangay DRRM Plans in Naga City, Philippines

Abstract

Barangays play a critical role in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in the Philippines, serving as the frontline institutions for preparedness, response, and recovery. While national policies provide standardized templates for Barangay DRRM (BDRRM) Plans, questions remain as to whether these plans are substantively risk-informed or primarily compliance-driven. This study qualitatively reviews the BDRRM Plans of 27 barangays in Naga City to examine the extent to which plan content reflects localized risk conditions rather than mere adherence to prescribed formats.
The study employed a qualitative document review and thematic analysis of approved BDRRM Plans, supported by triangulation with multiple secondary data sources, including the Naga City Integrated Risk Analysis, Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment, climate risk projections, a barangay-level Social Vulnerability Index, and documented impacts of a recent major tropical cyclone. A researcher-designed assessment scorecard was used as a supplementary qualitative aid to document patterns of full, partial, or absent articulation across key plan components. Analysis focused on internal plan coherence, risk articulation, integration of social vulnerability, and responsiveness to observed disaster experience.
Findings indicate that while most barangay plans demonstrate formal compliance with mandated templates, substantial variation exists in their degree of risk-informedness. Many plans exhibit generic narratives, limited differentiation despite contrasting risk profiles, and a strong emphasis on response-oriented measures, with comparatively weaker attention to prevention, mitigation, and socially differentiated preparedness. High-risk and high-vulnerability barangays do not consistently demonstrate correspondingly robust planning provisions.
The study concludes that compliance with planning templates does not necessarily translate into risk-informed DRRM practice. Strengthening barangay-level analytical capacity, improving the use of localized risk evidence, and embedding people-centered vulnerability considerations are essential to enhance the substantive quality of BDRRM planning.