Disaster Risk Reduction Management in High Risk Barangays of Baguio City: Level of Implementation and Challenges

Abstract

Disasters occur all around the world, with varying degrees of impact and severity. By implementing risk reduction strategies, communities can become less vulnerable to the effects of disasters. In the Philippines, RA 10121 created the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee (BDRRMC), but still lacks resiliency. Triangulation method was utilized in the research to evaluate the BDRRMC's level of implementation and challenges using a reliability- and validity-tested questionnaire to the respondents from the high-risk barangays in Baguio City, Philippines. Based on the results of the weighted mean Section 12, RA 10121 is being implemented in the barangay level. Single-factor ANOVA results showed that length of service and age are two key attributes that shows significant difference based on the p-value result. In terms of challenges encountered, despite help from the local government unit, it is constrained by inefficient mobilization and dispatch of rescue teams during disaster response which is basically rooted from lack of manpower and cooperation in disaster management. To summarize, there is a need for planning and effective budget allocation with enhanced community engagement to improve the implementation of the law's provisions and achieve its goal of developing safer and resilient communities.