ABSTRACT
The importance of being prepared and aware whenever disaster strikes are very vital nowadays. Family, as a basic unit of the society, needs to evaluate their level of preparedness and awareness so that they can cope up in any way when it is needed. The purpose of this basic research is to identify the level of earthquake family preparedness and awareness of family in Pinagbuhatan Elementary School. This is in relation to the Department of Education Order No. 27, s. 2015 which was followed nationwide. A questionnaire survey attached to this Department Order was used by the researcher and was analyzed and interpreted the results. Descriptive research was used in this basic research in order to provide a systematic description, factual and accurate data outcome. Based on the findings, the following conclusion were made: the level of family preparedness before, during and after an earthquake of Kinder to Grade 6 families is very low with a weighted mean of 2.71. Similarly, Grade 5 and Grade 6 were at the very low level of preparedness before, during and after an earthquake. Unlike Kinder, Grade 1, Grade2, Grade 3 and Grade 4, the level of preparedness before, during and after an earthquake falls on a higher level and medium level of preparedness. It was recommended therefore that the school with the help of concerned agencies should provide an information dissemination campaign and disaster preparedness awareness seminar to enhance the knowledge of families. Likewise, a plan of action should develop to enhance the level of preparedness before, during and after an earthquake what to do.
Keywords: disaster preparedness, earthquake, family
INTRODUCTION
Disasters affect every individual of each year in the local community or national level. Increasing awareness, develop action plans and practice them is the golden rule for successful disaster management at all levels is to. We should not wait for a disaster to happen because it is not the right time to plan. The government should create building relationships with different stakeholders and those around them, whether they contribute actively to the plan or are dependent on it, will have the most significant and positive effect in determining your resiliency throughout an event.
There are a lot of ways in planning through disaster mitigation and resources to help prepare. School as part of its School Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan is no exempted in helping educate the pupils especially their parents on how to prepare their families in responding to any emergencies such as an earthquake. Without warning, earthquakes can strike at any time. Families should prepare beforehand so that they can cope up with earthquakes whenever it will happen and should build a disaster family plan for their disaster safety. The other is making sure your family knows the drill. In the school setting, the most vulnerable person to be affected when disaster or calamities strikes are the children especially when they are inside the schools or during class hours. They might experience fear, shock, and even worst trauma when they experience such a scenario in the real situation.
The Family Code of the Philippines in Chapter 2 Article 218 states that “the school, its administrators and teachers, or the individual, entity or institution engaged in a child are shall have special parental authority and responsibility for the child while under their supervision, instruction or custody. Authority and responsibility shall apply to all authorized activities whether inside or outside the premises of the school, entity or institution”. In the same chapter in article 129 states that “those given the authority and responsibility under the preceding Article shall be principally and solidarily liable for damages caused by the acts or omissions of the unemancipated minor. The parents, judicial guardians or the persons exercising substitute parental authority over said minor shall be subsidiarily liable”.
The teachers as their number one clientele are pupils, needs to create a mechanism and plan and how to protect pupils inside the school and classroom not only for school activities but as well as during calamities and disasters. According to UN ISDR (2006-2007), when a natural hazard strikes, children are among the most vulnerable population group, especially those attending school in times of disaster. Furthermore, during disasters, school buildings are destroyed, taking away the precious lives of children and teachers and stalling access to education in the aftermath of a disaster. Therefore, children need to be protected before disaster strikes. Protecting children during natural hazards requires two distinct yet inseparable priorities for action: disaster risk education and school safety as reported by ISDR (2006: s.p.).
According to Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS, 2011) together with the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PCDRRMO), when 7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes, Barangay Pinagbuhatan is among the top five hotspot in barangays for earthquake impact based on the following indicators: population (in which Barangay Pinagbuhatan contributes 14.5 % in overall total population of Pasig City), roads, critical facilities and high loss potential facilities. Furthermore, Barangay Pinagbuhatan because of its proximity to West Valley Fault system which is 2.6 kilometers away, will experience intensity 8 and above in which public schools will be exposed to severe ground shaking (1.2 g and above) includes Pinagbuhatan Elementary School. This is because of the potential high liquefaction in the area.
This information is not but needed to include in the priorities of the school in including the earthquake awareness and preparedness of the school to its activities as well as the inclusion of the community through reaching out to every family as a catchment area of the school.
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