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Sa ating Barangay, dapat walang iniiwan at walang napapabayaan, dahil lahat tayo ay parte ng komunidad na kailangan nating protektahan…

Arnold Barcenas 

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Grand takeaways from NSTP DRRM Kwentuhan!!!

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KWENTUHAN WALK OUTCOME #5 & #6

When it comes to the Philippines issue on disasters it is important that these issues are addressed to ensure security and safety of the country and its people. It is also important to be addressed as disasters do happen accidentally, naturally or even out of nowhere. Disasters and calamities are somehow always there in every continent and it is up to the higher authorities and government tp be able to do projects, activities and even campaigns to make every person in the country feel prepared and safety. It is also important to let the people know and be aware of possible effects of these disasters.The people should be prepared and equipped with necessary grab bags or food storages whenever disasters happen. The people should also be taught of who to call? what to do? where to go? and how to act and react during disasters.

 We can address disaster risks and hazards in the Philippines by listening, collaborating and even volunteering to help do the projects and actions made by the local government units and even nation-wide activities as projects like these are more likely deemed successful if everyone did their part in helping each other. We can also address these disaster risks and hazards by being the ones to advocate and inform others regarding the preparation for activities. As disaster risk is becoming prevalent and somehow trendy with today’s standards and fields, I think training on how to use the boats, swimming and even first-aid is a must for a member in the community. 

As the interview that I had with the official is more lenient and more of seen naturality in their barangay he/she didn't really give me technical terms for easy understanding. He tells me ordinary, natural real-life problems that the barangay do faces when it comes to disaster risk management. From what was is urgent and important to be addressed you can somehow see it in the barangay official’s eyes that their job is to really ensure everyone’s safety and protection for it is at stake.

The whole interview and kwentuhan, my takeaway was that there are people who are really passionate and dedicated in making the society, the community and the environment, protected and secured but to actually do this the whole community needs everyone’s participation and collaboration. It is our job as part of the community to actually do this and fight for a protected and secured barangay. As a student in my own way, other than possible volunteering, participation and full cooperation with the projects, the only other plan of action that is realistic and Is simple would be Advocating and Sharing awareness through different platforms. Projects in school, social media post and even just be sharing and imparting what I know to others to somehow touch their lives and make them move to do things for the community as well. 

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KWENTUHAN WALK OUTCOME #3 & #4

The Philippines’ is a actually a disaster prone country. As there are factors of our geographic location and our actual ancestry cultures that affects the disasters and calamities history of the Philippines. Our country is near the pacific ring of fire, the volcanos in the country are active. The Philippines’ climate is also a factor. another one would be is that we are surrounded with oceans and seas that creates storms, typhoons and other calamities. Also our country is very polluted and a lot of waste chemicals, bacteria and flus are also factors that can create calamities and disasters in our country. 

When it comes to the disaster risk in our country, I’d have to say that through the years there is improvement into the number of materials and the accessibility of facilities all over the country but when it comes to the actual population of people in the Philippines, not everyone can be accommodated so the Government should make sure that everyone can be safe and secured. The Philippine  government should also communicate with the Local government units to ensure that their community has conducted with seminars and drills to let the community residents and members be prepared when disaster and calamities come. 

The Overall DRRM Kwentuhan activity helped me realize that this is how much the barangay are thinking and preparing just for the residents to be safe and calm when calamities and disasters happen. I learned that there is really so much at stake when disasters and calamities occur in our country and specific cities and barangays. As I have learned a lot of things in doing this I can share my experiences and my learnings to other people, in that sense there might be people that would be encouraged to volunteer as well as residents and community members can be enlightened to cooperate and collaborate well for the betterment of the whole community. Preparation and awareness is the key to ensure everyone’s safety. 

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KWENTUHAN WALK OUTCOME #1 & #2

As hazards are dangers or risks and chances for a disaster to happen the barangay is well informed and aware of possible hazards for their community. They have separate trainings and assessment for businesses, infrastructures and some but not really all house residencies are well informed and assessed to be reminded of how they can be safe and secured in wherever they are and whatever they do. Since there is proper management and information dissemination to the community members man made risks and hazards are only happening from time to time especially if the person or people behind the hazard or danger that happened, may it be accidentally or intentionally. In the case of natural calamities and disasters/hazards that happen out of the people’ s control, the Barangay’s community members are somehow reminded to not panic and just do whatever they can to follow the rules and regulation set by the barangay leaders. Antipolo is not really known for being calamity prone but when certain incidents occur the people really do try to remain calm. 

As the Barangay is located in a somehow high are of Antipolo, floods are not really prevalent. Storms and Landslides are somehow more talked and seen in the area. These natural calamities are informed to us by higher networks or source of information by the barangay like the PAG-ASA and other agencies that are spreading information and awareness to the Antipolo City officials then to the barangay leaders. Other than natural calamities, there are other hazards and disasters that are made by human beings. Example of these are fire caused by electricity, Water slips in some areas and businesses as well as improper management of wastes especially toxic and chemical wastes from different residential houses and business managements. 

Since Antipolo is a mountainous area and Cogeo, Gate 2 where the Barangay is located has residential areas that are near cliffs and landslide prone areas. The Safest places would be where the people will evacuate as those areas are somehow prepared and ready to be used when disasters did happen. 

Some problems for the barangay that was brought to my attention by the barangay official was no matter how persevering and dedicated barangay volunteers are for information dissemination are, there will always be community members that don't pay attention or thinks that what the barangay is doing is not really beneficial and helpful to them. Another problem would be the location of some  community members are really difficult to reach from time to time. Lastly, another problem is the number of barangay volunteers are not really in proportion to the number of community members. Which means that when disasters and actual calamities did appear there might be shortage of facilitators and possible guide volunteers for the people. 

Possible solutions to address the problems would be to really make sure that everyone in the community is aware, informed and as much as possible participative in the drills and seminars for disaster risk. The departments involve should make sure that the volunteers would get benefits or make sure that they are well taken care of when there’s a need for them to work, this is to show appreciation for them as well as let them feel encouraged that what they are doing is really for helping others. When other community members see this they  might feel motivated to also participate and volunteer as well. Also when it comes to materials and facilities the departments should try to get funds and budget to make facilities that are sturdy enough with complete essentials for the people in the community to have a spacious are for them to rest for the time being of the calamity and disaster.  

The barangay did create a disaster risk management team and also research team for disasters to ensure their community’s safety. So the disaster risk department along with the environment and planning department made some projects for managing and securing safety when disaster happens. Not all were given by the barangay official that I interviewed he only emphasized the Evacuation centers readiness when in need of usage. The barangay halls have competent and fast workers for emergency calls and other SOS signals to easily be treated and take cared off, the departments if not assigning there own members they really check if the person in that position is really capable. Lastly, Connection and sponsor treatment and retainment. This is to ensure that when calamities come and disasters did happen in the community there will be neighboring communities and companies ready to help Barangay Bagong Nayon and its people. 

a. HAZARDOUS PLACES 

The most hazardous place that was brought to my attention was the residential houses near the cliff, as we are part of Antipolo which is a mountainous area. There are some residential houses that are near a cliff, when certain disasters did appear or took place like landslides, earthquakes or possible tornado and cyclones, these houses will be affected directly or have an aftermath disaster. 

b. SAFE SPACES 

A safe area or space that was pointed out by the official was the Sto. Nino de Praga Parish church, near the barangay hall and the said schools in the area (We didn't  get to go or visit the schools because it was quite far from the barangay hall and the official only has limited time to spare for the interview) These areas are the safest places as the barangay made sure that when these places are used for evacuation centers, they are already equipped with enough water supplies and as much as possible food and blanket storage. 

c. BEST PRACTICES 

I couldn't really capture the actual practices that was made by the barangay but the official did say that they conduct drills and seminars or information handouts to the community and when they get chances they give out flyers to the actual residential owners from house-to-house only to inform them of tips and needed regulations when disaster happens. Most importantly they give out flyers of telephone numbers that needs to be contacted when disaster happens and they do update this every 3-4 months as he said. 

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INTRODUCTION

NSTP MODULE 3: Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 

I conducted an interview with a Barangay Official regarding the disaster risk management plans and actions of the Barangay. The activity is called ‘DRRM KWENTUHAN’ As I currently live in Antipolo, I interviewed Arnold Barcenas an official for Barangay Bagong Nayon, Cogeo Gate 2, Antipolo City. I did schedule the interview before hand but because of time constraint the only time for an interview was Dec. 6, 2019. The actual interview and community walk was very fast paced as they were doing a lot of things in the barangay. They were very busy  in the Barangay as they have 2 events for the Senior Citizen and PWD community. It happened so quickly with only limited time and somehow restricted space to the walk with as the official couldn't really leave the hall, so we only had to the kwentuhan in streets and places near the barangay hall, this is to make sure that when his assistance is needed, we can come back quickly. Even though it was a bit hectic, the interview was a success even with few  modifications along the way. The actual outcome of the interview was really  informative and meaningful.