DRRM Reflection: There is nothing without planning...

A reflection after Disaster Risk Reduction Management Seminar:

Naomi Yedda Francisco

C-ENG18

Sir Adrian Romero

C-Eng18 during DRRM Seminar

1. What have you learned from the DRRM seminar x workshop x training x practicals?(meaning of concepts: disaster, hazards, disaster risk reduction formula, capacities,vulnerabilities, Philippine Disaster situation facts, risk reduction, participatory management of disasters or bibingka approach, disaster resilience, bamboo as a symbol of disaster resilience, first aid, basic life support)

Preparing for disasters

During the DRRM seminar, I learned that disaster is different from hazards. Hazards are always present in a community; however, hazards become disasters whenever care and precaution are not taken and considered. For example, our community in Lopez, Quezon; it is a coastal area which is near a fault line in Guinayangan, Quezon; earthquake-prone, flashflood-prone and has semi-active local government(active only during election-period lol).Hazards are only a risk of harm and these can be prevented to be disasters through effective planning and coordination of people in a community. Disasters are divided into different categories: natural, man-made, and combination of both. We have known that natural phenomenon cannot be avoided but casualties will be avoided if we have knowledge regarding on how to protect ourselves from these natural phenomena(heavy rains, earthquake, lightning, tsunamis, landslides, drought, etc.). Man-made disasters such as fires, explosions, terrorism, and bridge disasters can be lessened through proper implementation of laws and obedience of the people. Lastly, the disasters made by combination of natural phenomena and human. Examples are flashfloods, forest-fires, epidemics and others. Through proper planning and cooperation of people within a community, death tolls will be lessened before, during and after disasters. In order to reduce the harm given by these disasters, Disaster risk reduction formula is made. We need to familiarize our capacities and increase them and our vulnerabilities so that we can lessen them. The bibingka strategy for disasters refers to manner of making bibingka itself. It is required to have fire on both sides of bibingka. A synchronized top-down and bottom-up approach is required to have a successful goal. Both participation from the people in a community and the local government are needed in this system to produce effective results. Lack of coordination and lack of proper dissemination will make this system work ineffectively. Bamboo is made the symbol for resiliency because just like how a bamboo stands strong during heavy winds makes it same for Filipinos during disasters. Even though it bends in a very low manner, still they manage to stand after the wind making itself stronger than before .I’m thankful for this seminar because I have learned many things regarding basic life support. Unlike the DRRM Seminar I had attended during high school, proper demonstrations regarding life support was shown. This is important during emergency situations especially whenever there is no one informed with a basic life support but you. Di ka ba busy?

2. Why do we need to address the issue of disasters in our country?

Assessment of location for future disasters

There is a need to address this issue because it is about lives of people in our country. This is a serious matter. Without proper planning, more and more Filipinos would suffer from the harsh disasters in our country. Without the goal to have a plan for such disasters, our vulnerabilities will worsen and our capacities will be ignored.

3. How did you conduct the PCVA exercise in your group? What were the results of your vulnerability and capacity assessment?(explain the process you did in conducting the assessment, state the location of your community, different hazards, different vulnerabilities and capacities assessed). What are your realizations after conducting PCVA workshops?

After the PCVA workshops, I realized that it is important to be familiarized with a community’s capacities and vulnerabilities. When a community knows its capacities, it can increase people’s strength and repel disasters. In the same manner, when a community knows its vulnerabilities, they can lessen it and be prepared for a disaster. For example, our community in Lopez, Quezon Province. It is a coastal area, near to a faultline in Guinayangan, Quezon; earthquake-prone, flashflood-prone and has semi-active local government (which is active only during election-period). Capacities: people cooperate with the plastic-ban in our community; therefore, plastic garbage being stucked in canals would bere moved resulting to prevention of flashfloods. There are many plantation farms in our community, more production of food is a capacity.

4. You, as a Filipino, what ACTIONS should you take to address the different vulnerabilities of your own community? What ACTIONS should you take to INCREASE the capacities of your own community? 

Assessment of  P,Vand C

As a concerned Filipino and as a Thomasian, I should be one to those who take address the different vulnerabilites. Seminars and workshop like in our NSTP should be done in our community in order to inform the people. Most of the people in our community, most especially those who are in remote areas, are not properly informed regarding this situation that is why seminars are very important here.

5. When is the best time to address the issues of Disaster Risk Reduction Management? Who should be involved in addressing these issues? 

There is no best time to address this issue. As soon as possible, addressing of this issue must be made. Both the local government and people in community should be involved in disaster risk reduction management because without the help of one, nothing will be planned and instead of prevention of disasters, risk will be increased. Proper implementation of laws should be done in order to lessen harm brought by disasters.

Sorry mali mali grammar ko nung sinulat ko ito hahahaha rushed af

First Aid

First Aid

Fieldwork Reflection: Helping Hands

A reflection after the NSTP Fieldwork:

Naomi Yedda Francisco 

C-Eng 18 UST

Sir Adrian Romero

Bonding time with new friends hehehehe

1. Conduct a research about the condition of Filipino children in the Philippines and children’s rights. What are the problems of the Filipino children? How can we address these problems? What are the solutions in these problems?

2. What have you learned from our fieldwork? How did you conduct the fieldwork activity in your group? Explain the process you did in conducting the activities for the children? What are your realizations after the activity? What is the memorable and challenging part of your fieldwork?·

3. How did your NSTP experience changed and helped you become a better member of your family, a better Thomasian, and a better citizen of the country?

Every Filipino child has a right to be born and have a name, a right to have a name and a nationality. Every child has a right to be free, to have a family who will take care of him/her  to have a good education, and right to have enough food and shelter. Every child has a right to be given protection against abuse, danger and violence due to war and conflict. Everyone has a right to live in a peaceful community and to be defended and assisted by the government. These are just some of the basic rights of every Filipino child in our country.

Drawing

The Infant mortality rate in the Philippines is high. Furthermore, more than one out of every five newborn children suffer from dietary deficiencies from birth. This may further cause problems and death if not managed correctly. Approximately one out of three children lives below the poverty line. Because of this, they often suffer from hunger and malnutrition, mental and physical retardation. According to recent statistics, more than 10% which may further be the cause of other health-related problems including of Filipino children are forced to work instead of go to school so they can  scavenge public dump sites where they can be infected with a number of serious support the basic needs of their families. Almost a million Filipino children diseases. Almost 17% of Filipino children are not officially registered in the identity. Philippines. Most Muslim and indigenous children still lack an official  In order to solve these problems of the Filipino youth, a cooperative effort from every Filipino is required. Primarily, the government must take the first step. Appropriate programs and laws must be given and

everyone must follow.

During the fieldwork, I have experienced the different side of life, the life of children in such areas that we barely see.Both happiness and sadness can be seen in their eyes. Happiness in having hope for a better future and sadness felt from the recent disaster that they have encountered. Most of them are too young to suffer form harsh conditions, children should be living a happy life free from traumas brought by disasters.In our NSTP group, I was in charged with the preparation of food. I felt an unusual yet fun experience having an opportunity to prepare food for those children. The memorable part is that when I saw the faces of the little children glittering with smiles. However, maybe the challenging part was during the preparation of food because I do not really cook in our home. I'm not a pro when it comes to cooking. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the experience together with my nstp-classmates because they became my new friends.After the NSTP fieldwork, I realized how blessed am I to study here in the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. Also, that Im blessed because I can eat more than thrice a day. Now, I value things/blessing more. And that I should not count the things that I cannot have, instead, count my blessings and be thankful. Let us make this opportunity to help and enlighten each others.