MEDIA RELEASE

(April 05, 2011)

FROM: Dr. Ana Maria L. Tabunda

Chief Research Fellow
Pulse Asia, Inc.

RE: Pulse Asia’s March 2011 Nationwide Survey on

Natural Disasters and Disaster Preparedness

Pulse Asia is pleased to share with you some findings on Natural Disasters and
Disaster Preparedness from the March 2011 Ulat ng Bayan national survey. We request
you to assist us in informing the public by disseminating this information.

The survey fieldwork was conducted from February 24 to March 6, 2011 using
face-to-face interviews. Prior to and during the conduct of the interviews for this
survey, the following developments dominated the headlines: (1) the impeachment
proceedings against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez at the House of
Representatives; (2) the congressional investigations into the plea-bargaining agreement
entered into by former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Comptroller Ret. Maj.
Gen. Carlos Garcia, as well as the alleged corruption involving former high-ranking
military officials per the testimonies of former AFP Budget Officer Ret. Lt. Col. George
Rabusa and former COA Auditor Heidi Mendoza; (3) the diplomatic row between the
Philippines and Taiwan over the deportation of 14 Taiwanese nationals to China; (4)
government efforts to save three Filipinos facing execution in China for drug
trafficking; (5) the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution; (6)
the evacuation of Filipinos in Libya amidst the ongoing civil unrest in the country; (7)
the earthquake in New Zealand that took the lives of several Filipinos; (8) the
replacement of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary, the confirmation of

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some presidential cabinet appointees, the proposed filing of administrative charges
versus the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief for alleged complicity in the failed
takeover of the LTO’s information technology systems contractor Stradcom in
December 2010 and the appointment of a new AFP Chief of Staff; and (9) the continuing
increase in the prices of petroleum products and the prices of other commodities.

As in our previous surveys, this nationwide survey is based on a sample of 1,200

representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a ± 3% error margin at the 95%
confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the
survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a ± 6% error
margin, also at 95% confidence level. Those interested in further technical details
concerning the survey's questionnaire and sampling design may request Pulse Asia in
writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used.

Pulse Asia’s pool of academic fellows takes full responsibility for the design and
conduct of the survey, as well as for analyses it makes based on the survey data. In
keeping with our academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group
influenced any of these processes. Pulse Asia undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its
own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort.

For any clarification or questions, kindly contact Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia
President at +819060446597 or Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Pulse Asia Chief Research
Fellow at 09189436816.

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 Pulse Asia’s March 2011 Ulat ng Bayan Survey:
Media Release on Natural Disasters and Disaster Preparedness
05 April 2011

Most of the respondents interviewed for this survey report that they were not
affected by any typhoon, heavy downpour or continuous rains since October 2010
(73%)

Majorities across geographic areas (67% to 85%) and socio-economic groupings (70% to
88%) were not affected by any typhoon, heavy downpour or continuous rains since
October 2010. On the other hand, across geographic regions, 15% in the Visayas to 33%
in Metro Manila say they were affected by these calamities while across socio-economic
classes, figures range from 12% in Class ABC to 30% in Class E. Across provinces
covered in the March 2011 survey, a majority of those in Cagayan (63%) report being
affected by such calamities, with 43% of them saying some of the properties inside their
homes were destroyed, 36% reporting the destruction or loss of their livelihood and
26% claiming some parts of their houses were destroyed. (Please refer to Tables 1 and 2)

Table 1
WHETHER OR NOT THE RESPONDENT OR ANY MEMBER
OF HIS/HER FAMILY WERE AFFECTED BY A TYPHOON,
HEAVY DOWNPOUR, CONTINUOUS RAINS SINCE OCTOBER 2010
February 24 - March 6, 2011 / Philippines
(In Percent)

Base: Total Interviews, 100%

Were you or any member of your family who

lives here affected in any of the following ways
by a typhoon, heavy downpour or continuous LOCATION CLASS
rains that affected the Philippines since BAL
October 2010? RP NCR LUZ VIS MIN ABC D E

Yes 27 33 32 15 26 12 28 30
Some of our property inside the 17 27 21 10 10 8 17 20
house were destroyed.
Some parts of the house were destroyed 9 9 14 5 3 4 8 12
Our house was flooded 10 22 8 8 8 6 10 10
Our livelihood was destroyed or lost 11 0 13 5 16 2 12 10
Crops 10 0 12 5 16 1 11 10
Other businesses 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Others 5 12 5 1 4 5 5 6
None 73 67 68 85 74 88 72 70

Q157. Kayo ba o sinumang miyembro ng inyong pamilya na nakatira dito ay naapektuhan sa anuman sa mga sumusunod na paraan ng
bagyo, matinding pag-ulan o sunod-sunod na araw ng pag-ulan na nakaapekto sa Pilipinas simula Oktubre 2010? (SHOWCARD)

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 Table 2
WHETHER FAMILY WAS AFFECTED BY
TYPHOON SINCE OCTOBER 2010 BY PROVINCE
February 24 - March 6, 2011 / Philippines
(Row Percent)

Base: Total Interviews, 100%

Some of Some Our

our property parts of Our livelihood
(Estimated inside the the house house was
Population house were were was destroyed Other
Demographic variables Percentage) YES destroyed destroyed flooded or lost Crops businesses Others None

Total Philippines (100%) 27 17 9 10 11 10 1 5 73

NCR (13%) 33 27 9 22 0 0 0 12 67
CAGAYAN (4%) 63 43 26 16 36 33 3 20 37
BULACAN (11%) 15 12 11 3 3 1 1 0 85
BATANGAS (15%) 33 23 11 12 12 11 2 2 67
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (6%) 25 24 9 18 1 1 0 1 75
CEBU (6%) 29 12 7 9 19 19 1 3 71
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR (6%) 21 11 1 10 10 9 1 2 79
DAVAO DEL SUR (12%) 21 7 3 5 12 11 1 6 79

OTHERS (27%) 25 13 8 5 14 14 0 5 75

Q157. Kayo ba o sinumang miyembro ng inyong pamilya na nakatira dito ay naapektuhan sa anuman sa mga sumusunod na paraan ng
bagyo, matinding pag-ulan o sunod-sunod na araw ng pag-ulan na nakaapekto sa Pilipinas simula Oktubre 2010? (SHOWCARD)

Among those who were affected (27%), most say they did not receive any form of
assistance or service from the government to help them cope with the effects of these
natural calamities

Seven (7) in ten (10) of those affected by these calamities since October 2010 claim that
they did not receive any service or assistance from the government to help them cope
with the effects of such calamities (70%). Majorities in every geographic area (61% to
86%) and socio-economic class (69% to 70%) failed to receive any help from
government. Meanwhile, the most often-cited assistance received by those affected by
the calamities is relief goods (26%). More of those in the rest of Luzon report having
received relief goods compared to those in the Visayas and Mindanao (34% versus 11%
to 14%). Among those who did receive some form of help from the government, 77%
consider relief goods to be the most important form of assistance extended to them by
the government. (Please refer to Tables 3 and 4)

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 Table 3
SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT
February 24 - March 6, 2011 / Philippines
(In Percent)

Base: Those Affected by Typhoons, 27%

LOCATION CLASS
Services or assistance BAL
received from the government RP NCR LUZ VIS MIN ABC D E

Relief Goods 26 25 34 11 14 19 26 26

Rescue 4 4 4 1 4 10 2 6

Medical or Dental Missions 3 4 4 1 3 5 4 2

Clean-Up 2 3 1 2 2 12 0 3

Housing Materials 2 0 3 1 0 0 2 2

Financial Assistance 1 0 0 7 1 0 1 0

Funeral or Burial Assistance 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Nagprovide ang barangay ng 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

evacuation center

None 70 71 61 86 84 69 70 70

Q158. SA MGA SUMAGOT NG OO: Alin sa mga sumusunod na serbisyo o tulong ang inyong natanggap mula sa pamahalaan bilang
pagtugon sa epekto ng bagyo, matinding pag-ulan o sunod-sunod na araw ng pag-ulan? Batay po sa mga nabanggit ninyo,
alin po ang pinakamahalagang tulong na inyong nakuha? Pangalawang pinakamahalaga? Pangatlong pinakamahalaga?

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 Table 4
SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT:
FIRST MOST IMPORTANT
February 24 - March 6, 2011 / Philippines
(In Percent)

Base: Those who Received Assistance from the Government, 8%

LOCATION CLASS
Services or assistance BAL
received from the government RP NCR LUZ VIS MIN ABC D E

Relief Goods 77 72 82 36 78 46 79 78

Rescue 8 7 5 7 22 15 3 15

Medical or Dental Missions 7 10 8 0 0 0 9 3

Housing Materials 3 0 5 0 0 0 5 0

Financial Assistance 2 0 0 43 0 0 3 1

Clean-Up 2 7 0 14 0 40 0 1

Nagprovide ang barangay ng

evacuation center 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 2

Funeral or Burial Assistance --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Q158. SA MGA SUMAGOT NG OO: Alin sa mga sumusunod na serbisyo o tulong ang inyong natanggap mula sa pamahalaan bilang
pagtugon sa epekto ng bagyo, matinding pag-ulan o sunod-sunod na araw ng pag-ulan? Batay po sa mga nabanggit ninyo,
alin po ang pinakamahalagang tulong na inyong nakuha? Pangalawang pinakamahalaga? Pangatlong pinakamahalaga?

Reported time of receipt of governmental assistance and sufficiency of assistance

received

Among those who were fortunate to receive some form of government assistance as a
result of the calamities they experienced since October 2010, 26% say they received such
help within one (1) to two (2) days after the calamity hit them, 23% did so within 24
hours and 20% report that it took a week before they got help. Additionally, 14% say it
took either three (3) to four (4) days or more than a week before government assistance
reached them while 3% got help within five (5) to six (6) days. (Please refer to Table 5)

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 Table 5
TIME THE RESPONDENT RECEIVE THE MOST IMPORTANT
SERVICE OR ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT
February 24 - March 6, 2011 / Philippines
(In Percent)

Base: Those who Received Assistance from the Government, 8%

You mentioned awhile ago that (FIRST MENTIONED)

is the most important assistance you have received.
Can you please mention how fast did you LOCATION CLASS
receive the service or assistance BAL
provided to you by the government? RP NCR LUZ VIS MIN ABC D E

Within 24 hours 23 31 23 22 11 29 18 32

One to two days 26 28 20 71 34 11 25 28

Three to four days 14 24 15 0 0 44 19 2

Five to six days 3 0 5 0 0 0 3 5

One week 20 14 20 7 33 16 19 22

More than one week 14 3 16 0 22 0 16 11

Q159. FOR FIRST MENTIONED IN Q158, PLEASE ASK: Nasabi po ninyo kanina na (FIRST MENTIONED) ang pinakamahalagang tulong
na inyong nakuha. Maaari po bang malaman kung gaano kabilis ang tugon o tulong na naibigay sa inyo ng pamahalaan?

With regard to the service or assistance considered by the respondents to be the most
important help they received from the government, 61% say such relief/assistance was
insufficient – a view shared by majorities across geographic areas (57% to 63%) and
socio-economic classes (57% to 68%) – while 64% consider the other forms of assistance
they received to be effective. The latter sentiment is expressed by at least half of those in
the different geographic areas (50% to 100%) and socio-economic classes (60% to 73%).
In contrast, 39% say the relief/assistance they received was proved to be sufficient for
their needs while 17% are of the view that the other forms of assistance they received
were not effective. (Please refer to Table 6)

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 Table 6
WHETHER OR NOT RELIEF GOODS OR ASSISTANCE
PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT IS ENOUGH
February 24 - March 6, 2011 / Philippines
(In Percent)

Base: Those who Received Relief and Assistance from the Government, 7%

You mentioned awhile ago that (FIRST MENTIONED)

is the most important assistance you have LOCATION CLASS
received. In you own opinion, the service or BAL
assistance provided by the government is….? RP NCR LUZ VIS MIN ABC D E

More than enough --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Enough 39 43 38 37 42 36 43 32

Not enough 61 57 62 63 58 64 57 68

Q160A. FOR FIRST MENTIONED IN Q158, PLEASE ASK: Nasabi po ninyo kanina na (FIRST MENTIONED) ang pinakamahalagang
tulong na inyong nakuha, sa inyong palagay, ang tugon o tulong ba na nabigay ng pamahalaan ay ... ? (SHOWCARD)

For most Filipinos (56%), the national government should prioritize early warning in
order to prepare for future natural calamities/disasters

For nearly six (6) in ten (10) Filipinos (56%), the national government should prioritize
early warning mechanisms as part of its disaster preparedness program – an opinion
articulated by near to sizeable majorities across geographic areas (50% to 65%) and
socio-economic groupings (49% to 65%). Mindanao is an exception, with only 38%
supporting this view. On the other hand, 19% of Filipinos favor the prioritization of
stockpiling of relief goods, 16% would like the government to focus on identifying and
fixing evacuation centers and 10% think the government should prioritize the purchase
of equipments like rubber boats and life jackets. For the most part, levels of support for
these different initiatives across geographic areas and socio-economic classes do not
vary much from the overall levels. However, Mindanaoans are more in favor of
government prioritizing the identification and repair of evacuation centers than
Filipinos in general (29% versus 16%). (Please refer to Table 7)

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 Table 7
GOVERNMENT'S TOP PRIORITY FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
February 24 - March 6, 2011 / Philippines
(In Percent)

Base: Total Interviews, 100%

In your opinion, what should be the

government’s top priority for disaster LOCATION CLASS
preparedness like earthquakes, typhoons, BAL
floods and eruption of a volcano? RP NCR LUZ VIS MIN ABC D E

Early warning 56 64 65 50 38 65 58 49

Stockpiling of relief goods 19 10 15 23 25 11 17 23

Identifying and fixing evacuation centers 16 13 11 14 29 10 16 17

Buy equipments like rubber boats, 10 13 8 13 8 14 9 11

life jackets, etc.

Cleaning the environment 0.04 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Q161. Sa inyong palagay, ano ang dapat bigyan ng pamahalaan ng pinakamalaking prioridad para mapaghandaan
ng mabuti ang mga kalamidad tulad ng lindol, pagbagyo, pagbaha, at pagputok ng bulkan? (SHOWCARD)