Ready or not here I come!

As the famous line goes from the children’s game of hide and seek, when the “it” comes, whether ready or not, the players should keep themselves alert and awake. This is also true when calamities and disasters hit any time. Nothing beats a well-prepared, well-informed, ready and knowledgeable community.

When the world’s strongest typhoon hit the Philippines last year, the Filipinos have broadened their knowledge on how to prepare and act when disasters come.

As of January 2014 the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that there were 6,190 proclaimed dead and 1,785 are still missing.

Through seminars, fora, open discussions, efforts of the government, NGO’s and the Church to disseminate information on disaster preparedness, the risks and damages can be downsized. But still the question is: how ready and prepared are the communities and each household if disasters befall at ‘God only knows’ time?

Disasters are not only limited to natural calamities such as earthquake, tsunami and typhoon. It may also include terrorism, fire, armed conflict, medical health outbreak (epidemic disease), oil spill and technological disaster. Is there still a way out?

Schools and commercial establishments conduct regular fire and earthquake drill to orient students and employees what to do when disasters take a grip. It is also a government’s mandate and requirement for any establishment to secure fire clearance and certificate as stipulated in the National Building Code of the Philippines.

Section 2 of Republic Act 10121 (Risk Reduction Management Act) states that the state shall develop, promote, and implement comprehensive National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) that aims to strengthen the capacity of the national government and Local Government  Units (LGU) to build disaster resilience of communities. To enhance preparedness and response capabilities at all levels.

The aforementioned law was preceded by the Presidential Decree on Risk Reduction Management Act (PDRRMA) which put more emphasis on strengthening the communities’ and people’s capacity to anticipate, cope with and recover from disasters.