Republic of the Philippines

Tarlac State University

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
CENTER OF DEVELOPMENT
Lucinda Campus, Tarlac City
Tel. No. (045) 493-0182; Fax No. (045) 982-0110
Re-accredited Level III by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the
Philippines (AACUP), Inc.

RISK REDUCTION
MANAGEMENT
AND DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS
SEMINAR
(Reaction Paper)

Submitted by:
Manio, Mark Angelo M.
BSEd Major in English 1D-6
Submitted to:
Ms. Hanna Lingat
NSTP Instructor
 Our world is unpredictable. There are many things that are happening without any signs
and make everyone shocked with the effects. Disaster is disaster. We cannot choose when a
disaster can occur because it is the nature that we are talking about. Natural phenomena can be
more disastrous. What we need is knowledge on how to do a preparation for these events that can
cause unfortunate effects to humanity and to our environment. The government with the
partnership of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) of Tarlac has
conducted a seminar and training about the things that people need to do when a disaster occurs.
Many things have been discussed through the help of the cheerful resource speaker.

The seminar started later than the said time in the invitation. We had attendance at first
with our name and signature as a proof that we truly attended the said seminar. At first, I thought
it was going to be boring because the past seminars that I have attended when I was in high
school were all speaker-centered that’s why there was no interaction between the speaker and the
listeners at all. However, when the speaker started to talk about the topic, we were all amazed
because he knows how to deal with the students. He cracked some jokes and what the millenials
call "hugot lines." He discussed the topic about disaster preparedness and management with a
touch of entertainment that’s why it was not that boring.

Reducing disaster risks is an integral part of the fight against poverty. Sensible and cost
effective risk reduction programs—such as early warning systems, strengthened building codes,
and emergency preparedness strategies—are the best defense against future catastrophes. The
rationale behind making schools the center of the programs was that they are hubs of community
life; through them DRR programs can offer safe refuge during disasters, reach a wide
constituency (including children, parents, teachers, community elders and local and national
authorities), mobilize people for action, and improve lives and livelihoods. The project also
recognized both children’s particular vulnerability to disasters, and their great potential to act as
agents of change for DRRM initiatives at community level. Preparedness and resiliency- a
comprehensive training and solutions center for all first responders and emergency response
officials from all emergency support functions and emergency response disciplines. We need to
provide an integrated approach to planning, training, and exercising for large-scale emergencies
and disasters. The unexpected has always been with us, and it always will be. What is changing,
however, are citizens’ expectations about how well unexpected events are handled. Citizens want
their public service organizations to achieve high performance by fulfilling their mission to
deliver critical services regardless of the surprises and impacts of large or small disruptive
events. In effect, they want their public service organizations to become more “resilient.”

Regarding the RA 10121, Section 1(Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Act of 2010) has a greater impact on me because the importance of disaster preparedness cannot
be relegated to the backseat. Disaster risk reduction and management can be highly effective
when local authorities integrate DRR measures and objectives in various aspects of local
governance functions, responsibilities, and practices. This concept is referred to as
“mainstreaming”.

Moving on to the PDRRMO seminar, we attended it by simply listening first to our

moderator-trying to internalize all the tactics then some of my classmates, they generalized and
gave their different views and opinions regarding to that. As a student, my aim is to reduce, or
avoid, the potential losses from hazards, assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims of
disaster, and achieve rapid and effective recovery. The Disaster management phase illustrates the
process by which governments, businesses, and civil society plan for and reduce the impact of
disasters, react during and immediately following a disaster, and take steps to recover after a
disaster has occurred. Appropriate actions at all points in the phases lead to greater preparedness,
better warnings, reduced vulnerability or the prevention of disasters during the next iteration of
the cycle. The complete disaster management cycle includes the shaping of public policies and
plans that either modify the causes of disasters or mitigate their effects on people, property, and
infrastructure.

The best time to address this issue is before things happen. The possibility of a disastrous
event has always been a reality, but increasingly, the ever-present media bring the aftermath of
disaster into our living rooms 24 hours a day. There must be also a public education to instruct
them to find information on the type of disasters that are likely to occur and how to prepare for
each, the community’s warning systems, what they sound like, and what should be done when
they’re heard, disaster plans of places that family members work and attend school and help for
the elderly and disabled. I think there’s no particular person because everyone has the capacity to
be involved by helping one another.
 Disasters themselves have no limitation to specific parts of world. There are no countries
that are disaster immune, but there is variance in disaster vulnerability (Sperling, 2005).
However, some countries might be more prone to a particular type of disaster. The more
advanced a country is, the level of their preparedness is slightly higher. High level of
preparedness enhances them have good control over loss. Some disasters where loss during
actual event is not required as high, hence losses become a bit high due to the inability in
managing the situation in a timed manner.

The major disasters naturally may include earthquake, cyclone, flood, and drought. Minor
disasters naturally include storm, heat waves, cold wave, mud slides, and thunderstorm. The
major disasters that may occur in man made activities include deforestation, fires, setting of fires,
and pollution due to their prawn activities. Minor man made occurrence of disasters may include
accidents on the roads or trains, riots, industrial riots, food poisoning, and environmental
pollution.

There are four types of disaster mainly. These include environmental emergencies,
natural disasters, pandemic disasters, and complex disasters. Disaster prevention is activities that
are designed for provision of permanent disasters protection. Not every disaster can be prevented
and particularly natural disasters; the loss risk of injury and life can be only mitigated with plans
of good evacuation, design standards and environmental planning.

Disaster preparedness is activities for life loss and damage minimization (Pearce, 2003).
Preparedness is the best way of reducing disasters impact. Disaster relief is a multi-agency
coordinated response of reducing disaster impact and its results of long-term. These activities
may include relocation, rescue, water and food provision, preventing disability and disease,
repair of vital services like transport, provision of temporary shelter and health care emergency.
Once the needs of emergency has been accomplished and the crisis is initially over, those
affected together with the community supporting them remain vulnerable. Management of
disaster is linked with the development sustainably, in particular with vulnerable people relation
like the ones with disability, children, elderly people and groups marginalized.

For the conclusion, we have to be knowledgeable about everything what’s surrounds us.
Be alert, be prepared, and be safe because our country’s geographical area is within the Pacific
Ring of Fire wherein many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur often. Attending this kind
of seminar woke me from a deep slumber because I realized that I shouldn’t rely much on the
help of other people because a person must save his self/herself first before he/she can save other
people. I should know what are the proper ways and tips when dealing with natural disasters.
Again, BE ALERT; BE PREPARED; BE SAFE.