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Reflection

For me, disaster readiness should really be a top priority not only by the local government units, but also for us citizens and residents alike. We should always take priority our safety especially in the neighborhood that we live in. We should continue to be aware of the best disaster reduction practices and contribute into the community by participating actively in drills conducted and seminars presented.

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Best Practices of Barangay 752

One of the best practices of the people of Barangay 752 is their proper waste management disposal. This not only make the barangay generally clean (having awarded as most cleanest barangay), but also helps in preventing serious flooding in the area that is caused by clogged drainage system.

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Safe Place in Barangay 752

The safest place in Barangay 752 is the Barangay Hall & Daycare center complex in the area, just behind the Espiritu Water Reservoir. In all of the barangay, the barangay hall has the largest open area where people can go in terms of disaster such as earthquakes and also houses the equipment for disaster mitigation.

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Hazardous Place in Barangay 752

The most vulnerable place in Barangay 752 in terms of disasters is the short stretch of Espiritu street.

Heavy Rain

In terms of heavy rainfall, this is the first place in the barangay that experiences flooding. Flooding here can be observed from ankle-deep to waist deep in continuous torrential rainfall.

Strong Winds

Houses in this area are usually made out of light materials, making them more vulnerable to the effects of tropical cyclones.

Fire

The area is also vulnerable to fire due to the close proximity of the houses and houses made out of wood.

Earthquake

The area is most vulnerable to earthquake due to the light materials that make up some of the houses and also sa old tall apartment building erected in the area.

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Disaster Risk and Hazard Assessment of Barangay 752

The Barangay 752, generally, experiences mild effects from disasters in the recent years. According my very own experience, the recent typhoon that directly affected the neighborhood was 5 years ago in 2014 during the onslaught of Typhoon Glenda, having Metro Manila under Storm Signal No. 3 with strong winds slashing the area. Branches of trees and portions of roofings (galvanized iron sheets or “yero”) flew with the wind. Power outages and disconnection in telecommunication were experienced.

Fire Hazard Map

The community rarely experience fire and majority of the houses were made out of concrete. The structures highlighted in orange are under medium hazard in terms of fire while those in yellow are under low hazard in fire. The houses under the orange highlight are close in terms of proximity with each other, making them more vulnerable to medium to large scale fire as fire can spread quickly. Some of the houses on the said highlight are made out of wood, thus the orange indication.

Earthquake Hazard Map

In terms of earthquake, the whole stretch of Alejo Aquino street and those on the west side of the barangay is more vulnerable to such calamity while the rest has low vulnerability.

Flood Hazard Map

Meanwhile, according to the flood hazard map, most of Espiritu and Estrada street are more vulnerable to flooding and the rest of the barangay are less vulnerable. However, during severe rainfalls, such as the during the Habagat season and also during the onslaught of Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, if not most, the whole of Barangay 752 was submerged in knee to waist height flooding.

Typhoon (Wind) Hazard Map

In terms of wind, majority of the houses under the violet designation are made out of wood and galvanized iron, thus making them more vulnerable to damage if a typhoon would pass by and storm warnings signal no. 3 and up would be raised in the area.

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Disaster Preparedness of Barangay 752

The barangay, despite having mild effects from disasters is always prepared for such as every barangays in the city is mandated to comply with disaster readiness. DRRM seminars are conducted and attended by the BDRRMC officials of the barangay.

Boats for flood, stretchers, oxygen tanks, hard hats for earthquakes and fire extinguishers for fires are ready in case a disaster strikes the community.

According to Mr. -, Disaster equipment are always ready whenever a calamity strikes the neighborhood. The barangay also participates with some drills such as the nationwide simultaneous earthquake drills done annually.

The barangay complies with the city government of Manila with regards to disaster risk reduction management. Documents are submitted to the local government for compliance and is updated every year.

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Barangay 752 Zone 81, San Andres Bukid (District V), Manila

The barangay I chose is located in the San Andres Bukid district of the City of Manila, near the South Super Highway (Osmeña Highway). It is the barangay where I currently live 18 years today. We moved to the said neighborhood in 2001, on my 1st birthday.

The barangay encompasses 5 streets namely, Espiritu, Estrada, Alejo Aquino, Florentino Torres, and Leyte streets.

The barangay hall is located at the Florentino Torres street, just behind the Espiritu Pump Station and Reservoir. The current chairman of the baragay is Chairman Antonio T. Quirante.

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Interview with the Barangay Secretary

The Barangay Chairman and the Officer of the day were not present when we visited the Barangay Hall. The Officer of the day, which is Kagawad Daniel Villota, is the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer or BDRRMO, and was also attending a Disaster Risk Reduction Management Seminar on the time that we visited the hall. Instead, we interviewed the barangay secretary Mr. Ernesto T. Gabriel Jr., regarding the Disaster Risk Reduction Management of the barangay.

According to Mr. Gabriel, the barangay generally experiences mild disasters in the recent years, with shallow flooding during the rainy or Habagat season, minimal wind gusts during when a tropical cyclone is nearby with the last typhoon to directly hit the area was last 2014, and minimal to no fire incidence in the recent years.