THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

The world we live in is changing so fast. A lot of mysteries untold are surfacing around the globe. As such, an unpredicted natural phenomenon such as earthquakes happen at times in different countries all over the world. Flash floods, typhoons, landslides, volcanic eruptions, and other natural and man-made disasters invade and engulf our world and in just seconds, lives, properties, crops, and infrastructures are swiped away and lost. Devastating calamities make a difference in the lives of the people and places they hit in the world. Such experiences urge the people of the world to become more resilient and vigilant, be ready and become wiser in dealing with disasters.

Internationally, the societies and organizations endorse humanitarian disaster risk reduction (DRR). Its goal is to implement strategies for risk assessment, disaster relief, and readiness to safeguard civil society and allocate resources towards enhancing capacities, especially in developing nations (Scheunemann, 2023).

Based from United Nations (UN) member state in 2015, the agenda for the 2030 for Sustainable Development provides an integrated roadmap that is for world peace and prosperity both now and in the future. These 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides an urgent action for all nations whether developed or developing, and a worldwide partnership is the core of it. In addressing this, climate change and the pursuit to protect our oceans and forests, they believe that annihilating poverty and other forms of deprivation should be coupled with policies that improve health and education, decrease inequality, and upgrade economic growth (The 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development, n.d.).

Among the 17 SDGs set by the UN General Assembly in 2015 is the SDG 11 or called Global Goal 11, titled "sustainable cities and communities", where the UN has outlined 10 targets and 15 indicators for SDG 11. One of them is SDG 11. 5 whose aim is to lessen the adverse effects of natural disasters. The official operation of SDG 11 is to bring cities inclusive, protected, resilient, and sustainable (The 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development, n.d.).

The UN, known to be of service to any country in the whole world that have been struck by devastating calamities, natural or man-made, are always ready to help. That is why, there is a worldwide policy of DRR that is agreed upon by the UN and endorsed the 2015-2030 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), which was adopted in March 2015. It has an expected outcome over the next 15 years, carrying out the goal which is “The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries”. The SFDRR has seven (7) clear targets and four (4) priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks. Over the next 15 years, it aims to significantly lower the risk of disasters and the damages they cause to people's lives, livelihoods, and health as well as to the economic, and environmental assets of individuals, communities, and nations (UNDRR, 2023). The framework of the UN is still an ongoing and non-stop endeavor to help people and places in need around the world.

Our country, the Philippines, is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Its location is along the Pacific ring of fire where it is highly susceptible to seismic and volcanic risks. The Philippines is also exposed to typhoons every year and has been known for world record on this. It is also because of climate change and pandemics that are intensifying those risks. The World Bank has been supporting the Philippine government over the past years in building the country to be resilient to climate change, natural disasters, and pandemics through their development policy financing, investment operations, technical assistance, analytical work, knowledge-sharing, and policy dialogue (World Bank Group, 2023).

Mayfield, who is a meteorologist, once said “Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy” (AZQuotes.com, 2023). This quote is true especially when a disaster like an earthquake, which is unpredictable, happens. Earthquakes are very destructive. So, preparation in educating the people is really a must, which the whole world is doing. Not only earthquakes, but also all kinds of disasters that come our way. People need to be educated and reminded every time on what to do before, during, and after any disaster.

The Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which is administered by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCB) under the Department of National Defense (DND) is responsible for ensuring the protection and welfare of the people during disasters or emergencies (Resilient.PH, 2020). Established by Presidential Decree 1566 on June 11, 1078, the NDRRM is a working group of several governments, NGOs, the civil sector, and the private sector organizations of the government of the Republic of the Philippines.  In the areas of communication, warning signals, response to emergencies, transportation, evacuation, rescue, engineering, health, rehabilitation, general education, and auxiliary services, such as police and firefighting support, the NDRRMC is responsible for organizing and guiding actions across the country. The UN Cluster Approach is used by the Council to manage disasters. It serves as the nation's focal point for other relevant international commitments, including the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) (Wikipedia contributors, 2023).

Alongside with the NDRRMC, the provinces of the Philippines have their Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC). The council is guided by Republic Act No. 10121, “An act strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System, providing for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Framework and Institutionalizing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, Appropriating Funds and therefor and for other purposes” (Republic Act No. 10121 | GOVPH, 2010). All provinces have their own implementing PDRRMC.

Region III (3) or Central Luzon is one of the seventeen (17) regions in the Philippines. The said region is a combination of high mountains, extinct and active volcanoes, lush, verdant farmlands, and natural sea harbors. It is one of the leading growth regions in the Philippines, strategically located at the heart of Asia. The region is also lies between Manila and Northern Luzon. Region III is also called “Central Plains” and comprises seven (7) provinces namely, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales (DENR Region 3, 2019). In Region 3 or Central Luzon, each province has common ways in implementing RA no. 10121.

These provinces have their own Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO), but their functions, duties and responsibilities are one and the same pursuant of Republic Act No. 10121 in which the PDRRMO shall carry out/observe/fulfill the following functions, duties and responsibilities. (Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, n.d.).

Under the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10121, also known as "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (PDRRM Act of 2010)" stated that the PDRRMC shall carry out/observe/fulfill the following functions, duties and responsibilities stated in section 4 in  rule 6 - local disaster risk reduction and management office (LDRRMO) wherein, the provincial, city and municipal disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) offices or Barangay DRRM Offices, in coordination with concerned national agencies and instrumentalities, shall perform the following functions with impartiality, given the emerging challenges brought by disasters of our times.

The Council, in discharging its functions, shall utilize the facilities and services of the PDRRMO to be known as the Provincial DRRM Operation Center (PDRRMOC) (Provincial DRRM Office, n.d.)

In this context, since the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the PDRRM are all aligned in RA 10121, implementation is the key. It is where all Region III provinces will have different ways in mitigating disaster, how they carry out their functions, duties, and responsibilities, and how they cater to the needs of the constituents in their provinces. This is the reason why the researcher conducted this study to enhance the functionality or performance of the PDRRM offices/personnel, and enlighten and inspire more on certain things that needed to be practiced and become best practices in any of the provinces, municipalities, and cities of Central Luzon that can be adapted not only within the region but also to other regions, as well as the Department of Education (DepEd), since disasters deprive children of their right to a continuous, quality, basic education in a safe environment. They threaten the lives of children, their families, and education personnel. Disasters also set back the investments made by the education sector (Division of Iligan City - School DRRM Manual, n.d.). Therefore, all Filipinos can become resilient and never lose loved ones, houses, crops, infrastructures, and many more. Furthermore, it will help to improve the security and resiliency of our country's schools 

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