Disaster Awareness and Preparedness of the Elementary School Teachers in Calatagan District, Division of Batangas: Basis for a Communication Campaign Strategies in Disaster Management

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The Province of Batangas in the South is one that is often visited by natural calamities, from storms and typhoons, earthquakes, shortages of water, and sometimes the leveling of the ocean waters. At the forefront, the schools in the province have also been actively involved in disaster management awareness and preparedness. This is in partnership with the local government units (LGUs), the National Government, private agencies, and even the non-government organizations for disaster assistance, preparedness, disaster training, and education, etc., for the people to be more informed and educated towards a culture of disaster prevention, and flexibility.

METHODS

The study is descriptive and exploratory in nature since it seeks to identify the level of awareness, preparedness, and knowledge of teachers in the time of disasters in the schools. It made use of 63 elementary school teachers purposively and conveniently chosen in three (3) public elementary schools in Calatagan District, Division of Batangas. Sets of self-constructed validated instruments were used to gather data and summarized data were treated arithmetically and statistically to arrive at the answers to specific questions raised.

RESULTS

The 63 elementary school teacher respondents were moderately aware of the school-management disaster practices in their respective schools. Much that they agreed they were aware and participated in the disaster planning strategies (X=3.99), however, they only agreed moderately their awareness before the school disaster management strategies.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the findings of the study, the researcher identified the weaknesses and gaps in the implementation of the Department of Education schools' disaster management events practices. The researcher wishes to advance a Communication Campaign Strategies to Raise Awareness and Preparedness of Teachers in the Management of School Disaster Events which was highly endorsed by teachers where the before, during and after disaster plan stages should be developed to bring more conscious school culture for preventing disasters in school.