Disaster Risk Reduction Management Awareness and Preparedness among Public Elementary Schools: Basis for an Enhanced Action Plan

Abstract

A disaster is a significant disruption to a community's or society's ability to operate that involves extensive losses and effects to people, property, the economy, or the environment, and that is beyond the capacity of the afflicted community or society to recover on its own. While disasters fall into many categories, their effects are universal.
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is highly susceptible to seismic and volcanic eruption risks. World Risk Index of 2020 declared that Philippines ranked 9th globally in terms of disaster risk and 2nd highest among Asian countries. It is subjected to an average of 20 tropical cyclones per year and is highly vulnerable to disasters resulting from extreme natural events.
According to World Risk Report of 2021, the Philippines is the 8th most vulnerable country to disasters. About 20-25 typhoons passed through the country every year, leading to the loss of lives and millions of damages to infrastructure and livelihood around 220 volcanoes are in the country and at least 22 of them are considered active.
In 2022-2023, the World Risk Index (WRI) put the Philippines at the first rank for the disaster-prone country in the world followed by Indonesia and India. According to Vietnam News (VN) Express International News, the Philippines topped the list with the computed risk worldwide point of 46.86/100 WRI, while Indonesia and India got only 43.5 and 41.52 WRI, respectively.
Bohol as part of the Philippine Island is prone to disaster. Destructions of the environment has also made it worse. The ecology is threatened by illicit fishing and deforestation. Families and communities are uprooted by the so-called development projects, exacerbating the already severe poverty situation.
This prompted the researcher to assess the level of disaster awareness and preparedness among public elementary schools in Danao, Dagohoy, San Miguel, and Trinidad (DaDaSanTri) districts, Bohol Division to provide possible solutions to enhance the implemented programs and projects.