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A WALK TO REMEMBER

     Weekend… I thought it was going to be one of those days where I can get rid of my alarm clock and spend more bonding moments with my bed whom I miss dearly during weekdays but I remember I have to go somewhere else. Yes, I will be going to a place not far away from home. In fact, it is so familiar yet it is something I know little about. Believe it or not, it was my first time to set foot on our barangay hall and have a conversation with one of our barangay officials in-charge with DRRM.

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     BF International/CAA Barangay Hall is in the first district located at 1740 CAA Rd, Las Piñas City.  It has 216.65 hectares of land area, the third largest land area in the barangay and at present, has the largest population of 77,264 people among the 20 barangays in the city. It is a home to 60,000 households, 20,000 families, 50,000 registered voters and 251 precincts.

     Our country lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire and it is inevitable to be exposed to natural disasters like earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, etc. So I went to our barangay hall to find out the situation of our community in relation to the hazards and disasters that affect our country. 

     I was surprised to find out that we have a newly appointed BDRRMC Officer in the name of Nicko John Sabile. He has been appointed as BDRRMC Officer only last January of this year although he has already been a part of BDRRMC team for several years now. The advantage of having a young BDRRMC officer is that he is more vigorous, dynamic, active, and energetic as compared to the elder ones. It is also much easier to talk to someone who is still young since it is like talking with your peer.

LOGO OF THE BARANGAY DISASTER RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (BDRRMC) BF INTERNATIONAL/CAA

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     While Las Piñas is being recognized as one of the cleanest cities in Metro Manila, and even included in the list of “Clean and Green Hall of Fame” awardee by our government, sadly, it is also constantly on the list of flood prone areas in Metro Manila. According to Sir Nicko, aside from the heavy rain that causes the flood, they also found out that there are blockage of drainage in the some areas, and dumping of garbage in some waterways like creeks, canals, and river that overflows during heavy downpour. I have learned that the growing number of informal settlers that were relocated in the river area of the barangay posts a big challenge to the barangay since many of them do not dispose their garbage properly and they do not strictly followed the waste-segregation program of Las Piñas government. But there are also some residents and subdivisions in the area who are also not doing the segregation of waste. During typhoon or inclement weather, the BDRRMC coordinates with the LGU of Las Piñas and the DOST- PAGASA for updates and posts advisories on their facebook page on what to do in case of typhoon/emergencies.

Some of the Advisory/Warning Posts during typhoons by the BDRRMC

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     Fire is another major disaster that BDRRMC has been dealing with from the time being. There are quite a number of fire incidents reported to the barangay this year. According to Sir Nicko. fire hit in some places in the barangay like  in Barangay CAA, Fatima Village in Talon Dos, Ph3 Mabuhay and Maunlad, BF In’t. CAA, Mahogany, Pilar Village, Pulang Lupa Uno, Pitong Daan Subd., BF Homes, Narra St. Cor. Banaba Barangay BF. International/CAA, JP Rizal St. Tuazon Village Barangay Pamplona uno, Land even at Niknok Litson Manok Store at Pulang Lupa Dos, Las Piñas. Many families were affected and many properties were burned. He said BDRRMC usually conducts seminar/lectures regularly in March during Fire Prevention Month to different areas in the barangay.

Fire Incidents in Different Parts of Barangay BF Int’l/CAA 2019 (Photos courtesy of Brgy BF Int’l./CAA BDRRMC)

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     While no major earthquake has been experienced in the barangay, there is a continuous preparation being made like conducting an earthquake drill in the area and nearby public schools. According to Sir Nicko, Las Piñas is very near Muntinlupa which is part of the West Valley fault line because a 7.2 magnitude earthquake can cause great devastation of the most progressive portion of Metro Manila so we all should be prepared.

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     As already mentioned by Sir Nicko, there are some places in our barangay that are really flood prone area and these are located on its low-lying areas especially those near the river and creeks. (Narra St., Camella 5 subdivision, Naga Road, Pulang Lupa Uno, Pulang Lupa Dos, Manuyo Dos, Road along Casimiro-Camella Subd, Road along Casimiro Subd. F. Santos). The people living in these areas are the ones greatly affected especially the children, the elders, and persons with disability. Continues rainfall or heavy rain can cause the flood to rise up to waist or chest levels and they are really non-passable to light vehicles. However, as soon the rain stopped, the flood immediately subsided after a few hours. This is due to the city’s continues drive in its Clean and Green Program and the Sagip Ilog (Save the River) project. The good news is that last August of this year, the Department of Public Works and Highways has completed the P120.76-million flood control structure in Las Piñas City and the said five-meter-high flood control wall was built to protect the residents from flooding in case the Las Piñas River overflows during heavy rains. This will help fasten water flow and prevent flooding in nearby areas, particularly in Barangays Pamplona 3 and Pulanglupa 2. However, there only 4 evacuation areas in the barangay and with its growing population, especially those living in depressed settlement areas, the reduction risks settlement financing is not enough. Also the members of rescue team are not enough if there will be emergencies in different areas at the same time, so there is really a need for more volunteers, coordination with other barangays, LGU’s, and NGO’s. 

     Another problem is that sometimes, voluntary evacuation is hard to implement since some residents do not want to leave their houses even if they have already been told by the BDRRMC. Also the BDRRMC do not have enough resources to climate change related disaster preparedness measures.

     When it comes to fire disasters, BDRRMC should improve more of its campaign and awareness program for fire prevention and safety tips so that the residents should be reminded that this is a collective effort and their participation is very much needed because in the end they too, will be greatly affected. The same goes to Earthquake Drill practices which should continue to increase the number of participants so that more people will be vigilant and lessen the vulnerability of people and property when a disaster occurred.

     The BDRRMC and the Barangay Rescue Team always have a monthly meeting and training exercises to update its plan and discuss its activities and measures so they can immediately respond to the needs of the people during calamities. However, not all of these proposed plans can be fully implemented because of lack of budget and resources. Also, the rescue team are not enough as compared to the growing population of the community. There is really a need for the BDRRMC and the residents to join together in the implementation of these measures to address future hazards and disasters in the community.

     According to Sir Nicko, when it comes to flood disaster, the safest place are the evacuation areas such as Narra Court, CAA Events Place, Timog Court, Phase 4 and Zonta Building and those not flood prone areas in the barangay like BF International, Pamplona III, and Talon 1. During the community walk, we only went to one evacuation are near the barangay, the CAA Events Place, because the BDRRMC has a scheduled meeting on that day with the LGU’s at Las Pinas Municipality. However, Sir Nicko showed me the posters/tarpaulin/maps of the evacuation areas in the barangay. This is also the reason why we were not able to go to further areas in the barangay.  

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SAFEST PLACES

Evacuation Center

Evacuation Maps

Emergency Hotlines

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HAZARDOUS SPACES/PLACES

Part of Las Piñas River and Pulang Lupa Creek that overflows during typhoon or inclement weather (Photos courtesy of Brgy BF Int’l./CAA BDRRMC)

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PRACTICES

Earthquake Drills

Employees of Barangay BF International/CAA doing the Cover Duck Hold during an Earthquake Drill (Photo courtesy of Brgy BF Int’l./CAA BDRRMC)

Earthquake Drill conducted by BF Int’l./CAA DRRMC in Public School (Photos courtesy of Brgy BF Int’l./CAA BDRRMC)

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     The barangay has 5 health centers for its main community where residents can avail of basic free medical supplies. A perimeter fence was constructed for the CAA National High School that should help students travel safer. In line with the Clean and Green Environment Program of the Municipality of Las Piñas, the barangay has its own “Search for the Greenest Phase” contest since 2018 to encourage each phase of the community to clean up their local environment and decorate them with plants and other natural elements.

     The barangay has a large young population so they also conducted seminars to address the issues on the youth today like teen-age pregnancies and drugs like the Teenage Pregnancy and Sex Education Seminar and the Kabataan Kontra Droga Program.

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     Flood is the number one issue in our barangay. This is because there are some canals, creeks and river that overflow during heavy rains. But the lack of discipline of some residents in the barangay contributed a lot to this because of improper disposal of waste that affect our waterways. Although the barangay already held cleaning activities like cleaning the Las Piñas River and some creeks, it should be a continuing activity where residents should be proactive. The local government has already de-clogged damaged pipes in some areas so the residents should maintain its cleanliness to prevent structures from blocking the drainage system. A water wall has already been built to protect residents from flooding in case the Las Piñas River overflows during heavy rains. But there should be a total commitment to proper waste disposal on part of the community in order to solve the problem on flood.

     As to the issue on fire, still it is on part of the community to know the safety measures. First, the barangay and the local government can educate residents and conduct seminars on fire prevention and safety tips. Second, they should also provide fire drills to the residents of the barangays. Third, residents should be reminded not to leave their children at home since some incidents of fire are caused by children playing matches. Fourth, they should also avoid unattended or careless use of candles. Fifth, smoking indoors should be prohibited because there was already an incident reported when smoking material fires resulted in death. Six, they should also be reminded not to leave their cooking unattended because this is also one cause of fire. Seventh, there should be a fire emergency plan prepared by the barangay to communicate to the residents. Eighth, they should also teach the residents how to make their own household fire emergency plan. Finally, everyone should remember that it should be a collective effort on part of the barangay and the residents to promote fire safety and prevention in the community.

     The same goes with the issue on earthquake. The barangay must be able to communicate well with the residents its earthquake emergency plan and conduct regular earthquake drill activities to increase participation of all the residents. Again, this is a collective effort, so the residents should do its share. The local government unit should coordinate with each barangay to determine if there are other needs/concerns like the need for another evacuation area, so that these things can be properly addressed to reduce the damage of the big earthquake in case it will happen.

     Our country has suffered from an inexhaustible number of deadly typhoons, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and other natural disasters because of its location.  So the role of the barangay is very important during the disaster preparedness because they are the forefront authorities that the residents will rely on during calamities or disasters and they should be the first one to respond to the needs of the community when the disaster happened. So they must come up with effective and proactive measures to lessen or reduce the damage it may cause to the community. So aside from the prevention and preparedness program they should also have a rehabilitation program. At the same time flood control measures, planting trees, and solid waste management program must be a continuing project of our barangay to minimize the effect of disasters. Everyone should also be reminded that the Reduction Risk and Management Program is a shared responsibility between the government and the people.

     I realized that disasters and calamities are really serious issues confronting us. They are inevitable and when it happened, there will be loss of loved ones, homes, possessions, and even community. Just thinking about is already devastating and truly heart-breaking. That is why, we should take the Risk and Reduction Management Program seriously and there is a need for every sector in our community to participate in its full implementation so that we can save the loss of lives and properties and reduce the damage it may bring into our lives and to our country. 

     There is a need to address the issue of disasters in our country in order to reduce future risks and save lives and properties. We can never prevent disasters to happen but if we are prepared and know how to respond well when it arrives, we can come up with the right measures that can lessen its impact and damage into our lives and properties. We can also prepare for a recovery plan to help rebuild our lives and our nation. The best thing to do is for the government and the people work together as one and do its respective share and responsibility to make the disaster preparedness program truly a success.

     The barangay has already conducted a cleaning program for the river, canals, and creeks that overflow during heavy rain and the LGU has already built a flood control wall to protect the residents from flooding. I suggest that the clean and green program of the barangay should be continuous and the zero-waste campaign should be strictly implemented to the residents because their active participation is very much needed to the solution of the vulnerabilities. The barangay should intensify their campaign on improving the risk information and early warning to the community and make activities where the community can participate and contribute to the program.

     Since the vulnerable areas and the people in case of flood had already been identified, the focus for strengthening preparedness for response should be on them. Effective disaster preparedness requires community participation. The waste management program should be strengthened in the community by the barangay and I will do my share in my home, school and community by segregating wastes, lessen the use of plastic and make composite in our backyard. I will always participate in every earthquake drill and everyone should do the same. Everyone in the community should have their own emergency bag and for those who cannot afford to have one I will suggest that the barangay should have a fund raising campaign so that everyone in the community will have their own emergency bag which can be very useful in case of emergencies. The barangay should intensify its disaster preparedness campaign and concrete plan during and after the disaster including the recovery plan. They should let the community know and feel the worst effect of disasters so they will take seriously every activity and help them to be resilient, at the same time, to be responsive and to be proactive. Everyone should do its own share in implementing the disaster reduction program to make it truly effective.