Chapter 1
Introduction
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), disaster is an occurrence
disrupting the normal state of existence and causing a level of suffering that affects the
whole community. Disaster implies significant disruption within the society, and often
exceeds its ability to cope with its own resources. Some disasters can be caused by
natural hazards, human-made events, technological failures, which can cause various
losses in terms of life, resources, economic, and environmental. But most important is
the fact that natural and man-made disasters are what really affects the community the
most. Disaster management operations are performed to reduce the impacts of the said
hazards and reestablish the state of normalcy (Linardos, Drakaki, etc., 2022).
Disasters also often leave a short-term or long-term trauma to those who have
experienced it. Whether physically or mentally, it can indirectly affect the wellbeing as
disasters can result in evacuation, losing a family, social disruption, financial loss,
damage to health-care facilities, and even lifestyle changes. Showing a global problem
that can affect politically and socioeconomically (Leppold, Gibbs, etc., 2022).
Focusing on Water Hazards or Hydrological Hazards such as flooding, storm
surges, tsunamis, and dam failure. The researchers focus on the coastal areas in
District 8 in Cavite, specifically in Maragondon, Naic, and Ternate. Water Hazards are
mostly natural hazards and some can be man-made. With the help of the World
Resources Institute (WRI), the improvement of people's lives , the protection and
stability is practically important for the said organization. This independent research
organization leverages their global reach in order to influence policies and prompt
changes. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
defines disaster as a serious disruption to functioning communities as it can easily wipe
everything out. Adding the various factors of showing the vulnerability of people affected
by the said catastrophe. IFRC also stated that disasters can be prevented by informing
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the people inside the community and allowing them to reduce the risks around them,
and be more resilient when there are hazards around them.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, and tsunamis are one of the
many disasters which can happen worldwide. Not only that, according to the United
Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), there are two types of disaster
that are encountered globally. The small-scale disaster where the disaster landed on a
local community and requires only the attention of the local health-care facilities near
the affected community. Next is the large-scale disaster where it affects a whole society
and is in need of national or even international assistance. Another thing that is worth
considering is the fact that there are frequent and infrequent disasters which depend on
the probability of the said disaster to occur and return with its given hazard and impacts.
Frequent disasters may be chronic and infrequent disasters are sometimes the hardest
ones to know when or where it will happen.
Based on UNDRR’s study (2017), there are also time-related disasters such as
slow-onset disaster and sudden-onset disaster. Slow-onset disasters are those that
emerge gradually over time like drought, sea-level rise, or an epidemic disease. While
sudden-onset disasters are those that can be triggered easily when hazardous events
unexpectedly happen such as floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and transport
accidents.
The comprehensive approach to the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010 (RA 10121), shows that the act adopts an integrated
approach to disaster risk management involving all the levels of national government.
This law provides for the development and implementation for the project to succeed
and limit the damages of disasters by managing and planning what to do if it suddenly
hits a specific place. This law also emphasizes the master plan towards safer and
well-planned risk reduction with the approach of a better mitigation, preparedness, and
early warning signs from the systems. As the law enforces that the act promotes the
integration of disaster preparedness into different sectors, this shall include the physical
and land-use planning as well as the budget allocation, development of infrastructure,
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education, and healthcare. As RA 10121 strengthens the role of the local and national
government to make a move and lead the people towards the greater future where the
risk reduction security is high, this law recognizes their role as critical, enough to give
them a task to be the first responders in disaster management and they are also
expected to provide for the allocation of funds in order to help the community affected
by calamities.
According to Think Hazard (N.D.), the table and figure they showed are the
hazard levels in Cavite, where the high levels are volcano eruptions, cyclones, and
wildfires. While urban flood, earthquakes, tsunamis, and extra heat belong to the
medium level. Lastly, river flood, coastal flood, landslides, and water scarcity belong to
the low level.
As the researchers focus on the Disaster Preparedness of Households in Cavite,
specifically in the 8th district. According to the Office of the Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Officer – Cavite, they are responsible for the development,
implementation, and coordination of disaster risk management programs along the
territorial jurisdiction. They also contribute to resilient communities and buildings that
are prepared for disasters to advocate for them by implementing what they have
learned and supporting the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Cavite. The
various research and planning sections apply the coordination of the Local Government
Unit (LGU) in Cavite and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council
(NDRRMC).
The researchers are going to select barangays in Naic, Maragondon, and
Ternate. These barangays are located along the seaside or coastal areas. The selected
barangays in Naic are Brgy. San Roque, Brgy. Bagong Karsada, Brgy. Malainen Bago,
Brgy. Malainen Luma, Brgy. Sapang, Brgy. Timalan Balsahan, and Brgy. Timalan
Concepcion. While the selected barangays in Ternate are Brgy. San Jose, Brgy.
Bucana, Brgy. Poblacion 1, Brgy. Poblacion 2, Brgy. Sapangan, and Brgy. Pinagsanhan
A & B. And lastly, for Maragondon, the selected barangay is the Brgy. Patungan (also
known as Brgy. Mercedes). These barangays are essential to the research paper of the
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researchers as it will be the main variable for the study to gather evidence based on the
Disaster Preparedness of Households in these selected coastal areas of District 8 in
Cavite.
The researchers conducted the study in the coastal areas of District 8 to know
the types of Disasters they might encounter since they are near the seaside. The
sample population of households in the selected barangays of Naic, Maragondon, and
Ternate are 63,646, 2,533, and 16,464, respectively. With the amount of households in
the three respective places in the District 8 of Cavite, the researchers can gather
enough evidence to prove the paper.
Specifically, this study attempted to answer the following questions:
1. What are the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the participants
and their households, including factors such as age, education, income,
household composition, and housing conditions?
2. To what extent are the participants knowledgeable about hazards such as
typhoons, floods, storm surges, and tsunamis within their vicinity?
3. How well-equipped are the participants’ households with life safety protection kits
and the corresponding knowledge for their use during disasters?
4. What property protection measures or plans have the participants implemented
to safeguard their assets from the impacts of coastal hazards?
5. What recovery strategies or plans have been initiated by the participants and
their households following past disasters or in anticipation of future ones?
6. What are the underlying reasons why participants and their households choose
to prepare for disasters in their communities?
Objectives of the Study
The primary objective of the study was to determine the disaster preparedness of
the households in District 8, Cavite in terms of typhoon, flood, storm surge and tsunami.
Specifically, this study aimed to:
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1. describe the demographic and socio-economic profile of the participants and their
households;
2. determine the level of preparedness in terms of awareness on natural hazards;
3. determine the level of preparedness in terms of household planning and coordination;
4. determine the households' level of preparedness in terms of available prepared
emergency supplies;
5. determine the level of preparedness in terms of knowledge on safety training and
engagement in community activities;
6. determine the households' level of preparedness in terms of property security
measures;
7. determine level of preparedness in terms of recovery plans and/or measures after the
calamity initiated by the members of the household;
8. determine the participants' reasons for preparing or not preparing for a disaster in
their households.
Hypothesis
Households with higher socio-economic status and great knowledge of natural
hazards are more likely to exhibit higher scale on being prepared during calamities and
disasters, as reflected based on their emergency planning, supplies, safety training,
property security measures, and recovery plans.
H1: There is a significant relationship between socio-economic status, and the level of
household disaster preparedness.
H2: Participants with greater awareness of natural hazards show greater overall
household disaster preparedness.
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H3: Households that engage in disaster planning and coordination activities exhibit a
higher level of disaster preparedness.
H4: Households with readily available emergency supplies are better prepared for
natural disasters.
H5: Knowledge of safety training and participation in community disaster-related
activities positively influence household disaster preparedness.
Significance of the Study
For a disaster-prone country like the Philippines, which lies along the Pacific Ring
of Fire, and surrounded by seas and oceans, adopting an effective disaster risk
reduction and management (DRRM) approach is essential to enhance the community
resilience and minimizing casualties and damages to property (Ani et al., 2015; RA
10121, 2010). This research contributes to the evaluation of DRRM efforts in selected
coastal areas of Cavite, particularly in District 8, specifically in the context of household
disaster preparedness.
Conducted with residents of high-risk zones in mind, this study aims to offer
significant insights into their levels of disaster preparedness across various dimensions,
as well as their reasons for either engaging in or neglecting disaster planning. The
findings can support the development of barangay contingency plans and assist in
designing effective communication strategies through multiple media platforms for
informing the public about disaster preparedness (Sutton & Tierney, 2006). It is also
hoped that the study will serve as a foundation for crafting a localized Barangay
Disaster Readiness Plan.
Moreover, the outcomes may assist local councils in assessing and tracking
preparedness measures within their jurisdictions. Ideally, the study would encourage
households to recognize the critical role of preparation in mitigating the adverse
consequences of disasters. Finally, the research findings may serve as valuable
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reference materials for students, educators, and fellow researchers involved in
DRRM-related studies.
Time and Place of the Study
The study was conducted from _____ 2025 to _____ 2025 in the selected
coastal areas of Cavite, specifically in Naic, Maragondon, and Ternate.
Scope and Limitations
The study focuses on the level of disaster preparedness of households in coastal
areas of Cavite and the reasons for preparing or not preparing for a disaster in their
areas. Other variables such as the participants' and demographic and socio-economic
profile and other household characteristics were also included in this study.
The study will only cover the specific number of households' members which
will be based on the statistician, as the participants of the study. The District 8 were
geographically classified to be the catch basin of the province of Cavite, specifically
Naic, and Ternate, being on the coast are the most affected coastal areas when it
comes to coastal disasters. As mentioned earlier, Naic, and Ternate were considered as
the high risk areas (critical areas) by the Hazard Notification, Dissemination and
Awareness (HANDA) of DOST in flood, storm surge, and tsunami (Department of
Science and Technology, Calabarzon, 2010). However, according to PhilAtlas the
population of the barangays in the three Cities combined is 82,643.
The disasters considered in this study are limited to floods, typhoons, storm
surge and, tsunami. Two barangays were selected from the high risk areas of Naic and
were suggested by the Municipal and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Council Officials as these are frequently affected by the disaster covered under the
study.
Definition of Terms
The following terms are conceptually and operationally defined.
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Casualty is an accident, mishap, or disaster; a person or thing badly affected by
an event or situation.
Disaster serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any
scale due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and
capacity, leading to human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts.
Flood is an overflowing of a large amount of water beyond its normal confines,
especially over what is normally dry land.
Implementation is the process of putting a decision or plan into effect;
execution.
Households are those who dwell under the same roof and compose a family. It
is a social unit composed of those living together in the same dwelling.
Resilience refers to the ability to successfully adapt to stressors, maintaining
psychological well-being in the face of adversity. It's the ability to “bounce back” from
difficult experiences.
Risk refers to the possibility of an adverse outcome or loss, either financial,
physical, or otherwise. It's the probability of something bad happening, combined with
the potential consequences of that event.
Risk Reduction Management is a systematic process of identifying, assessing,
and implementing measures to minimize potential losses or damages. It involves
understanding the nature of risks, evaluating their potential impact, and then applying
strategies to reduce the likelihood or severity of those risks. This can be achieved
through various methods like risk avoidance, risk transfer, risk mitigation, and risk
acceptance.
Socioeconomic refers to the combination of social and economic factors that
influence and shape a person’s or community’s living conditions, opportunities, and
behavior.
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Tsunami is a long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide,
or other disturbance.
Typhoon is a tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans.
Water Hazard is any natural or human-made water-related event or condition
that poses a threat to people, property, ecosystems, or livelihoods.
