The research paper “Empowering LGUs (local government units) in disaster preparedness: The knowledge and awareness of the residents of Barangay Bagong Silang, Los Baños, Laguna on natural calamities” won 3rd place among the 63 papers presented in the 3rd International Conference on Environmental Education Network of the Philippines (EENP) held at the Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City recently.
The EENP held its annual meeting this year with the theme, “Environmental education to meet the challenges of developing environmental leadership.”
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) Dean Ma. Victoria Espaldon served as the project leader and co-author of the paper. Other authors were Thaddeus P. Lawas, Carmelita M. Rebancos and Marisa J. Sobremisana of SESAM, and Dr. Damasa M. Macandog of the Institute of Biological Sciences at UPLB.
Funded by the Department of Science and Technology and monitored by PCARRD, the paper is part of the SESAM-implemented project “Development of spatially explicit tool for monitoring and communicating environmental risks in Mt. Makiling and its vicinities”. The project initiated programs for disaster preparedness in Barangay Bagong Silang, Los Baños, Laguna.
Through interviews with key village informants, the researchers aimed to analyze the knowledge and awareness of Barangay Bagong Silang residents on natural calamities. They specifically sought to find out the awareness of the residents on disaster assistance programs before and after Typhoon Milenyo; identify the residents’ sources of information and preferred media regarding natural disasters; determine the preferred lead agency to conduct information campaigns; educate the community through documentary film showing and seminars on natural calamities; and coordinate with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration regarding the installation of a rain gauge to aid barangay officials in monitoring the local amount of rainfall.
Results of the study showed that the residents were more aware on obtaining information after typhoon Milenyo in 2006. At the time of the study, the residents were only aware of relief/rescue programs conducted by the barangay and private sector. They were oblivious to information campaigns on risks and hazards of natural calamities conducted in their area. Nevertheless, the community is prepared and confident that they can survive any related disasters despite their experiences during the typhoon.
Furthermore, the community heavily relied on radio as the primary medium of information and entertainment since the barangay does not have electricity. They also relied on the information delivered to them by their barangay officials. This indicates that the community trusts their barangay officials to provide the needed information on natural disaster preparedness.
Some sites covered by the project but not included in the study include four other barangays in Los Baños and others areas in Bay and Calamba, Laguna and Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas bagged the top prize for the paper “Providing leadership in environmental education in Region IV-A”. Second place went to the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development for their entry “Coastal Environment Training Program for LGUs”.