I happened to search my name at Google and found this site of the National Library of the Philippines. I am glad my thesis on disaster risk reduction is now registered on their online catalogue. At least, my study can now be used as a related literature of further studies about Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.
The study is also published by DepEd Eastern Visayas Region Research Journal. This happened after the Regional Research Conference in 2016 was conducted at the NEAP 8. It was recognized as one of the best researches presented.
How I came to choose the topic is still fresh on my mind.
When I enrolled at the University of Eastern Philippines Graduate Studies for the degree Master of Arts in Education major in Administration and Supervision, I was blank about problem to study for a thesis. It was when I got inspired to read the DepEd DRR Manual. Then I realized DRR was a very interesting topic as it is timely and relevant. I felt the need to dig deeper on how the schools implement DRR, which is one of the programs of the Department of Education, specially schools in the Balicuatro Area of Northern that face San Bernardino Strait, and is a favorite Typhoon path. The area is also prone to hazards of landslide, tsunami, flood and earthquake.
So I decided to pursue the topic. It wasn't a walk in a park. Like any project, I encountered lots of challenges. From literature search, to death of my beloved grandma, to looking for stable electrical connection when Supertyphoon Haiyan hit Eastern Visayas. But I even got more courage to continue, and finished it with much pride that somehow my study can give its little share to the field.
The study focused on assessing level of awareness of school heads on DRR measures and their implementation particularly mitigation measures for the safety of learners, school personnel, properties and school records.
Major results of the study include:
1. Awareness highly affects implementation.
2. The need to raise the level of awareness of school heads on DRRM is high.
3. Schools have implemented DRR measures, but not on its highest level.
4. Schools from the islands have implemented DRR measures higher than schools from the mainland of Balicuatro Area.
5. There is no significant difference in awareness of DRR measures among school heads of main and island schools.
6. There is a significant difference in the implementation of DRR measures.
In other words, efforts of raising awareness of school heads, teachers and learners on DRR measures in schools should be hieghtened. Schools should also seriously implement DRR measures. The government needs to increase its support to schools in DRRM implementation particularly on the provision of funds, capability building, establishing facilities and improving policy mechanisms.
