About

Background

Disasters have caused massive loss of life and property. A United Nations report in “The Human Cost of Weather-
Related Disasters,” revealed that 157,000 people, between 1995 and 2015, have died as a result of floods.  The report also showed that in a 20–year span, floods affected 2.3 billion people, accounting for 56% of all those affected by weather–related disasters, which is considerably more than any other type of disaster. In addition, the effects of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural hazards have increased various communities’ vulnerability to such disasters. Recent events and global reports have shown that there is an increasing trend in the intensity and frequency of natural disasters.

The Philippine Experience

The past decade has been witness to how Filipinos have been affected by natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions. Only recently, a swarm of earthquakes with strengths at magnitudes 2-6 destroyed government facilities, infrastructure, hospital, buildings and homes, hitting the province of Batangas. The volcanic activities of Mayon Volcano in Bicol have always prompted the locals to evacuate their homes, while the storm surge and tsunami that hit Leyte cost hundreds of lives and millions of pesos in damages to property.

According to the World Risk Report in 2013 that focused on vulnerability of the population such as susceptibility, capacity to cope and adapt to future natural hazard events, the Philippines ranked as the 3rd most vulnerable country to disaster risks in the world. The Philippines faces an average of twenty (20) typhoons a year along with floods and storm surges, as well as well as earthquakes, among others.

Legislative Solution

Lawmakers and policy making agencies have envisioned to address these issues in disaster risk reduction and management by enacting the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act No. 10121). The act mandates, among others to develop, promote and implement a comprehensive National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) that aims to strengthen the capacity of the national government and the local government units, together with partner stakeholders, to build the disaster resilience of communities and to institutionalize arrangements and measures for increasing disaster preparedness and response capabilities at all levels.

The Academe as an Arm in Addressing the DRRM Challenge

Lessons learned from the Philippine experiences serve as an impetus for strategic innovations, which include academic research, professional training and education in disaster management. Given this mandate, there is a need to develop qualified professionals in the field of DRRM in the local communities.

Disaster preparedness and response education, research and training are necessary in building and maintaining resilient communities, and would reduce the impact of natural and human induced disasters. In order to successfully effect mitigation and adaptation measures, ensuring competency on disaster risk reduction and management is essential. In addition, learning through sharing of good practices on disaster risk reduction and management will encourage participation and generate commitment to the different stakeholders on the disaster preparedness and response (DPR)/ climate change adaptation (CCA) program.

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are at a prime position to address the unique challenge of professionalizing DRRM practices, as this is not only for LGUs but also for all stakeholders. Harmonizing disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation is now a fundamental need in all social institutions, particularly in the academe, and HEIs are expected to contribute in addressing this emergent challenge.

Batangas State University’s Response to the Challenge

As the largest and one of the leading institutions of higher learning in the CALABARZON Region, Batangas State University responded to this challenge by establishing a Center that would specifically initiate and facilitate professional activities such as formal education, training, innovations and research on disaster risk reduction and management.

In its meeting on November 19, 2016, the Board of Regents approved the creation of the BatStateU– Adaptive Capacity-building and Technology Innovation for Occupational Hazards and Natural Disasters (ACTION) Center, through Board Resolution No. 482-A, S.2016. This was done alongside the approval of the university’s Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Plan. The ACTION Center shall be the University’s research and training arm for disaster response and training, and shall cater to stakeholders and communities both internal and external to the University.