Hazard Experiences and Risk Reduction and Mitigation Initiatives of Residents in Barangay 843 – Zone 92 in Pandacan, Manila

Abstract

Hazards brought about challenges to the local residents on how they would eventually recover from these tragic and traumatic experiences. This includes the development of better and more effective ways of mitigating hazards to ensure that there are minimal damages to lives and properties. Based on fieldwork survey and semi-structured interviews involving fifty-eight (58) barangay residents, this study described the hazard experiences and risk reduction initiatives of residents of in a barangay in Pandacan, Manila. The findings of the research suggest that residents have developed risk reduction and hazard mitigating practices through the years of their exposure to hazards. Some of the local residents had a vivid recollection of their encounter with hazards, while some are ambivalent. Their individual experiences and collaborative or community effort helped the residents to have organized and coherent actions of mitigations against such hazards in the future. The production of hazard maps is touted to be one of the biggest contributions of the study that is drawn based on the survey and interviews with local officials and residents. Such maps will empower the local barangay council in identifying the hazard-prone areas and in turn will inform, create hazard awareness activities for the residents.