LEVEL OF HOUSEHOLD DISASTER RISK PREPAREDNESS

IN SAN AGUSTIN, SAN JOSE, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

Harold Q. Bautista, MAN

Occidental Mindoro State College
San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, 5100 Philippines
Marciel S. Bautista
Occidental Mindoro State College
Merlita P. Dela Cruz
Occidental Mindoro State College

Mary Yole Apple Declaro-Ruedas

Occidental Mindoro State College
ABSTRACT

This descriptive study was conducted in coastal barangyas of San Jose,

Occidental Mindoro to determine the demographic profile of the; the level of
household preparedness of Barangay San Agustin in natural risk and disaster, and
the relationship between the profile of the respondents and the household
preparedness are considered.
Frequency distribution and percentage were used for the profile of the
respondents. Mean analysis was used to determine the level of household
preparedness. Person moment correlation was use to determine the relationship
between profile of the respondents and the level of household preparedness.
Findings showed that majority of the respondents were middle aged, with
formal education, small household size, short length of residency with below
average monthly income.
The result also showed they were occasionally prepared in terms of
preparedness strategy, group preparedness and house preparations. This study
revealed that there is no significant relationship between the profile of the
respondents and the household preparedness, when respondents profile are
considered.

Keywords: household preparedness, source of information, natural dsaster

Introduction
The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world as far as
climate Related and other forms of disaster (e.g. earthquake and volcanic eruption) are
concerned(World Bank and NDCC,2004;UNISDR,2089,2086). In 2004 alone 25
weather disturbances hit the country, of which four occurred successively in
November and the first week of December.
These triggered massive landslides and flooding in Southern and Central
Luzon, Leading to damages in lives and properties (Duque, 2005) With this the
country is considered as one of the most disaster prone, ranking 12 th among the 200
countries most at risk to natural hazards in the 2009 Mortality Risk Index of the
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR, 2009).
Climate-related and other natural forms of disaster in the Philippines stem
primary from its unusually high exposure to natural hazards due to its geographic
circumstances (World Bank, 2005). The country, an archipelago with approximately
7.100 islands, is situated along a stretch of risk prone areas. It lies near the most
seismically active part of the earth, the Pacific Ring of fire, which is located in the
western rim of the Pacific Ocean.
It also rest at the junction of two large tectonic plates-the Philippines Sea
Pacific Plates to the east and the Eurasian Plate to the west, making the country also
vulnerable to volcanic eruptions and Earthquake (ADPC, 2001) likewise, the eastern
side of the Philippines faces a wide open expanse of Pacific Ocean, considered as one
of the worlds major typhoon belts. The archipelagic nature of the country also
increases the vulnerability of its coastal areas to storm surges, tsunamis, and sea levels
rise (Punongbayan and Tayag, 2001).
Natural or man-made disaster constitutes a major threat to the health safety
and property of the people in the country.ThePhilippines is one of the most high risk
countries in the world for experiencing natural disaster.The list of possible natural
disaster includes disaster earthquake, floods, mudslides typhoon and volcanic
eruption.The Philippines is considered to be one of the most storm exposed countries
on earth. On average eighteen to twenty tropical storm enters in the Philippines water
each years eight or nine of these storm making land fall.
In addition,, the Philippines is the fourth most accident prone country in the
world. The institution arrive at this conclusions after finding out that some 5.809,980
Filipinos were killed or injured as a result of disaster or man-made calamities over a
ten years period (1992-2001).
Further, the Philippines is among the lower middle incomes countries
(GFDRR, undated). The high risk due to the hazards above can affect along term
economic development and foreign investments. Natural hazards are parts and parcel
in the Philippines Environment, but disaster happen because human settlements,
infrastructure, people and their Economic activities are placed where hazards happen.
Cost of disaster impacts are borne by government, communities, and individual
households, thus treating socio-economic development gains. Thus, consideration of
natural hazard and related risk institutional programming and policies may be critical
in securing sustainable development in a longer Term and insuring the effectiveness
of organization individual country strategies (Benson and Twig, 2007).
2

On October 15,a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the provinces of Bohol and
Cebu, killing more than 200 people and displacing tens of thousands of residents. At
least 797 were reported injured, 692 of them from Bohol. A total of 25 tropical
cyclones have entered the country this year, surprising the average 19 to 20 cyclones
annually (Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and astronomical services
Administration, 2013).
On November 8 super typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) slammed
Tacloban City, Leyte Samar and other provinces in Eastern Visayas, Occidental
Mindoro and Palawan with strong wind and storm surges as high as seven meters,
killing more than 6,000 people. While it may seemthat the situation is grim, there is
always a calm in every storm, a story that could inspire us, despites our short coming
while it may not be the headlines because of the magnitude ofdisaster in tacloban, all
residents of TulangDiyot Island in a Cebu town survive even if some 500 houses were
destroyed by winds and waves from typhoon Yolanda, Zero casualties in the small
island of Cebu.
According to Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Office
(MDRRMO)of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on 17 July 2014 as typhoon Glenda hit
some areas of municipality of San Jose, for the past initial reporting, damages to
agriculture and infrastructure in the municipality of San Jose have reached more than
seventy million (70,000,000.00) pesos. Barangay Mangarin has the highest number of
affected households with 323 families and 1,615 individuals. Barangay San Agustin
has the second highest number of affected households with 300 families and 1,500
individuals.
Preparedness refers to activities taken in the context of threats that cannot
otherwise be controlled Although it has been defined inconsistently, preparedness
generally has two aims: 1) to help people avoid threats and 2) to build capacity and to
put mechanisms into place to facilitate an effective response (Twigg, 2004).The
findings corroborates with the study of Sattler et al. (2000) and Miceli et al. (2008),
that risk perception is strongly associated with disaster preparedness because
individuals must perceive a risk to be motivated to initiate preparedness actions. An
individuals previous experience with a hazardous event can heighten perception of
risk and promote preparedness actions.
Other factors that influence preparedness behaviors vary considerably with
socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Individuals of different social groups
receive and evaluate risk information differently and have unequal resources to carry
out preparedness measures. For instance, there is evidence that women and men differ
in the types of preparedness activities they take.
Preparedness increases with age (Sattler et al. 2000, Mishra and Suar 2005),
but the very old are less likely to engage in preparation (Heller et al. 2005). In
addition to education, socioeconomic factors including income, home ownership, and
length of residence in the same location are also positively associated with disaster
preparedness (Lindell and Perry 2000, Eisenman et al. 2006, Reininger et al. 2013).

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study were:
1. Determine the demographic profile of the household head (HH), in terms of:
a. Age;
b. Number of years spent in formal education;
c. Household size;
d. Length of residency; and
e. Monthly income.
2. Determine the level of household based preparedness of Barangay San Agustin
in natural risk and disaster, in terms of:
a. Source of information;
b .Group Preparedness;
c. .Preparedness strategy; and
d. House Preparation.
3. Determine the significant relationship between the profile of the household head
and the household preparedness for natural disaster.
Conceptual framework
The conceptual framework of the study is best illustrated in the research
paradigm presented in figure 1.
The first box presents the independent variable which is the profile of the
household head (HH) and the second box present the level of household-based
preparedness in natural risk and disaster in Barangay San Agustin, San Jose,
Occidental Mindoro as the dependent variable of the study.

Independent Variables

Dependent Variables

Profile of the Household head (HH)

Preparedness Activity

a.) Age
b.) Number of years spent in formal
education.
c.) Household size
d.) Length of residency
e.) Monthly income

Fig. 1.Research paradigm.

a. Source of information
b .Group Preparedness

c. .Preparedness strategy
d. House Preparation

Methodology
This descriptive study was conducted in barangay San Agustin, San Jose,
Occidental Mindoro. It is located in the north western portion of the said municipality.
There were 140 respondents in this study, 50 from the community of
SitioLamis and 70 from the community of Barrio site and Main barrio, 20 from
Barangay officials, tanods and health workers selected using simple random sampling.
The study usedthemodifiedHousehold Natural Hazards Preparedness Survey
development by University of Oregon (2006).
Frequency distribution and percentage was used for the profile of the
respondents. Mean analysis was used to determine the level of preparedness. Lastly,
to determine the relationship between variables, the PearsonMoment correlation was
used.

Result and Discussion

Profile of the household heads in San Agustin,
San Jose,Occidental Mindoro
Results show that most of the respondents are 40-49 years old (35.7 % ), had
spent at least 6-10 years (70.00%) in formal education, with small household size (5
and below members), with at least 10 years of residency ( 21.40 % ), and with a
monthly income of PhP 7,000.00 and below ( 85.7 % ).

Table 1. Frequency and Percentage distribution of respondents profile.

Profile
Frequency (n=140)
Percentage (%)
Age
10-19 years old
2
1.40
20-29 years old
14
10.00
30-39 years old
12
8.60
40-49 years old
50
35.70
50-59 years old
7
5.00
60-69 years old
37
26.40
70-79 years old
1
0 .70
80-89 years old
11
7.90
90 and above
6
4.30
Years in school
0 years
1-5
6-10
11 and above

2
26
98
14

1.42
18.57
70.00
10.00

Household size
5 and below
6-10
10 and above

80
56
4

57.10
40.00
2.90

Length of residency
1-9
10-11
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70 and above

18
30
28
23
16
13
11
1

12.90
21.40
20.00
16.40
11.40
9.30
7.90
0.70

Monthly income (PhP)

7,000 and below
7,000-14,000
14,000-20,000
Above 21,000

120
15
3
2

85.70
10.70
2.10
1.40

Level of House hold based preparedness of Barangay San Agustin,

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Natural Risk and Disaster
Natural disasters cause staggering losses around the world. Although life
losses have decreased over time, more and more people are affected each year (FAO,
2003).Table 2 shows the level of house hold based preparedness of Barangay San
Agustin, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro in terms of Natural Risk and Disaster.
Preparedness refers to activities taken in the context of threats that cannot
otherwise be controlled. Although it has been defined inconsistently, preparedness
generally has two aims: 1) to help people avoid threats and 2) to build capacity and to
put mechanisms into place to facilitate an effective response (Twigg et al., 2000).
The indicator with the highest mean is source of information with a mean
value of 3.73 and it has the interpretation of occasionally prepared this is followed
by preparedness strategy with a mean value of 3.66 and interpreted as occasionally
prepared. Natural disaster with a mean value of 3.45 interpreted as sometimes
prepared however the indicator with the lowest mean is house preparation with a
mean value of 3.24 and it has the interpretation of sometimes prepared.
With group preparedness the items with highest mean value is attend
meetings or received information on natural disasters for emergency preparedness. (
4.18 ) with interpretation of occasionally prepared. With natural disaster the items
with highest mean value is typhoon ( 4.55 ) with the interpretation of always
prepared.
Lastly with house preparation the items with highest mean value of
elevated the house in preparation for floods ( 3.92 ) with the interpretation of
occasionally prepared.
6

Table 2.Level of household based preparedness in San Agustin, San Jose, Occidental
Mindoro on Natural Risk and Disaster.
Items
Mean
Interpretation
Natural Disaster
Shoreline erosion
3.08
Sometimes prepared
Drought
3.40
Sometimes prepared
Earthquakes
3.00
Sometimes prepared
Flood
4.52
Always prepared
Landslide
2.18
Sometimes prepared
Typhoon
4.55
Always prepared
Overall mean
3.45
Sometimes prepared
Source of information
Radio program
3.69
Occasionally prepared
News paper
1.65
Seldom prepared
Television program
4.25
Occasionally prepared
Training and seminar
3.86
Occasionally prepared
Neighbor
3.77
Occasionally prepared
Barangay captain
4.40
Occasionally prepared
Teacher
4.02
Occasionally prepared
Barangay health worker
4.23
Occasionally prepared
Overall
3.73
Occasionally prepared
Group preparedness
Attend meetings or received information on
4.18
Always prepared
natural disasters or emergency preparedness
Talked with members in your household about
4.07
Occasionally prepared
what to do in case of natural disaster
emergency
In last year, been trained in first aid of cardio2.44
Sometimes prepared
pulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ).
Overall
3.56
Occasionally prepared
Preparedness strategy
Developed a emergency plan in order to
4.17
Occasionally prepared
decide what everyone would do in the event
of an emergency
Prepared a disaster supply kit (store foods,
4.20
Occasionally prepared
water, batteries and other emergency
supplies).
Got insurance coverage for food events
2.60
Sometimes prepared
(crops, animals)
Overall
3.66
Occasionally prepared
House preparations
Use fires-resistance on roofing materials.
2.45
Sometimes prepared
Secured the house to its foundation.
3.45
Sometimes prepared
Elevated the house in preparation for floods.
3.92
Occasionally prepared
Overall
3.24
Sometimes prepared
Grand mean
3.49
Sometimes prepared
Legend: 4.5-5.0 -always prepared ;1.50-2.59-seldom prepared; .50-4.49-occasionally prepared;
1.49-never prepared; 2.50-3.49-sometimes prepared

1.00-

Relationship between the profile of household and

the household preparedness for natural risk and disaster
The relationship between household head and the household preparedness is
determined using Pearson moment correlation and analysis is presented in table 3.
The table shows that information is not significantly and negatively related to
age (-.015), household ( .099 ),and income group ( .145 ),group preparedness is not
significantly related to age ( .015 ), household ( .093 ), also preparedness strategy is
not significantly to age ( .032 ), household ( .084 ). Lastly, house preparations is not
significantly to household ( .129 ), residence ( -.145 ), and income grouped (.040 ).
However, the table also shows that the information is significantly related years in
school (.282**), group preparedness is significantly related to years in school
(.231**), residence ( .339** ) and income group ( .178 ). Also, preparedness strategy
is significantly related to years in school (.279), and residence (.252). Lastly, house
preparations is significantly and negatively related to years in school (-.235).
The findings corroborates with the study of Sattler et al. (2000) and Miceli et
al. (2008), that risk perception is strongly associated with disaster preparedness
because individuals must perceive a risk to be motivated to initiate preparedness
actions. An individuals previous experience with a hazardous event can heighten
perception of risk and promote preparedness actions (Russell et al. 1995, Lindell and
Perry 2000, Tekeli-Yeil et al. 2010).
Other factors that influence preparedness behaviors vary considerably with
socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Individuals of different social groups
receive and evaluate risk information differently and have unequal resources to carry
out preparedness measures. For instance, there is evidence that women and men differ
in the types of preparedness activities they take. Preparedness increases with age
(Sattler et al. 2000, Mishra and Suar 2005), but the very old are less likely to engage
in preparation (Heller et al. 2005). In addition to education, socioeconomic factors
including income, home ownership, and length of residence in the same location are
also positively associated with disaster preparedness (Lindell and Perry 2000,
Eisenman et al. 2006, Reininger et al. 2013).
Table 3.Pearson Correlation between the Profile of the household head and the
household preparedness for Natural Disaster Risk Preparedness of Barangay
San Agustin, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
Variable
Activity
Pearson
Value
Interpretation
correlation
Age
Source
of
-.015
.863
Not significant
information
Grouped
.015
.856
Not significant
preparedness
Preparedness
.032
.705
Not significant
strategy
House preparations
-.068
.422
Not significant
OVERALL
-.002
.984
Not significant

Years
school

Household
size

Length of
residency

Monthly
income

in Source
of
information
Grouped
preparedness
Preparedness
strategy
House preparations
OVERALL

.282*

.001

Significant

.231*

.006

Significant

.279*

.001

Significant

-.235*
.174*

.005
.040

Significant
Significant

Source
of
information
Grouped
preparedness
Preparedness
strategy
House preparations
OVERALL

.099

.246

Not significant

.093

.274

Not significant

.084

.321

Not significant

.129
.140

.129
.098

Not significant
Not significant

Source
of
information
Grouped
preparedness
Preparedness
strategy
House preparations
OVERALL
Source
of
information
Grouped
preparedness
Preparedness
strategy
House preparations
OVERALL

.326*

.000

Significant

.339*

.000

Significant

.252*

.003

Significant

-.145
.252*
.145

.087
.002
.087

Not significant
Significant
Not significant

.178*

.035

Significant

.078

.361

Not significant

.040
.151

.643
.074

Not significant
Not significant

Conclusions
Based on the research finding, the following conclusions were presented:
1. Majority of the respondents are in their middle aged, literate, with long length
of residency, and with an average monthly income below the poverty
threshold.
2. The barangay San Agustin, San Jose Occidental Mindoro is occasionally
prepared in natural risk and disaster in terms of natural disaster, source of
information grouped preparedness and preparedness strategy, while in house
preparation is sometimes prepared.
3. The profile of the respondents has significant relationship to the household
based preparedness.

Recommendations
The following are recommended by the researchers.
1. Develop a model to implement a community based disaster preparedness
educational program for the coastal communities.
2. The local government of San Jose has conduct training in first aid of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in Barangay San Agustin, San Jose, Occidental
Mindoro and promote the culture of disaster preparedness at the community
level.
3. Encourage community participation in preparation of the village level disaster
management plan.
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