Disaster Risk Reduction and Management of a Coastal Grade School: A Case Analysis

Abstract

Disaster risk reduction keeps the lives and source of living of community people from susceptibility to adversities or crises. This qualitative study, which used the case analysis design, focused on the different endeavors in implementing school disaster risk reduction and management of a coastal grade school, the Bernardo P. Ragasa Elementary School (BPRES). It utilized key informant interviews and focus group discussion to gather relevant data from participants who have associations with the school disaster risk reduction and management (SDRRM) of BPRES. After thematic analysis, this paper concluded that the endeavors in implementing SDRRM of BPRES revolved around its three pillars: 1) safe learning facilities, 2) school disaster management, and 3) risk reduction and resilience education. Further, despite the observable endeavors undertaken by BPRES, limitations still exist when it comes to proper implementation. Therefore, the different endeavors of BPRES on SDRRM were insufficient to capacitate the whole school community against disasters. Efforts to establish safer conditions, reduce the pressures, and address the root causes are required to address the gaps and barriers in implementing SDRRM in BPRES. With this vision to build a prepared and resilient SDRRM, a project proposal is crafted as an output of this study.