disaster management

1. Landslide Disaster Management in the Philippines by Feliciano G. Calora, Jr., John F. Malamug and Edgar M. Molintas ABSTRACT The Philippine archipelago is prone to landslide disasters which results mostly from prolonged rainfall and earthquakes. Landslides are regular occurrences in roadsides located in mountainous regions leading to urban areas like Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. As a mitigation measure, different engineering and vegetative measures have been used to manage landslides due to prolonged rainfall which also causes threat to life and safety of Filipinos living at the foot of the mountains. The resulting landslide known as mudslides has destroyed property and taken the lives of many Filipinos. Examples of these calamities are the Central Luzon earthquake (1990), the Mt. Pinatubo Eruption (1991), the Quezon Flooding and Mudslide (2004), the Caraga Floods and Leyte Landslide (2006), the Mt. Bulusan Eruption (various dates) , Mt. Mayon Eruption (various dates) and Typhoon Reming (2007) calamity. As a result of these disasters, the Philippines has developed a disaster management plan composed of mitigation, preparedness, rehabilitation and response. Disaster response in the Philippines is an inter agency effort to provide emergency and relief to victims of disasters or calamities. Disaster responses are inter-agency concerted efforts, whether public or private, to provide emergency assistance or relief to persons who are victims of disasters or calamities, and in the restoration of essential public activities and facilities Mitigation refers to measures aimed at minimizing the impact of a natural or man-made disaster on a nation or community in terms of casualties and damages, such as the conduct of surveys and inspection of public and private infrastructures for their safe occupancy Preparedness includes pre-disaster actions and measures undertaken to avert or minimize loss of life and property, such as, but not limited to, community organizing, training, planning, equipping, stockpiling, hazard mapping and public information and education initiatives Rehabilitation, on the other hand, refers to activities where the affected communities or areas receive financial or immediate basic provisions (i.e. food, shelter, clothing, medicines, etc. and temporary restoration of structures in place of those damaged and devastated