Project Results
to be able to trust each other. This is most especially true when conducting awareness raising in the community. Before, people are hesitant to go to the evacuation center because they think that the relief would run out. Now the people understand that they would be safer there. It would be good to have at least an annual training to keep their knowledge up to date. • Most of the workshop participants were one in sharing that they were able to widen their knowledge and enhance their skills. Their overall attitude towards disaster and their relationship with the community became better. The community now cooperates and participates more and their overall confidence has improved due to the knowledge and skills they have gained. • They were able to make use of their skills and knowledge even in practical and daily situations. They were able to maximize their tools, resources, and their support system. What is significant to highlight is the participants’ realization that they are not only responsible for themselves, but for their environment and fellowmen as well. • On the whole, majority of the barangays noted that out of the workshops, they were able to plot out how and where the constituents are and they were able to systematically accomplish the socio-economic profiling of their locality. They were also able to build their BDRRMCs with technical consideration. They can very well cite that they now have their hazard map and resource map. • Barangay 184 in particular shared that ‘they were able to map out the low, medium and high risk 20
III areas in their barangay and was able to picture out the worstcase scenario. They became aware of the level of exposure of the different sitios they have in their barangays. And they were happy to share that their disaster equipment and logistics have improved a lot. They were guided with the needed and suitable equipment based on guidance by DRRNet. They were also able to acquire new equipments from the project. They have improved their communication system and protocols. What they have realized is that, they truly need accurate preparedness, protocols and skills. The need for community organizing Community organizing was also surfaced to be important and an indispensable aspect of CBDRRM. The project provided the awareness and taught the community about what to do during disasters. The most reliable way to ascertain the preparedness of the community is to determine if there is an organization that is able to implement the plans. Awareness needs to be translated to an organization because it is only through organization that plans are implemented. If there is an organization in the barangay and LGU level, there should also be an organization for the community. In the same manner, the neighboring barangays should also have the same kind of preparedness. A prepared but lone barangay is impaired if its neighboring barangays are incapable. Identifying areas for improvement post workshops • Communication in the barangay needs to improve. They have learned to use cell phones for re-
ceiving texts from the barangay, for purposes of monitoring and communicating early warning especially for key officials. • The materials and equipment needs to be regularly checked for ready use. It is important for HOAs to be more active in the barangay with HOA officials attending every barangay assembly so they can relay information in their covered areas. • The community’s response should be sensitive to the needs of the people. Gender balance also needs to be addressed since it was mentioned earlier that most of the participants in the training workshops were females. Men should increase their participation because they have different skills that they can contribute during a disaster. • Projects should prioritize the community members, not politics. The barangay officials also need to be more involved so that they have the same skills as those who participated. The participants need to make sure that the plans that they have accomplished will be implemented with better budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation of the funds through participatory processes. • The law clearly stated that budgeting should be participatory and community members are encouraged to involve themselves with such important matter and concern. The people are only conned if they allow themselves to be. If the community decides to involve themselves and take action, they would not be deceived. • The barangays took note of the need to facilitate more participation from the affected families.