An Assessment of the Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Practices of the Public Secondary Schools in the Division of City of Santa Rosa

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Schools, as the second home of the students, are now empowered in the implementation of disaster risk reduction management. They are now responsible for training the students in preparing for whatever disasters that may come and applying all the things taught by the NDRRMC volunteers. Hence, this study will assess the implementation of the DRRM practices in secondary public schools in the SDO of Santa Rosa City.

METHODS

The goal of this study is to assess the implementation of the DRRM program in public secondary schools in the Division of Santa Rosa. This was done through a survey instrument based on the guidelines of theDepartment of Education Order No. 48 series of 2012 or also known as the Quarterly Conduct of the National School-Based Earthquake and Fire Drills and the checklist of the Manual of Disaster Prevention for Schools Guidance for Education Sector Decision Makers in 2008.

RESULTS

The study revealed that there is the extensive implementation of the DRRM program with 3.53 as its grand weighted mean on assessment and planning. There was an adequate implementation when it comes to physical and environmental protection with the grand weighted mean of 3.24 while there was an extensive implementation on the responsive capacity with a grand weighted mean of 4.12. The study also indicated that there were problems encountered during the implementation of the drills such as drill participants not bringing any first aid kit or any item noticeable during the evacuation phase; the evacuation area not being big enough to accommodate the evacuees; the designated meeting areas were not located at a safe distance from the building; the procedures for handicapped students were not being addressed; and the equipment did not function properly.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the results, the Public secondary schools in the division of the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna have an extensive implementation on the aspects of Assessment and Planning. They have an adequate implementation on the aspects of Physical and Environmental Protection and they have an extensive implementation on the aspect of Response Capacity of the DRRM Program. The study found out the following areas which of improvement: drill participants did not bring any first aid kit or any item noticeable during the evacuation phase; the evacuation area is not big enough to accommodate the evacuees; the designated meeting areas were not located at safe distance from the building; the procedures for handicapped students are not being addressed; and the equipment did not function properly.