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CHAPTER V

FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the summary of findings, conclusions and

recommendations of the study. The conclusions are well-based on the comprehensive

results of the findings and the recommendations based on the conclusions drawn are

hereby included.

The study focused on the level of preparedness of the Barangay Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) of Barangay No. 649, Zone 68,

Manila. It also intends to find out if there is any significant relation between the profile

and the level of preparedness of the concerned BDRRMC members. In this manner, this

study will be able to recommend a program of action by the barangay concerned, the

local government unit, and the researchers themselves who are a part of the larger

academic community. The socio-demographic and risk profile of the respondents as well

as the checklist of preparedness projects and activities were gathered and presented in

order to evaluate the level of preparedness and correlate it to their profiles. The

researchers used the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient as well as the

correlation ratio formula in determining the factors affecting the level of preparedness of
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the respondents, the t-test for r in determining the significance of the correlation, and in

case of significance, the linear regression equation for limited and careful predictions.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Based on the data gathered, the following findings were seen:

1. The group containing the adults and above dominated the number of young

adults and below (Table No. 1), the married respondents have a greater number

than the single respondents (Table No. 2), there were more undergraduates than

graduates (Table No. 3), very old residents greatly outnumbered the fairly old

residents (Table No. 4), and the respondents who have no training on disaster

preparedness were more than those who have training (Table No. 5). This is

interpreted to mean that the BDRRMC of Barangay 649 has preference for those

more experienced in age over those less experienced in age those with stable

social relationships over those with complicated status, those who are

undergraduates and more affordable to retain over those who are graduates and

would be expecting higher salary, those who are very old residents who have

established niches in the community over those who are fairly old residents and
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may still be adjusting, and those who have no training over those with training

maybe because it is understandably more economical to retain.

Relating this to the study participated in by Dr. Doracie B. Zoleta-Nantes in

2004, one approach in the scientific research of hazard-related human

behavior has directly associated disaster preparedness with age-related

demographic variables (e.g., age, civil status), socio-economic related

demographic variables (e.g., highest educational attainment, income, home

ownership) and psycho-social behavioral variables (e.g., training, risk

assessment).

2. On community risk assessment (Table No. 6), the most frequent (quantitative)

hazard is fire, then followed by flood, although the severity (qualitative) of the

hazards remain undetermined. In the category of vulnerabilities, more

respondents lived in semi-concrete/wooden houses, then followed by wooden

houses; more respondents have only one family staying in their respective

houses, then followed closely and in equal number by the other remaining

choices of number of families staying in the house ranging from 2 families and

upwards; damage to property dominated the category of unfortunate events

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experienced by respondents in past disasters; and, lastly, the basic services

affected during disasters, including infrastructures (roads) and economic

activities (livelihood), were of almost equal distribution between and among the

choices with a standard deviation of 1.50. Finally, in the category capacities,

aside from the two sub-categories of residency and training already mentioned in

the data regarding the socio-demographic profiles of the respondents, the most

recognized source of the disaster manual is the barangay, then followed, in this

order, by other sources, by the non-government organizations, local government

units/national government, civil society organizations and international

organizations.

In relation to this, the researchers evaluated the level of risk of the

respondents based on their respective profiles. Disaster risk (Lomerio-

Ondiz & Redito, 2009) is equated in this study following the formula:

RISK = HAZARD X VULNERABILITY

CAPACITY

The most frequent self-assessed risk level is at 21%, while the median at 26%.

The average self-assessed risk level is at 30% probability.

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3. What is the level of preparedness of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Committee (BDRRMC) of Barangay No. 649, Zone 68, Manila?

Based on the data collected, the following findings are seen:

COMMUNITY RISK ASSESSMENT. The general mean score of the

respondents of their level of preparedness in terms of community risk

assessment is 3.31 or fairly efficient (Table No. 9), which means that the

BDRRMC’s level of preparedness in terms of community risk assessment is

moderately effective.

CONTINGENCY PLANNING. The general mean score of the respondents of

their level of preparedness in terms of contingency planning is 3.33 or fairly

efficient (Table No. 10), which means that the BDRRMC’s level of preparedness

in terms of contingency planning, such as: development and implementation of

standard operating procedures (SOP) for deployment, evacuation and

coordination with rapid assessment teams, etc.; development and

institutionalization of early warning system (EWS), information-sharing among

LGUs/communities and the National Government; development and conduct of

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regular review of contingency plans; and the stockpiling of basic emergency

supplies is moderately effective.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. The general mean score of the respondents of

their level of preparedness in terms of communication system is 3.60 or efficient

(Table No. 11), which means that the BDRRMC’s level of preparedness in terms

of communication system, such as: development of information, education and

communication (IEC) campaign and information-sharing between

LGUs/communities and the National Government; conduct of multi-stakeholders

dialogue; and development of information and database generation is effective.

CAPACITY-BUILDING. The general mean score of the respondents of their

level of preparedness in terms of capacity-building is 3.67 or efficient (Table No.

12), which means that the BDRRMC’s level of preparedness in terms of

capacity-building, such as: conduct of trainings and disaster preparedness and

response, search, rescue and retrieval operations; simulation exercises at

various levels to test plans and skills; conduct of disaster risk reduction and

management (DRRM) researches; and development of standard operating

manual for disaster operations center is effective.

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OVER-ALL LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS. The general mean score of the

respondents in their over-all level of preparedness is 3.56 or efficient (Table No.

7), with a standard deviation of 0.837. The scores ranged from 1.00 or very

inefficient to 5.00 or very efficient, with the mode score 3.25 or fairly efficient

occurring most, followed by these scores, in order of frequency and degree: 3.17

or fairly efficient, 3.00 or fairly efficient, and 4.75 or very efficient. The mode

score is equal to the median score of 3.25 or fairly efficient. Findings showed

that the scores are distributed in a standard normal distribution. In general, the

over-all level of preparedness of the BDRRMC of Barangay No. 649, Zone 68,

Manila, is effective.

The over-all level of preparedness of the BDRRMC reflects on the leadership of

the Barangay Officials of Barangay 649 (BASECO) in order to develop,

implement and maintain optimal disaster preparedness within the context of

disaster risk reduction and management. Barangay Resolution No. 025, Series

of 2013, not only adopts the three-year Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Plan of Barangay 649, but, in effect, it also sets the direction and

strength of the projects and activities dedicated under its present disaster

preparedness program. It is therefore incumbent upon the said Barangay

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Officials to lead the members of their community into a state of disaster

preparedness best preferred by all stakeholders and most responsive to all its

users.

In the related local literature, Flora Generalao (1984) of the University of the

Philippines (U.P.) conducted a study wherein she pitted task-oriented

leadership against relationship-oriented leadership relative to situational

control in a leadership contingency model. The results of the study

showed that: democratic leadership behavior elicits highest member

satisfaction than autocratic leadership. This, in turn, will reflect on the

effectiveness and sustainability of contingency planning, communication

system and capacity-building in disaster preparedness.

4. Does the profile of the BDRRMC significantly affect their level of preparedness in

terms of disaster risk reduction?

Based on the findings of the study, the following are seen:

Age and Over-All Level of Preparedness. The young adults (lower group)

have the highest level of preparedness with an over-all score of 4.00 or efficient
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(Table No. 13), followed by the group below the young adults with 3.75 or

efficient, then by the young adults (upper group) with 3.67 or efficient, then by

adults (lower group) with 3.65 or efficient, then by adults (upper group) with 3.40

or fairly efficient, and then finally by the group above adults with 3.22 or fairly

efficient. This is interpreted to mean that the young adult BDRRMC members are

perceived to be more effective in their over-all level of preparedness. This

implies that, since the majority of the respondents are adults and above, the

BDRRMC of Barangay 649 must pay serious attention to recruit members from

the age group of young adults and below (from 9 to 35 years old) to gain a more

efficient and effective over-all level of preparedness.

Civil Status and Over-All Level of Preparedness. The single respondents

garnered the highest level of preparedness with an over-all score of 3.83 or

efficient (Table No. 14), followed by the married respondents with 3.53 or

efficient, then by separated respondents with 3.21 or fairly efficient, and then

finally by widowed respondents with 3.12 or fairly efficient. This is interpreted to

mean that the single and married BDRRMC members are perceived to be more

effective in their over-all level of preparedness. This implies that, since the most

and second most number of the respondents are married and single, the
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BDRRMC of Barangay 649 must continue to recruit members with such civil

status to gain a more efficient and effective over-all level of preparedness.

Highest Educational Attainment and Over-All Level of Preparedness. The

respondents who have completed their tertiary education have the highest level

of preparedness with an over-all score of 4.15 or efficient (Table No. 15),

followed by those who have completed their primary education with 3.73 or

efficient, then by those who have completed their secondary education with 3.35

or fairly efficient, and then finally by those who have reached second year

college with 2.92 or fairly efficient. This is interpreted to mean that the graduate

BDRRMC members are perceived to be more effective in their over-all level of

preparedness. This implies that, since the majority of the respondents are

undergraduates, the BDRRMC of Barangay 649 must continue to recruit

members irregardless of their highest educational attainment to gain a more

efficient, effective and economical over-all level of preparedness.

Residency and Over-All Level of Preparedness. The residents for 7 – more

years garnered the highest level of preparedness with 3.64 or efficient (Table

No. 16) as compared to the residents for 4 – 6 years with an over-all score of
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3.24 or fairly efficient. No respondent has been a resident of the community for 0

– 3 years. This is interpreted to mean that the very old resident BDRRMC

members are perceived to be more effective in their over-all level of

preparedness. This implies that, since the majority of the respondents are very

old residents of the community, the BDRRMC of Barangay 649 must continue

with its pattern of recruiting the veteran residents of the community to gain a

more efficient and effective over-all level of preparedness.

Training and Over-All Level of Preparedness. The respondents without

training have the highest level of preparedness with an over-all score of 3.59 or

efficient (Table No. 17) vis-à-vis those with training and an over-all score of 3.35

or fairly efficient. This is interpreted to mean that the trained BDRRMC members

are perceived to be more effective in their over-all level of preparedness. This

implies that, since the majority of the respondents are without disaster-

preparedness training, the BDRRMC of Barangay 649 must take aggressive

action in seeing to it that all its members have proper disaster response training

and education in order to gain a more efficient, effective and strategically

economical over-all level of preparedness.

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Relationship between Age and Over-All Level of Preparedness. There is a

very high negative correlation between age and the over-all level of

preparedness (Table No. 18) wherein the obtained r value of -0.875 is higher

than the tabular r value of ±0.811, degrees of freedom 4 and α=0.05. The

corresponding t-test obtained t value of -3.612 which is higher than the tabular t

value of ±2.776, degrees of freedom 4 and α=0.05. Hence, the null hypothesis is

rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted. Findings showed that there

is a significant level of very high negative relationship between age and the over-

all level of preparedness. This means that, at a certain strength and direction

during the study, as the age of the respondents increase, their over-all level of

preparedness decrease. Coefficient of determination is 0.766.

In relation to age, the particular categories of the level of preparedness which

indicated significant levels of very high negative relationship are those under

communication system (conduct of multi-stakeholders dialogue), and under

capacity-building (simulation exercises at various levels to test plans and skills,

conduct of disaster risk reduction and management researches, and

development of standard operating manual for disaster operations center). This

means that as the BDRRMC respondents grow in age, there is a significant

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decrease in the motivation to hold dialogue, to participate in simulation

exercises, to enhance their knowledge through disaster management researches

and to regard standard operating manual in disaster operation center activities.

While one category may be easily dismissed as coincidental, 4 out of 12

categories or one-third may denote the presence of a pattern which is validated

by the obtained r between age and over-all level of preparedness.

Relationship between Civil Status and Over-All Level of Preparedness.

There is a high negative correlation between civil status and the over-all level of

preparedness (Table No. 19) wherein the obtained r value of -0.977 is higher

than the tabular r value of ±0.950, degrees of freedom 2 and α=0.05. The

corresponding t-test obtained t of -6.513 which is higher than the tabular t value

of ±4.303, degrees of freedom 2 and α=0.05. Hence, the null hypothesis is

rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted. Findings showed that there

is a significant level of very high negative relationship between civil status and

the over-all level of preparedness. This means that, at a certain strength and

direction of the study of the level of preparedness, as the civil status of the

respondents increase, their over-all level of preparedness decrease. Coefficient

of determination is 0.955.
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In relation to civil status, the particular categories of the level of preparedness

which indicated significant levels of very high negative relationship are those

under contingency planning (stockpiling of basic emergency supplies),

communication system (conduct of multi-stakeholders dialogue as well as

information and database generation), and under capacity-building (simulation

exercises at various levels to test plans and skills, conduct of disaster risk

reduction and management researches, and development of standard operating

manual for disaster operations center). This means that as the BDRRMC

respondents develop social relationships or reach social development, there is a

significant decrease in the motivation of the respondents to inventory basic

emergency supplies, to conduct dialogue, to develop information for the

community, to participate in simulation exercises, to advance their knowledge

through disaster management researches, and to rely on standard operating

manual for disaster operations center. Although one category may be dismissed

as coincidental, 6 out of 12 categories or one-half may strongly denote the

presence of a pattern which is amplified by the obtained r between civil status

and over-all level of preparedness.

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Relationship between Residency and Over-All Level of Preparedness.

The obtained r denoted a perfect positive correlation, which means there is a

most significant relationship between residency and over-all level of

preparedness (Table No. 20). It suggests a tendency towards a general causal

relationship.

Relationship between Training and Over-All Level of Preparedness.

There is a high positive correlation between training and the over-all level of

preparedness (Table No. 21) wherein the obtained r value of 0.850 is higher than

the tabular r value of ±0.811, degrees of freedom 4 and α=0.05. The

corresponding t-test obtained t value of 3.230 which is higher than the tabular t

value of ±2.776, degrees of freedom 4 and α=0.05. Hence, the null hypothesis is

rejected and the alternative hypothesis is accepted. Findings showed that there

is a significant level of high positive relationship between training and the over-all

level of preparedness. This means that, at a certain strength and direction of the

study of the level of preparedness, as the training of the respondents increase,

their over-all level of preparedness also increase. Coefficient of determination is

0.722.
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In relation to training, the particular categories of the level of preparedness which

indicated significant levels of very high positive relationship are those under

community risk assessment, contingency planning (early warning system),

communication system (conduct of multi-stakeholders dialogue), and under

capacity-building (simulation exercises at various levels to test plans and skills,

conduct of disaster risk reduction and management researches, and

development of standard operating manual for disaster operations center). This

means that as the BDRRMC respondents develop training, there is a significant

increase in the motivation of the respondents to conduct hazards, vulnerabilities,

and capacities assessment of community disaster risk, to gain the importance

and subsequently install early warning system, to conduct dialogue, to

participate in simulation exercises, to advance their knowledge through disaster

management researches, and to rely on standard operating manual for disaster

operations center. Although one category may be dismissed as coincidental, 6

out of 12 categories or one-half may strongly denote the presence of a pattern

which is amplified by the obtained r between training and over-all level of

preparedness.
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Common areas which exhibit levels of significance are Communication System-

Indicator 2, Capacity-Building-Indicators 2, 3 and 4.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the stated findings, the following conclusions were drawn:

1. In terms of community risk assessment which is fairly efficient, there is an urgent

need to improve this component by using community-specific techniques or

methods indigenous to the locale (for example, Barangay 649 is a coastal and

mostly plains community).

2. In terms of contingency planning which is fairly efficient, there is an urgent need

to review plans so that the disaster response would be effective, appropriate and

in consonance with the principle of inclusive growth.

3. In terms of communication system which is efficient, to continue with the present

projects and activities with the end in view of building COMMUNICATION

RESILIENCY.

4. In terms of capacity-building which scores the highest rating as efficient and

significantly affects the level of preparedness of the BDRRMC, to continue with

the pre-disaster preparedness programs in coordination with government,

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professional response and recovery organizations, communities and individuals

in the spirit of cooperation and harmony in the barangay.

5. The only factor, highest educational attainment, has no significant linear relation,

whether positive or negative, to the level of preparedness of the Barangay

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC) of Barangay

No. 649, Zone 68, Manila. Although it suggests a non-linear correlation and/or

regression approach could be used for further study of the findings which would

produce a more valid and reliable set of results (See Appendix _).

6. The factor of age has a significantly high negative relation to the over-all level of

preparedness of the BDRRMC (Table No. 18). The researchers may “hazard” a

guess or inference that it is the natural tendency of men to be more physically

challenged as they reach higher levels of maturity and, thus, constrain their level

of efficiency to reach maximum potential.

7. The factor of civil status has s significantly very high negative relation to the

over-all level of preparedness of the BDRRMC (Table No. 19). The researchers

believe that the respondents who are single are more efficient than the married,

separated, and widowed respondents since they have no “family obligations” or

“excess baggage” which could directly or indirectly impede their over-all level of

preparedness in any disaster situation. There is, however, an inverse inference

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which would argue that “a sense of responsibility to others” extend beyond civil

status. In general, this means that the ability to help others would be primarily

dependent on one’s ability to help himself or herself, the variable civil status

would be an intervening one to help us understand deeper the empirical data.

8. The factor of residency has a perfect positive relation to the over-all level of

preparedness of the BDRRMC (Table No. 20). This suggests a tendency

towards a causal relation wherein the length of residency is directly proportional

to the over-all level of preparedness of the respondents.

9. The factor of training has a significantly high positive relation to the over-all level

of preparedness of the BDRRMC (Table No. 21). This means that the concerted

effort to train, organize, equip and fund the disaster response team of Barangay

649 have been well-founded and tend to increase the efficiency of the

respondents in ways both expected by the trainers and hoped for by the

constituents. This could also mean that the principle of community-based

disaster management is working: Now, the respondents are not only working

FOR their community, but they are working WITH the community.

10. The only factor self-assessed risk based on highest educational attainment has

no significant linear relation, whether positive or negative, to the level of

preparedness of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

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Committee (BDRRMC) of Barangay No. 649, Zone 68, Manila. Although it, too,

suggests a non-linear correlation and regression approach could be used for

further study of the findings (See Appendix _).

11. The factors of self-assessed risks (Table Nos. 22, 23, 24 and 25) based on age,

civil status, residency, and training have significant relations to the some of the

specific and over-all level of preparedness of the BDRRMC (except to the over-

all preparedness in terms of age) and possibly may be the lurking variable

between and among the variables age, civil status, residency, training and level

of preparedness. Possible relationships: a) there exists a direct or inverse cause-

and-effect relationship between self-assessed risk and level preparedness based

on age, civil status, residency, and training, and b) the relationship between the

variables may be caused by still unexplained variable or variables.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. For the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the proposal to assist

the BDRRMCs in basing their disaster preparedness projects and activities on a

sound risk analysis which is the cornerstone of any feasible disaster management
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program of action. This could be done by providing community-specific risk

assessment tools for multi-hazards.

2. For the City Government of Manila, the urgent request to conduct a survey of the

profile and level of preparedness of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Committees of Manila in order to evaluate their efficiency in responding

to disasters. The questionnaire regarding Community-Based Disaster Management

promptly distributed by the Manila Barangay Bureau (MBB) to augment the disaster

risk reduction and management plans in the barangay level should serve as a valid

and reliable starting point and instrument for such an evaluation. It would serve to

prepare comparative studies between observed and expected results, as well as

serve to prepare best practices and methods of disaster preparedness indigenous to

the local communities of Manila. Also, the need to relate the level of preparedness in

terms of the educational, ecological and over-all human development of the

BDRRMCs of all the barangays in its territorial jurisdiction is more urgent than

before. By educational development, the researchers mean that a regular subject (for

primary and secondary levels) as well as a four-year course of study (for tertiary

level) on disaster management may be slowly but surely integrated into the

curriculum of the locally-run schools and colleges of the city without veering away

from any national educational policy or program. By “hardwiring” disaster

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management to the educational system, the researchers believe that it would be

sooner than soon that the city will reap the dividends of this effort. While, by

ecological development, the researchers mean that the improvement of the efficiency

of the BDRRMCs of Manila must be approached systematically, taking into

consideration the internal and external environments and “customizing” disaster

preparedness according to the priorities of each and every barangay community

without sacrificing communication resilience and capacity-building. By human

development, the researchers mean that the social systems approach in disaster

preparedness could be utilized in order to draw an integrated course of action in

terms of how the so-called four Cs, Community Risk Assessment, Contingency

Planning, Communication System, and Capacity-Building, could be properly

harnessed to develop and improve sustained disaster resiliency. Finally, it is highly

recommended that the present training program for disaster preparedness of the City

Government of Manila (MANILA IS GEARING UP TO BE A FLOOD-FREE CITY), in

coordination with the DILG and MBB, be continued.

3. For the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC)

of Barangay No. 649, Zone 68, Manila, to continue their efforts in a multi-level and

multi-relational way, since the comprehensiveness of any disaster risk reduction and

management plan could only be fine-tuned by the steady and unrelenting leadership
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of the Barangay and through the constant communication between and among all

the stakeholders, including all the groups which support the over-all development of

the community.

4. For the Academic Community to continue supporting and raising research standards

in terms of disaster management by collating disaster management practices at the

level of communities.

5. For the researchers to continue with the study by looking for third or “lurking”

variables which could help in the proper evaluation of the level of preparedness of

the BDRRMCs of Manila and even outside Manila.

6. For future researchers to accept the challenge of this study in enhancing the so-

called four (4) Cs, Community Risk Assessment, Contingency Planning,

Communication System, and Capacity-Building, by proposing other indicators and

experimenting with other variables such as income and health of the BDRRMC

respondents which could eventually provide everyone with the deeper understanding

of how to be more responsive to disasters, the common hope to cope with all of

man’s own misunderstandings, and the common faith to build Filipino resiliency in

heart, in mind, in body and in spirit.