| Abstract |
Global warming has significantly changed the earth's climatic system, particularly on the alteration of rainfall and temperature in both time and space. Typhoons are the common calamities faced by people which bring torrential rain resulting to flooding that destroy lives and properties. Flooding is one of the most widespread climatic hazards that pose multiple risks to human health. The Philippines is reported to be on the top list of countries prone to disasters due to its geographical location. The country is located in an area to disasters. An average of 20 typhoons hit the country each year. Because of this, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System or RA 10121 was implemented in 2010.
In Northern Mindanao located in the southern part of the Philippines, Iligan City has not historically experienced strong typhoons. But since 2011, two typhoons hit the area namely Tropical Storm Washi (local name Sendong) in December 17, 2011 and Bopha (local name Pablo) in December 4, 2012.
This study is anchored on the disaster vulnerability framework as stipulated in RA 10121 which emphasizes the sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity of people to environmental change. Anchored on this framework, the extent of awareness, preparedness, and vulnerability were compared during Typhoon Washi and Bopha. A quantitative research design employing a survey method with 60 respondents were purposively selected among the residents in the coastal community of Barangay Santiago, Iligan City.
The level of awareness and preparedness of the respondents were significantly higher during Typhoon Bopha compared to Typhoon Washi. Due to the geographical location and the type of infrastructure and facilities, the respondents were very vulnerable to disaster risk. The disaster vulnerability framework provided good scaffolding in determining the importance of awareness and preparedness and in assessing the vulnerability of households to disasters. |
Mindanao State
University - Iligan Institute of Technology