An assessment on the effective preparedness and disaster response: The case of Santa Rosa City, Laguna

Abstract

Abstract The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted at the Third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan, in 2015. It is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The Sendai Framework emphasizes the need for a shift from disaster management to disaster risk management, rather than reactive response. The new DRR framework also revised its priority areas which can be aligned to the new “Ten Essentials of Making a City Resilient”. An independent preliminary assessment using the LGSAT as a guide can inform us if the new priority areas are addressed. This paper presents the assessment of a city in Laguna, namely Santa Rosa City to gather baseline data for a more rigorous and detailed study. The assessment report presents the scores on the level of progress that focuses on Essential 9, “Ensuring Effective Preparedness and Disaster Response” aligned to priority 4 of the Sendai Framework. Based on the assessment of City of Santa Rosa, the major natural hazards that the city will face are typhoons, flood due to its proximity to Laguna Lake and Earthquake due to West Valley fault that passes through Barangay Sto. Domingo. The City of Santa Rosa is doing its best to effectively prepare the city for disasters to happen and to respond quickly to avoid further damage to people and infrastructure. However, City of Santa Rosa only has an average score of 3.67 based on the score on the level of progress on the preliminary assessment to “Effective Preparedness and Disaster Response”, substantial achievement has been attained, but with some recognized deficiencies in commitment, financial resources or operational capacities.