To what extent are school officials aware of Disaster Risk Reduction, and how they implement it?

Awareness and Implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction Measures of Elementary School Heads in the Balicuatro Area of Northern Samar, Philippines

by Randy O. Canales

ABSTRACT

The geographic location of the Balicuatro Area of Northern Samar along the Typhoon Belt facing the San Bernardino Strait and Samar Sea posed potential risks to its learners, school personnel, educational properties and records. Such condition prompted this study conducted in 2015 to provide a picture on how the school heads led the implementation of disaster risk reduction program as they are empowered by Republic Act 9155. It is focused on determining the level of awareness and status of implementation of seventy (70) completely enumerated elementary school heads of the natural disaster risk reduction measures provided by the Department of Education’s Disaster Risk Reduction Resource Manual and other government issuances. It also centered on finding the relationship between awareness and implementation; and, the difference on awareness and implementation between the school heads assigned in mainland and in island elementary schools. It employed descriptive-correlational and comparative methods. Frequency counts, weighted mean, multiple regression analysis and t-test were the statistical tools used to treat the data obtained through validated survey questionnaire. Results revealed that school heads were generally very much aware of the disaster risk reduction measures, and had highly implemented them. It suggests that information dissemination to the school heads through various platforms was effective in raising their awareness. It was also found out that there is a significant relationship between awareness and implementation which means awareness affects implementation. Thus the highest level of awareness on the measures should be attained to heighten implementation. Moreover, findings showed that respondents from the mainland and island schools had no significant difference on the level of their awareness but registered significant difference on implementation. School heads of the island schools implemented the measures highly compared to those in the mainland. Topography and vulnerabilities of the schools in the islands were big contributory factors to better implementation. 


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