A PRACTICAL APPROACH ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AMONG RESIDENTS OF LUCAS CUADRA STA QUITERIA CALOOCAN CITY : A PROPOSAL

Abstract

Disasters, whether natural or man-made, pose significant threats globally, affecting countless communities including those in the Philippines. This study aimed to strengthen disaster preparedness among the residents of Lucas Cuadra, Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City. It examined the demographic profile of the respondents and assessed their perceptions of common disasters about disaster risk assessment, hazard identification, and economic impact. Additionally, the study sought to identify challenges to preparedness and propose strategies for improving community resilience. The study involved 50 purposively selected respondents, including 30 residents, 10 barangay officials, and 10 members of the emergency response team. A descriptive research design was employed. Prior to data collection, the researchers secured the participants' consent. Survey questionnaires served as the main data-gathering tool, which were personally distributed and collected by the researchers upon completion. The results show strong respondent agreement on the effectiveness of disaster preparedness efforts, with weighted mean scores of 3.48 for disaster risk assessment programs, 3.44 for hazard identification, and 3.42 for economic components. A key issue identified was the shortage of trained responders or volunteers. This highlights the need for targeted recruitment and the provision of additional training programs to strengthen community disaster response capacity. The study revealed that most respondents were male, aged 51 and above, and high school graduates. They expressed strong agreement on key aspects of disaster preparedness, particularly disaster risk assessment, hazard identification, and economic components. The most frequently cited issue was the lack of trained responders or volunteers. To address this, the study recommends the implementation of recruitment and training programs to build local response capacity. Additional suggested interventions include increased financial support from local government units (LGUs) and stronger collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public health institutions. Comprehensive recommendations were provided for residents, the community, barangay officials, LGUs, NGOs, and future researchers to enhance disaster preparedness and improve community resilience.