Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Natural disasters are uncontrollable by humans and are impossible to

forecast in advance. When major natural disasters like floods, earthquakes,

landslides, and droughts occur, they put human lives in danger, cause property loss,

and have an impact on the built environment, agriculture, and environment. The

intensity and geographic scope of the disaster's effects vary. Every year, natural

catastrophes occur, and it appears that both their incidence and frequency have

greatly grown in recent years. This is mostly due to environmental deterioration, such

as deforestation, intensified land usage, and population growth. An environmental

risk that can happen practically anywhere is flooding. The majority of floods are

caused by river flooding. Nonetheless, the riverside's deterioration was mostly to

blame for the rise in the frequency of floods. A flood is a catastrophe that can happen

in both basin zones and coastal areas. Floods have a variety of effects on the

environment and people, including bodily harm, psychological disturbances,

infectious infections, and others (Ang, 2015).

Flooding can generally be divided into flash floods, monsoon floods, coastal

floods, and other types. Floods may also cause a variety of human difficulties. The

researchers have provided a number of definitions for the flood. Flood is defined as a

situation where the water level in a river channel rises, weakening the capacity of the

river channel, causing an overflow onto a dry surface, and increasing surface water

runoff. Therefore, a water level or discharge that is higher than the flood level or flood

discharge should constitute the definition of the flood. This definition was created

because floods are caused by massive amounts of water and water flow, which

cause the water level to be higher than the river's normal level. Floods in Kelantan
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often occur when the river channel is completely filled with rainwater and overflows

onto the river bank (Akasah and Doraisamy, 2015).

Due to its location along both the Pacific ring of fire and the typhoon belt, the

Philippines is vulnerable to natural disasters. Thousands of lives have been lost,

millions of people have been displaced, and disaster events have cost hundreds of

billions in damages just in the last ten years. A total of 11.7 million people were

affected by the 18 floods and landslides, 12 typhoons, including the disastrous

Sendong, two volcano eruptions, and one earthquake that occurred in 2011. These

events resulted in 1,439 fatalities (Guha-Sapir et al. 2011). Typhoon Bopha, which hit

the Philippines in 2012, wreaked havoc on the regions of Mindanao, killing over a

thousand people while destroying infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods worth billions

of dollars. 8,000 people lost their lives, 1.2 million homes were destroyed, and PHP

200 billion worth of property was damaged in 2013 as a result of the super typhoon

Haiyan (local name: Yolanda, category 5), which produced four-meter storm surges

across nine regions and 44 provinces (GFDRR, 2015; Campanero and Egargo

2017). Other recent typhoons like Vinta and Urduja, which hit the Philippines before

the end of 2017, also caused billions of dollars' worth of damage and left more than

300 people dead or missing. A similar catastrophe occurred before the end of 2018

when tropical depression Usman caused landslides and floods that resulted in 126

fatalities and 4 billion worth of damage to infrastructure and agricultural products.

In 2018, Guiuan was one of the recipient municipalities of the rehabilitation

programs conducted by Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative (ELTI) and

Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management of Visayas State

University (ITEEM-VSU). The organizations viewed that, in order to support human

livelihoods and continue the provision of ecosystem goods and services, such as a

consistent supply of water and protection from upcoming extreme weather events,

natural ecosystem rehabilitation is essential in the post-disaster recovery process.

This is a crucial component of a climate-resilient recovery strategy, which equips

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communities with the tools they need to better handle future disasters while

simultaneously helping them recover from recent climate change events. Yet, many

communities, particularly those that did not experience the greatest level of

devastation, have gotten minimal funding for this purpose. Also, government

institutions and humanitarian organizations have turned their attention to more urgent

and immediate problems, such as places affected by successive typhoons.

In view of these, a universal and unalienable human right is the right to

education. In order for people to realize their full potential and exercise other rights,

education is extremely crucial. Disasters and other urgent situations do not cause

this right to vanish or to be suspended. Students drop out when their education is

interrupted or limited, which has detrimental and long-lasting economic and social

effects on the students, their families, and their communities. Natural calamities are

an element of the planning framework for schooling. It does not matter if it is yearly

floods, an earthquake that only happens once every five generations, storms and

cyclones that are getting stronger, water shortages, or the gradual onset of rising sea

levels, these known and anticipated hazards can be lessened with the determined

application of knowledge, education, and ingenuity (Ellena, 2020).

Thus, the researchers are motivated in making sense of community members

experiences with disaster preparedness programs in barangay Sapao, Guiuan,

Eastern Samar, school year 2022-2023

Objectives of the Study

The following are the objectives of the study:

Specifically, this study intends to answer the following questions:

1. Assess the level of community awareness on disaster preparedness

programs.

2. Determine the extent of implementation of disaster preparedness programs

among respondents.
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3. Assess the extent of engagement of the community of disaster preparedness

programs.

4. Describe the impact of disaster preparedness programs in the community.

5. Identify the policy decisions that may be offered based from the findings of

the study.

Significance of the Study

To the Community. The intent of this study is to contribute to the overall

knowledge of the whole community in the disaster education programs and

community disaster preparedness for those who are the residence of barangay

Sapao, and on how to reduce destruction. This will provide them with information

needed to reduce risk and make their community a whole lot safer.

To the Barangay Officials. It is to imply knowledge about disaster readiness

and risk management. This program increasingly finds themselves responsible for

serving the people under his/her tenure, to ensure their safety when hazards and

disasters are present.

To the DRRM Program Implementers. The study can assist DRRM

Program Implementers in developing more targeted and context-specific disaster

preparedness programs. By gaining insights into the experiences of the community

members, implementers can design interventions that resonate with the local

population, ensuring greater engagement and adherence to preparedness measures.

To the Future Researchers. This can be used by the future researchers as a

reference material and guide in conducting for a study, similar to the previously

conducted one.
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Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study only focused in making sense of community members experiences

with disaster preparedness programs in barangay Sapao, Guiuan, Eastern Samar,

school year 2022-2023

This utilized descriptive research design for the quantitative data analysis and

transcendental phenomenology research design which aimed to describe the

experiences of the participants. This also used a non-probability sampling procedure,

purposive sampling technique and simple random sampling since this is was a mixed

research design. Sixteen (16) participants were interviewed and three hundred four

(304) respondents were given the standardized survey questionnaire in the data

collection process.

Definition of Terms

This contains important terms in the study that are clearly defined to have a

common understanding of the words.

Community Members. Community members are at the heart of healthy

communities. They include all who live, learn, work, play, and pray in communities.

Community members may have a formal leadership role in a community

organization, or friends and neighbors may recognize them as the person who gets

things done. Residents or students who may not yet be leaders are often waiting for

an invitation to get involved (Country Health Rankings, 2023). In this study, it refers

to the participants of this undertaking where they will be the source of any questions

that is to be answered in this study.

Disaster Preparedness Programs. It consists of a set of measures

undertaken in advance by governments, organizations, communities, or individuals to

better respond and cope with the immediate aftermath of a disaster, whether it be

human-induced or caused by natural hazards. The objective is to reduce the loss of

life and livelihoods (European Commission, 2023). In this study, it refers to the main
 6

topic that will be evaluated by the participants of this study. This will be based on the

interventions made by their barangay in order to prevent or minimize the impact of

any disaster that will come in the future.

Disaster Resilience. This refers to the ability of individual, communities,

organization and states to adopt and recover from hazards, shocks or stresses

without compromising long-term prospects for development (Your Dictionary). In this

study, disaster resilience is defined as the ability of a person to recover from hazards

brought by disasters without expecting a help from others.

Experience. It is defined as a practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived

from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity (Merriam

Webster’s Dictionary, 2023). In this study, the term is defined as one of the main

topics that will be investigated and explored by the researchers based on the disaster

preparedness progress of the locale of this study.

Extent of Engagement. It is typically used to refer to how much someone is

involved in something, or how much effort is being made (Ludwig, 2023). In this

study, assessing how actively and deeply community members are involved in the

disaster preparedness programs. This includes evaluating their participation in

planning and implementation.

Extent of Implementation. A range of moving of an idea from concept to

reality (Power Thesaurus, 2023). In this study, it the process of assessing how well

the planned disaster preparedness initiatives have been carried out in Barangay

Sapao, Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Impact. The action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another

(Oxford Languages, 2023). In this study, the term will be assessed by examining the

tangible and lasting changes in the community's ability to respond to and mitigate the

effects of disasters.

Level of Awareness. This refers as knowing and understanding a lot about

what is happening in the world or around you (Merriam Dictionary, 2023). In this
 7

study, awareness means being updated or informed with the things happening in

your environment.

Making Sense. According to Cambridge Dictionary (2023), to

be clear and easy to understand. In this study, refers to the process of

understanding, interpreting, or comprehending information or experiences. It involves

organizing and integrating details or observations into a coherent and meaningful

whole

Participants. A person who takes part in or becomes involved in a particular

activity (Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, 2023). In this study, it refers to the individuals

who will evaluate the disaster preparedness of their barangay. They will be the main

source of information.

Policy Decisions. Tells us how to make choices in order to act in alignment

with our purposes and goals (Sociocray, 2023). In this study, it involve actions taken

by local or national authorities in response to the findings of the study.

Preparedness. This refers as fact of being ready for something or the state of

being prepared (Merriam Dictionary). In this study, preparedness is defined as

standardize action, and plans taken to prepare in order to reduce the possible effect

of disaster.

Progress. It refers to develop to a higher, better, or more advanced stage

(Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, 2023). In this study, it refers to the status of the

disaster preparedness that will be evaluated in the locale of this study.

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Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the related literatures and studies reviewed in this

research that further discuss the concept of this study.

Related Literatures

By taking a number of preventive measures, governments, organizations,

communities, and people can better prepare for and handle the immediate aftermath

of a disaster, whether it is brought on by a natural disaster or one that was caused by

human activity. The objective is to minimize the loss of life and livelihood. Simple

measures like stockpiling supplies and equipment, setting up early warning systems,

doing search and rescue training, or forming contingency plans can make a

significant difference. Disaster preparedness is essential to boosting a community's

resilience (European Commission, 2023).

Hurricanes, Floods, Earthquakes, Pandemics these natural disasters have

the power to completely destroy small enterprises and entire towns, even causing

some of them to shut down. Because of this, having a disaster plan in place before

the unexpected happens is crucial. To safeguard yourself and your company, there

are particular actions you may take before, during, and after a possible disaster.

Create a financial "survival kit" with the necessary documents before a calamity

strikes and save it on the cloud. You should activate an emergency response

strategy to evacuate staff during the disaster. Make a thorough evaluation of the

damage to your company following the disaster to ascertain whether you'll want

financing to help pay for repairs and reconstruction (Practical Business Skills, 2023).

Set up and practice an emergency plan so that everyone in your family knows

what to do in an emergency. Make an emergency plan in just three easy steps. Red

number one: Talk about how to plan for and handle the several types of crises that
 9

are most likely to occur where you live, learn, work, and play with your family or

household members. Red number two: List the duties of each household member

and how you will cooperate as a team. Red number three: Put as many of your plan's

components into practice (American Red Cross, 2023).

Moreover, disaster preparedness is essential for reducing the harmful

consequences of natural disasters on human health. The United Nations

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) defines preparedness as the

knowledge, capabilities, and actions of governments, organizations, community

groups, and individuals "to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the

impacts of likely, imminent, or current hazard events or conditions" (Chan & Ho,

2018).

Additionally, the Philippines is the third most disaster-prone nation among 173

nations, according to the World Risk Index 2012; we often encounter 20 tropical

storms annually in addition to other climatic and extreme weather anomalies like the

El Niño phenomena. The average annual direct damage from these calamities is P15

billion, placing a strain on the government's finances. The government's efforts to

reduce poverty are further hampered by this. The government has implemented

interventions to stop environmental degradation and boost the resilience of

neighborhood communities in order to lessen the consequences of climate change

and guarantee the effective implementation of disaster risk reduction. The National

Climate Change Action Plan and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Plan are at the heart of these measures (Official Gazette, 2022).

Thus, empowering individuals, groups, and governments to be better

prepared to respond to and defend themselves in the event of emergencies is one

effective strategy to do this. A crucial component of resilience is being ready to react.

Additionally, a response's ability to save lives increases with how quickly and locally

it occurs. The variety of work has been significant, as shown by the sample of so

many diverse experiences in the compendium, and has ranged from bolstering
 10

mechanisms to warn the populace if a cyclone is approaching to promoting people's

awareness of hygiene measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases or

bolstering the ability of local authorities to support people who have been forced to

flee because of a disaster or conflict (Echo, 2020).

After a war, a calamity, or a humanitarian crisis, a child's life can change in an

instant. We recognize their vulnerability and dire need for our defense. There are

now more than twice as many crises as there were ten years ago. The figures are

staggering: 274 million people globally depend on humanitarian aid for their basic

survival, and more than half of them are children. From 168 million in 2020 to 235

million in 2021, this number has increased. Emergency situations are evolving as

well. Conflict is nastier, more nuanced, and unpredictable. Natural catastrophes are

becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and having longer-lasting effects on children

and their families as a result of climate change (World Vision, 2023).

According to certain studies, people who have suffered material losses or

personal suffering as a result of disasters may be more inclined to take precautions

before the next occurrence. Results to date, however, are mixed, and no study has

thoroughly examined the direct and indirect connections between people's personal

loss experiences during prior catastrophes and their subsequent preparation for

upcoming extreme weather events. Some studies have investigated the effects on

those who suffered personal losses as a result of Tropical Storm Eta in November

2020. More precisely, try to look at whether people's views of the risk of flooding, the

relevance of flooding to them personally, their confidence in their ability to prepare for

a hurricane, and their preparedness behaviors were influenced by personal losses

during the severe flooding event (Straker & Straker, 2023).

Our understanding of people’s vulnerability and experiences during and after

disasters will be enhanced by showing the similarities between Australian/New

Zealand and global women's vulnerability in disasters. Understanding the

susceptibility of people in the area puts Australian emergency management practices

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in perspective and recommends additional research to enhance people’s

experiences in disasters. The authors emphasize how, regardless of socioeconomic

level or cultural background, people’s experiences related to catastrophes around the

world are similar to the difficulties faced by people in Australia and New Zealand both

during and after disasters. Even though there is evidence that they aid in community

resilience development and catastrophe response, the reported negative experiences

of people often outweigh the positive (Australian Journal of Emergency, 2022).

On October 12, 2013, Cyclone Phailin, the storm with the greatest winds in

over 15 years, made landfall in Odisha, India. Long stretches of the coastline were

pummeled by sustained winds of more than 200 kph and storm surges of three

meters. Amazingly, though, there were significantly fewer fatalities than in previous

years—less than 50. The Government of Odisha and support groups' efficient

disaster risk management and planning, which allowed for a widespread evacuation

of populations from at-risk coastal districts, were significantly responsible for the

relatively low death toll. Through the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project, the

World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reeducation and Recovery are

supporting the intensification and expansion of these activities (World Bank, 2014).

A unique disaster culture has developed in Japan as a result of the shared

trauma and disaster experiences throughout the years, where all facets of society

participate in disaster prevention and mitigation. The present COVID-19 epidemic is

no exception, and with the help of the central government's direction and

coordination, the private sector has become a crucial component in assisting

preventative and response activities. The present response phase of the Japanese

government is concentrated on trying to maintain society while halting the virus's

spread. The "with Corona' phase is what many refer to this as. The nation's

catastrophe evacuation methods are one area that has garnered a lot of attention

during this phase. The Disaster Management Division of the government has taken
 12

steps to guarantee that preparation and evacuation procedures don't unintentionally

fuel the pandemic (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2020).

The devastation that can result from a tragedy striking an unprepared

community is staggering. Ironically, despite the rarity of calamities, many

communities are frequently unprepared. Community readiness is rarely a top focus

when there is no sense of an impending emergency. However, efforts to reduce

vulnerability must continue, and communities need to be prepared for the effects of

disasters. In the past, communities have swiftly distributed human, material, and

financial resources to address pressing human needs. The timing, efficacy,

efficiency, and dependability of putting these resources in place have naturally

varied, and these aspects play a significant role in the cost, which is expressed as

either lives lost or property damaged and/or destroyed (Harewood et al., 2023).

More than 2,600 delegates from all around the world, including a sizable

group from the Indonesian government, gathered in Geneva for the Third Session of

the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction from May 8–13, 2011. This Global

Platform noted that the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) had made substantial

headway in its implementation since 2005 and that its principles had gained broad

acceptance on both the international and state levels. Countries now have more

knowledge, resources, and pledges for making catastrophe risk reduction a top

priority at the national level. The Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk

Reduction (2011), however, similarly came to the mixed conclusion that this progress

had been made (Cribben et al., 2023).

No matter if we are at home, at work, or at school, a calamity might strike

when we least expect it. The majority of colleges and universities advise staff and

students to create an emergency plan. The first step in preparing for the unexpected

is creating an action plan and disaster supplies kit. Time and lives can be saved by

putting your strategy into practice and being prepared to act. When your parents are

unable to help you in an emergency, being away from home for the first time can be
 13

a terrifying experience. As a result, we need to be ready for a crisis before, during,

and after it. The assembly of an emergency supplies kit is one approach to be ready

(Texas Help, 2023).

When it comes to creating comprehensive hydrometeorology and disaster risk

management (DRM) systems, Japan is a global leader. The nation has a lengthy

history of defending itself against catastrophic calamities like the Great East Japan

Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 or the Hanshin Kobe Earthquake in 1995. Through

the use of the ongoing development of its multi-hazard approach, which spans

weather, climate, ocean-related, and terrestrial services, the nation has accumulated

remarkable knowledge and competence. "Japan has gained knowledge from the

difficulties encountered during the past 50 years of updating hydromet systems.

Collaboration between citizens, companies, and the government is crucial to the

Japanese experience, according to Naoki Yamashita, deputy director of the

Multilateral Development Banks Division at the Japanese Ministry of Finance (Global

Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, 2016).

Related Studies

According to Patel et al. (2023) in their study titled, “Disaster Preparedness

and Awareness among University Students: A Structural Equation Analysis”,

students have long been among those most emotionally and physically affected by

natural or manmade disasters, yet universities and colleges continue to lack effective

disaster response and mitigation practices. This research identifies how students’

socio-demographics and disaster preparedness indicators (DPIs) impact their

awareness of the dangers of disasters and their ability to survive and cope with the

changes that disasters bring. A comprehensive survey was designed and distributed

to university students to gain an in-depth understanding of their perceptions of

disaster risk reduction factors. A total of 111 responses were received, and the

impact of the socio-demographics and DPIs on the students’ disaster awareness and
 14

preparedness were evaluated by employing structural equation modeling. The results

indicate that the university curriculum impacts the disaster awareness of students

while the establishment of university emergency procedures impacts the disaster

preparedness of students. The purpose of this research is to enable university

stakeholders to identify the DPIs that are important to the students so that they can

upgrade their programs and design effective DRR courses. It will also aid

policymakers in redesigning effective emergency preparedness policies and

procedures.

As stated by Go et al. (2019) in their study titled, “Combating Urban Hazard:

A Qualitative Study on the Perception on Disaster Preparedness of STEM Students”,

in this study, the researcher identifies to what extent of knowledge does the

respondents, STEM students of University of Immaculate Conception, know about

Disaster Preparedness. This study spreads awareness to each individual to be more

knowledgeable in a way of facing different calamites and disasters. In this matter, the

knowledge of the respondents is being tested for their implication from what they

have learned from the subject, Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction (DRRR). In

accordance to that, this would help them to be more educated regarding the said

issue. The researchers conducted a Focus Group discussion (FGD) and an In-depth

Interview (IDI). The gathered data from the interview with the targeted participants

was then transcribed and translated by the researchers. Among the answers given

by the said respondents, the researchers have evaluated their prior knowledge about

the said topic. The transcription was then analyzed and showed results.

In accordance with Tkachuck (2016) in his study entitled, “Natural Disaster

Preparedness in College Students: Implications for Institutions of Higher Learning”,

there is a growing interest in conducting research at the university level as a means

of evaluating the effectiveness of disaster preparedness programs and/or

procedures. Additional studies have examined student preparedness, although

further research is needed to develop a better understanding of factors related to

 15

preparedness. It was hypothesized that students who are older will be more

prepared, that students who perceive a natural disaster as more of a threat will be

more prepared, and that those who have experienced a natural disaster will be more

prepared. The current study also examined whether a student’s confidence in

university preparedness is related to how concerned they are about a natural disaster

occurring and, in turn, if students’ concern is related to how prepared they are.

Finally, the study aimed to determine whether there are group differences in disaster

preparedness considering various student demographic variables, as well as to

further explore the relationships between potential disaster preparedness factors.

The final sample size was comprised of 806 student participants who were

administered an online survey that included questions regarding disaster

preparedness and their experiences with disasters. The majority of the sample was

female, White/non-Hispanic, freshman, lived off campus, and was an average of 23

years old. Differences in disaster preparedness-related variables were found in

gender and the residential status of students. Age was not found to be a significant

predictor of preparedness while Total Experience was found to be a significant

predictor of both Actual and Perceived Preparedness. Mixed results were found

regarding the relationship between perceived threat and preparedness.

In the investigation of Kato (2021) titled, “international Journal of Disaster

Risk Reduction”, sharing past disaster experience among the community is an

important method of disaster risk reduction. This study distinguishes three groups of

residents in disaster-affected areas: the direct experience group, the same

generation group that has overlapping ages with the first group but does not have

direct experience of the local disaster, and the next generation group. Similarities and

differences in the roles of these groups to share their disaster experience were not

well documented. This study compares knowledge levels regarding local disasters,

content of experience to be shared, and methods of sharing across these groups in

Kobe, Japan, where a large earthquake occurred in 1995 and in Sanriku, Japan,
 16

where a large earthquake and tsunami hit in 2011. Compared to the other groups,

the direct experience group had better knowledge of the disaster and a stronger

sense of responsibility to pass down disaster experience themselves. By nine years

after the disaster, the members who had shared their experience among this group

reached the maximum of 75%. Informal settings like family gatherings are main

channel of experience sharing. Having more knowledge on the disaster is a positive

factor in an experience sharing behavior. Those who had lived outside of the disaster

area reported greater knowledge levels than the others within the direct experience

groups, whereas the opposite occurred among the next generation group. A lifecycle

model of disaster experience sharing by the three groups is proposed to facilitate

policy support for dissimilating disaster experience among communities.

Based from the study of Hoffmann and Muttarak (2017) titled, “Learn from the

Past, Prepare for the Future: Impacts of Education and Experience on Disaster

Preparedness in the Philippines and Thailand”, controlling for socio-demographic and

contextual characteristics, researchers find that formal education raises the

propensity to prepare against disasters. Using the KHB method to further decompose

the education effects, researchers find that the effect of education on disaster

preparedness is mainly mediated through social capital and disaster risk perception

in Thailand whereas there is no evidence that education is mediated through

observable channels in the Philippines. This suggests that the underlying

mechanisms explaining the education effects are highly context-specific. Controlling

for the interplay between education and disaster experience, they show that

education raises disaster preparedness only for those households that have not been

affected by a disaster in the past. Education improves abstract reasoning and

anticipation skills such that the better educated undertake preventive measures

without needing to first experience the harmful event and then learn later. In line with

recent efforts of various UN agencies in promoting education for sustainable

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development, this study provides solid empirical evidence showing positive

externalities of education in disaster risk reduction.

The study of Bollettino et al. (2018) titled, “Perceptions of disaster resilience

and Preparedness in the Philippines”, revealed that the Philippines is one of the

world’s most disaster-prone countries. Located along the boundary of major tectonic

plates and at the center of a typhoon belt, its islands are regularly impacted by

floods, typhoons, landslides, earthquakes, volcanoes, and droughts. The Philippines

also ranks among the top three countries in the world for population exposure and

vulnerability to hazards. The Philippine government has developed strong coping

mechanisms over their long history of experience with disasters. Yet, significant gaps

remain in disaster management capacities across different regions of the Philippines

and surprisingly little data are available referencing local levels of disaster resilience

and preparedness. This research aims to address the gap in knowledge on both local

disaster resilience and preparedness by providing a comprehensive overview of

household measures of resilience and levels of disaster preparedness. This is the

first nationwide household survey on measures of disaster resilience and disaster

preparedness carried out in the Philippines. It comes at a time of critical importance

as efforts are being made to ensure disaster management is based on evidence,

especially at the local level and amid national discussions on centralizing disaster

resilience efforts under a single national agency.

In the study of Espina & Callejo (2015) titled, “A Cognitive Approach to

Disaster Preparedness”, the research determined the relationships between risk

perception, disaster experience, community disaster preparedness, and disaster

preparedness behaviors. Data were collected from 401 participants from areas

affected by recent typhoons and heavy monsoon rains: Tacloban and Metro Manila.

Risk perception, severity of disaster experience, and community disaster

preparedness were found to significantly predict the participants’ disaster

preparedness behaviors. Severity of previous disaster experience seems to be the

 18

strongest determinant of individual disaster preparedness. Implications to future

research and development and improvement of disaster preparations programs are

discussed.

The case study by Kanyasan (2018) titled, “Implementation of Disaster risk

reduction and Management Policies in a School Setting in Lao PDR: A Case Study”,

states the level of student knowledge on fire prevention and response was examined.

Three themes emerged: policy content and dissemination, factors which affect policy

implementation, and impacts of policy implementation facilitating factors include

effective coordination and ownership among the national DMC members for scaling

up disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities, and strong support from the central

government. Barriers include unclear provisions in the national legislation, unclear

mandates especially on leading the program, poor monitoring system, insufficient

human resources, and lack of public-private partnerships. All the study schools

conducted DRR classes and designated a disaster assembly point. More than 80%

of the students correctly answered items on fire response. The policy was widely

disseminated and implemented in all levels across sectors among the study sites

except for some rural areas. Although there is a lack of national legislation and clear

mandates, strong leadership, and ownership of the implementers facilitated policy

implementation. All the study schools conducted fire prevention activities. Most

students knew how to appropriately respond to fire. A comprehensive school-based

DRR program would be beneficial in improving student knowledge and practices on

DRR.

The investigation titled, “Perception of Disaster Preparedness and

Participation in Training are Associated with Disaster Preparedness among Health

Workers” by Susila et al. (2019) utilized cross sectional survey and was conducted

among health workers at Petang and Abiansemal public health centres (PHCs).Of

the six PHCs in Petang and Abiansemal Sub-districts, four were randomly selected

consisting of one PHC in Petang Sub-district and three PHCs in Abiansemal Sub-
 19

district. All health workers (271 people) in the four PHCs were selected as

respondents. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted by the first author

during April 2018 in the workplaces of each respondent using a pre-tested

questionnaire. Data collected consisted of socio-demographic characteristics,

knowledge in disaster management, perceptions of disaster preparedness,

participation in training, experiences in disaster management and disaster

preparedness. Questions consisted of three components namely knowledge in

disaster management (12 items), perception of disaster preparedness (32 items) and

disaster preparedness (25 items).Bivariate analysis was conducted with chi square

test and multivariate analysis with binary logistic regression to determine the

association between knowledge, perception, participation in training and experience

in disaster management with disaster preparedness. The results showed that 70.9%

of respondents had attended disaster training, 40.6% had good knowledge, 24.7%

had participated in disaster management and 49.1% had a high level of disaster

preparedness. The variables significantly associated with disaster preparedness

were perceptions of disaster preparedness Disaster preparedness among PHC

health workers remains low. Perception of disaster preparedness and participation in

training are significantly associated with disaster preparedness. Continuous training

is needed to increase disaster preparedness among health workers.

In the research of Leung (2022) titled, “Effects of risk Perception on Disaster

Preparedness toward Typhoons: An application of the extended Theory of Planned

Behavior”, this study adopted an extended theory of planned behavior to understand

how risk perception affected disaster preparedness behavior. An intercept survey (N

= 286) was conducted at a typhoon-prone district of Hong Kong, China in 2019, then

the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicated that

risk perception and intention of preparedness were predictors of disaster

preparedness behavior. Risk perception significantly affected intention of

preparedness and the effect was partially mediated by subjective norm. Risk
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perception also significantly affected attitude and perceived behavioral control, but

attitude and perceived behavioral control were not significantly correlated with

intention of preparedness. Not only may this study supplement the existing literature

of disaster preparedness toward typhoons, but also it provides insights for the

planning and management of natural hazards and disaster risk reduction in Hong

Kong.

As mentioned from above studies, there is still no specific similar studies

conducted about making sense of community members experiences with disaster

preparedness programs; hence, the researchers are motivated to study the said topic

for them to substantially contribute to the body of knowledge. The findings of this

undertaking is believed to be significant in enhancing the disaster preparedness of

every local Barangays not just in Guiuan but also to the rest of the municipalities in

the Philippines.

Theoretical Background

This study utilized the Disaster Theory: An Interdisciplinary Approach to

Concepts and Causes offers the theoretical background needed to understand what

Disaster are and why they occur. Disaster Theory clearly lays out the conceptual

framework of the emerging field of disaster studies. Tailored to the needs of

advanced undergraduate and graduate students, this unique text also provides an

ideal capstone for students who have already been introduced to the fundamentals of

emergency management. Disaster Theory emphasizes the application of critical

thinking in understanding disasters and their causes by synthesizing a wide range of

information on theory and practice, including input from leading scholars in the field

(David Etkin, 2015).

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Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the over-all methodologies that was used in this study.

This included the research design, locale of the study, research informants and

sampling technique, research instrument, data gathering procedure, validity of

findings, data analysis, bracketing or research reflexibility, enhancement of

trustworthiness, and ethical consideration.

Research Design

This study used a mixed research method, an explanatory sequential

research design to be specific. An explanatory sequential design is a mixed-methods

study in which quantitative data is collected and analyzed first, followed by a

qualitative phase in which the results are discussed. Using this approach,

researchers expand on the preliminary quantitative findings during the qualitative

phase (Ali & Ngo, 2022). Moreover, an explanatory sequential research design is a

mixed methods research approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative

methods to investigate a research problem or question. This design is particularly

useful when a researchers wants to gain a deeper understanding of a phenomenon

by first collecting and analyzing qualitative data and then following up with

quantitative data to confirm or further explain the initial findings.

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Therefore, this study intends to firstly describe and then explore the disaster

preparedness program experienced by the community members of Barangay Sapao,

Guiuan Eastern Samar.

In this approach, the researchers implemented the quantitative data first then

followed by the qualitative approach to get qualitative more depth findings.

Locale of the Study

This study was conducted at Barangay Sapao, Guiuan Eastern Samar in the

School Year 2023-2024. The collection of the calamities and disasters experiences of

the participants and the educational and disasters preparedness and programs was

done in the said locale.

Participants of the Study

The participants of the study were the disaster preparedness implementers in

Barangay Sapao and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Officers of the Municipality

of Guiuan Eastern Samar. Specifically,there are six participants from the Barangay

Officials, six MDRRM personnel and six residents of Barangay Sapao. Moreover,

there were 284 respondents who answered the standard survey questionnaire which

determine the level of awareness, extent of implementation and engagement and

impact of disaster preparedness program of Barangay Sapao Guiuan Eastern

Samar.

This study used two sampling techniques since this utilized a mixed research

method. Firstly, the researchers used simple random sampling. It is a subset of a

population is chosen at random in a basic random sampling. Each person in the

population has an exact equal probability of getting chosen using this sampling

technique. Of all the probability sampling techniques, this one is the easiest to

understand because it only needs one random selection and little prior population

knowledge. Any research conducted with this sample should have high internal and
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external validity and be less likely to be biased by factors like sampling bias and

selection bias because randomization is used (Thomas, 2023).

Secondly, the purposive sampling, sometimes referred to as purposive and

selected sampling, is a sampling strategy used by qualitative researchers to choose

individuals who can offer in-depth and specific information about the topic under

study. It is very arbitrary, with the qualitative researcher determining the requirements

that each participant must satisfy in order to be considered for the research study

(Statistics Solution, 2023).

The researchers employed the two different sampling techniques in order to

objectively select the appropriate participants in this study.

Research Instrumentation

Two research instruments were used in gathering the data, the standard

survey questionare and interview with sets of questions. The researchers utilized

survey questionnaires from three different sources for the quantitative data. These

questionnaires were adopted from Gerdan (2014), Harits et al. (2019) and Maminta

(2019). The said instrument was answered by the respondents using a likert-scale

which is five scale is the highest and 1 is the lowest. This instrument was focused on

the community awareness on disaster preparedness, extent of implementation of

disaster preparedness programs in a community, extent of engagement of the

community of disaster preparedness programs, and impact of disaster preparedness

programs in the community.

Moreover, another research instrument that was used in this study is semi-

structured questionnaire that was answered by the participants. All questions were

open-ended so that the participants had the freedom to express themselves.

Moreover, open-ended survey questions are semi-structured and give respondents

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the freedom to express their whole knowledge, emotion, and understanding in an

open-text manner. This question does not only have a few possible answers

(Questionpro, 2023). In relation to this, the researchers intended to ask questions

that will trigger the participants to answer questions relevant to Making Sense of

Community Members Experiences with Disaster Preparedness Programs.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers wrote a request letter to ask permission in conducting the

study. Once approved, the researchers invited the participants to conduct the key

formal interview. Each participant was scheduled for one hour a day, from Monday to

Friday every afternoon at 4pm to 5pm.

The most adaptable sort of interview is an unstructured one. The questions

are not predetermined, nor is the order in which they are asked. On the basis of the

participant's prior responses, the interview can instead move more naturally.

Moreover, open-ended questions are a given in unstructured interviews. Its

adaptability can help you learn more about your subject in-depth while still enabling

you to spot trends among participants (George, 2022).

The responses of the participants were recorded through an audio-recorder

and was coded and transcribed. The audio record was coded with numbers to

monitor the participants' identities and designated as informant 1 to informant 15,

with the codes assigned known only to the researchers

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In addition, a total of 284 respondents who are living in Barangay Sapao

answered the standard survey questionnaire to ascertain the community's level of

awareness, extent of implementation and engagement and impact of disaster

preparedness programs

Analysis of Data

Although qualitative data analysis is inductive and emphasizes meaning,

there are many distinct approaches to data analysis with various goals and

ontological and epistemological foundations. Finding the right strategy for evaluating

qualitative data analysis to achieve a study's objective might be difficult.

Understanding the procedures involved in qualitative data analysis is one method to

do so. The use of frameworks or matrices, such as a framework approach and

thematic analysis, interpretive approaches, which include interpretative

phenomenological analysis and grounded theory, and sociolinguistic approaches,

such as discourse analysis and conversation analysis, can be divided into four broad

categories (Noble and Smith, 2014).

Since this study is phenomenological research, the researchers will use

thematic analysis by Maguire and Delahunt (2017). The purpose of a thematic

analysis is to find themes—that is, significant or intriguing patterns in the data—and

then utilize those themes to discuss the research or make a point. A strong thematic
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analysis does more than just summarize the data; it explains and clarifies it. Using

the primary interview questions as the themes is a common mistake. This typically

means that the material has been sorted and summarized rather than examined

(Clarke and Braun, 2013).

In doing this, to acquire a general understanding of the overall content, the

researcher will first read and double-check the transcribed data. Second, key

phrases related to the topic under investigation will be retrieved. Thirdly, conclusions

will be drawn from these important remarks. Fourth, the formulated meanings will be

sorted into categories of themes, including clusters of themes and categories of

themes. Next, a thorough description of the phenomena under study will be created

using the study's findings. The basic structure of the phenomenon will be discussed

in the sixth section. Seventh, the researcher's descriptive findings and the actual

experiences of the participants will be compared to validate the findings.

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Creswell’s Seven Processes of Data Analysis

Getting to know the data.

Focusing the analysis.

Coding

Entering and organizing the

data.

Cleaning the data.

Identifying the meaningful

patterns and themes.

Interpreting the data.

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Figure1: Creswell’s Seven Processes of Data Analysis

Bracketing/Research Reflexivity

According to Freeman (2011), comprehension is not the fixation of meaning

but rather the process by which meaning is created and altered. One must have an

open mindset to allow for unexpected meanings to arise in order to find meaning in

the facts (Giorgi, 2011; Lopez & Willis, 2004). By using the essential methodology of

"bracketing" the researcher's personal experiences, participants' interpretations of

the phenomenon are unaffected by the researcher. A phenomenological technique

known as bracketing demands the conscious setting aside of one's own beliefs

regarding the phenomenon being studied or what one already knows about the

subject both before and during the phenomenological study (Carpenter, 2007).

Hence, using bracketing as one of the approaches that will be used in this

study, the researcher will set aside her personal opinion to avoid biases in making

conclusions in the conduct of this study.

Enhancement of Trustworthiness

The data that was gathered from the participants during the interview were

kept with utmost confidentiality and were used for research purposes only. Moreover,

without the approval of the researchers and the participants of this study, the data will

not be used by anybody.

Ethical Consideration
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This study was subjected with ethical consideration. All research participants

and respondents needed to agree to fully participate in the study by signing consent

forms, which are attached in the appendices. These documents guaranteed the

consent of research participants. Also, they were informed of the objectives of the

study and given the assurance that their information was kept confidential and used

solely for academic purposes. The findings of the study were shared to the

participants to confirm their responses if was correctly interpreted.

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