bdrrm-brgybawi

[bdrrm-brgybawi]

Photo with the barangay clerk, Amer Masilang

[bdrrm-brgybawi]

These are the evacuation areas - barangay hall (right) and Bawi Elementary School (left).

[bdrrm-brgybawi]

BDRRM experience

I am a bona fide Thomasian student and a resident of barangay Bawi, Padre Garcia, Batangas. For the compliance for the course NSTP CWTS school year 2019-2020, I have conducted an interview with the barangay clerk, Amer Masilang, regarding the barangay’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

Upon interviewing, she stated that the population is 4,024, having 800 households/families. The barangay has a large number of indigent families however they do not have the record of the exact number of them.

Barangay Bawi experiences flooding the most as for the natural disaster especially within the vicinity of rivers and with low land levels. However, they do not experience intense flooding but only mild rising of the water from the river. The barangay uses equipment such as power saw for cutting trees that fall down and block the roads, rope and cleaning materials for the aftermath. These families which reside in this area experienced evacuation already. They have evacuated their homes because their houses weren't sturdy enough for the strong winds and intense rainfall.

The residents participate in the drills twice a month headed by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Informations regarding these matters are spreaded out to the whole community making sure they are well aware of it. The evacuation centers are the barangay hall and the Bawi Elementary School beside it.

I believe that the barangay I belong to is well prepared and well aware of the DRRM even with a big number of population. The residents are cooperative and willing enough to learn these matters for it will serve as a survival tip in times of emergencies. However, other places such as the mountainous areas are not covered or within reach of the practices. It is like they are deprived of the opportunities we have regarding these. They should also get what we get because we are one community, we win as one.

To the brighter and safer future ahead, participating in these drills will always save us. Nothing will beat our knowledge and preparedness for these events.