Emergency Preparedness of the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council in dealing with Environmental Crisis. An Assessment

The Philippines is a wealthy country, it is an archipelago surrounded by rich waters and rich forest, but the Philippines is not only prosperous on natural resources, it is equally wealthy on natural calamities. Having its geography and topography where tropical cyclones and ring of fire can be seen, makes it vulnerable. The Philippines has no less than 20 typhoon that passes the country every year and there accounts for at least 5 earthquakes a day losing life, damaging property, dragging down infrastructure and economy with it. The current research study was prepared to assess the preparedness of Quezon Province particularly the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Council in cooperation with the local government units in dealing with natural disaster. This intends to determine how well the province prepares and deals with natural calamities. The community were chosen as the respondents of the study to know how well the local government have prepared them on responding to natural calamities from preparation and mitigation, to response and rescue up to the point of rehabilitation. The threat of global warming has posed numerous problems not only on the people of our community. With the increasing number of disaster and calamities affecting the Philippines which includes natural calamities that kills life and destroys property regardless of who their victims are, it has become the concern of every individual. It is a disturbance as it affects health, economic and physical losses. It is a problem for the government and particularly the national disaster and risk reduction management council which is under the umbrella of the civil defense commission. In as much as it involves protection of life and property, the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire is just as concerned. As indicated on the NDRP 2011-2028, “There are compelling reasons why the Philippines should adopt disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA). It is exposed to disasters and hazards due to its geography and geology as well as the presence of internal disputes in some areas”. The Philippines has experienced numerous typhoons which causes flash flood and storm surge. This exposure to meteorological hazards poses threat to life and property as well as on the economy hence requiring the country to adopt a risk reduction plan. The Philippines has witnessed and experienced the impact of global warming through experiencing several typhoons that they haven’t experienced before. Last December 2013, the country has experienced super typhoon Yolanda, which caused destruction of almost all provinces and municipalities in the Visayan Region, which even up to now, the government has had difficulty on rehabilitation and recovery. Similarly, the country has experienced the devastating effect of typhoon Glenda that wipe out houses and tattered trees and crops in Southern Luzon, particularly Quezon Province. These calamities may be perceived and cannot be prevented, but there still are chances to lessen casualties and minimize damages among the community. This research study would help to assess the existing plans and programs in dealing with these disasters. Similarly, this study might be helpful for understanding and recognizing the lapses or necessity to improve the programs in dealing with different disaster. Moreover, this might help in formulating future long and short term plans and programs to help manage disasters, before, during and after experiencing the damages that it causes.