DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
PROVINCE: NCR
City/Municipality: Manila
Barangay: Barangay 463, Sampaloc District
STREETS: A. Mendoza Andalucia (Vicinity: Paredes), I. Delos Reyes (Vicinity: P.Paredes-P.Campa), J. Barlin (Vicinity: P.Campa-P.Paredes), P. Campa (I. Delos Reyes-J. Barlin), P. Paredes (Vicinity: A. Mendoza Andalucia-I. Delos Reyes), and Paquita (Vicinity: A. Mendoza Andalucia- I. Delos Reyes)
Most common hazard known to this place would be its vulnerability to floods. Since it is near to our university, it is a must-know process for us to take note the practices of one of the nearest barangays.
Hazards
1. Flood
The picture depicts the map of the whole barangay covered in yellow including the areas around it. This yellow highlight signifies that the area has moderate to low susceptibility.
2. Earthquake
Analyzing the Philippines’s hazard map, Metro Manila was shaded as a medium brown whereas it is classified to have 48-75 earthquakes have hit this area already. It is more likely to conclude that this area may be susceptible to average earthquakes.
3. Fire
Manila has a high risk and mostly prone to fires. During the interview according to Mr. Manuel, they had a massive fire disaster experience years ago. This is due to the quick spread of fire through the light materials surrounding the area such as houses built with wood.
HAZARDOUS PLACES
As aforementioned, most houses are still built of light materials like wood which causes the quick spread of fire, resulting to a intensive damage.
SAFEST PLACES
This is the basketball court on which is also their evacuation area.
BEST PRACTICES
One of the things that struck me during the community walk would be their preparedness in times of disaster.
REFLECTION & ANALYSIS
Since I am able to do this in a community where I don’t permanently belong in, it was my first to know the people around especially the only barangay officer around last interview, Mr. Manuel, the barangay treasurer. It is actually my first time as well to talk to a barangay official regarding disaster risk reduction and management matters. One of the highlights of the interview was all about the fire that happened way back 2015 in their barangay. According to Mr. Manuel, its intensity reached the 5th alarm due to the abrupt spread of fire from house to another since most were built in light materials such as wood. This experience alarmed the whole community to have enough preparation in times of disaster. From that time, he said that there have been improvements in the local government service that they are providing to the community. They have also been taking part in seminars and as well as during some national drills and the like.
As an NSTP student, one of the primary lessons learned during the community walk was there will never be enough response to a disaster however there will be always be a right and appropriate way to deal with it. Disasters come to our communities in an unexpected way and time yet perhaps to a typhoon, there will be precautions. It is necessary to take note of the right response to each whether earthquake, fire, flood and even tsunamis and volcanic eruption based from the analysis of the place which leads me to my second learning. It is important to carefully analyze and be knowledgeable to the vulnerabilities and hazards of our community. In this way we would know the appropriate response because it’s all about the lives of the people affected.
I was able to do the community walk in barangay 463 with two of my friends.