AWARENESS AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS OF BARANGAY DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES (BDRRMC’S) OF LAUR, NUEVA ECIJA, PHILIPPINES.

Abstract

Natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes are now frequently occurring in the country. The Philippine government had increased its efforts to implement the disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) program as its answer to the frequent occurrence. This paper gives an overview of the Awareness and Disaster Preparedness of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (BDRRMCs) of Laur, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It focused on the flood and landslide-prone barangays of Laur, Nueva Ecija. The study used the Goal Model of Organizational Theory to measure the awareness of BDRRMCs. The awareness of BDRRMCs was measured against the goals and objectives of Republic Act 10121 also known as Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act. The study used as a research tool the Checklist of Disaster Preparedness divided into four thematic areas namely; a) Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, b) Disaster Preparedness, c) Disaster Response, and d) Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery. The study showed the need for periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (DRRMCs) and to set the standard of performance not only for the purpose of policy evaluation but also for measuring community involvement in disaster risk reduction.