This 7^th of December 2019, I have visited our barangay hall here in Tala, Caloocan City to interview an officer regarding the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Operations in our place. But as I went inside, the officer in-charge of Barangay 188 DRRM planning is not around.   

     

Satellite Photo of Barangay 188, Tala, Caloocan City grabbed from Google Maps

Street View Photo of  Barangay 188, Tala hall  grabbed from Google Maps

Good thing one of the barangay personnel who is close to my family knew where we could find Mrs. Edit Amatorio Domasig, the one in charge  for disaster related concerns, so that I could still fulfill my duty for the day. Since this is my best time to accomplish the task, I haven’t wasted a single second and personally went on her residence hoping that she has free time to grant me an interview. With God's blessing, she kindheartedly accepted my request.

Photo with Mrs. Edit Amatorio Domasig, head of Barangay DRRM planning

Interview Photo with Mrs. Edit Amatorio Domasig, head of Barangay DRRM Planning

As we go on with the “DRRM Kwentuhan,” I was happy to know that our place is not really prone to heavy disasters. Among others, flood is the most likely to occur because of a nearby river but as long as the residents follow the mandates of the officers, people will be safe from unsolicited events. Take for example the incident that happened back in June 25 of this year where the walls of Tala Hospital fell to a number of houses near the creeks due to the flash flood brought by a typhoon. 

Mrs. Domasig said that the barangay was prepared for the typhoon and flash flood but these people didn’t follow their instructions that is to leave the area near the creeks for it is dangerous. This was so far the most hazardous event that occurred in our place for this year. 

Screenshot of an article title taken from news.abs-cbn.com

Screenshot of an article content taken from news.abs-cbn.com

Pieces of information regarding an entering calamity, hazard or disaster are disseminated by the Caloocan city hall to the barangays that will be affected so that immediate preparations can be made. Despite the occurrence of some unwanted scenarios when heavy disasters come, still it is well mitigated as it is not frequent to happen in our area.

Caloocan City Hall North Photo grabbed from Google Maps

When the time comes that a flash flood brought by an intense typhoon tend to be inevitable, informal settlers who built houses near the creeks and rivers will be the most affected in this turn of events. Although the barangay have not failed to give enough warnings and precautionary notices, due to having nowhere to go, they will end up being moved and transferred to evacuation sites at the time of the disaster.

The safest place here in our barangay would be the one around Tala High School which also served to be the best evacuation area aside from the Tala Hospital. Residents especially those near the river and creeks are usually transferred to these places when flood level rises.

Tala Hospital Photo grabbed from Google Maps

Tala High School Photo grabbed from Google Maps

This kind of natural disaster could bring an adverse effect to the community especially in terms of livelihood of those who are near the rivers and creeks. Their safety is the priority so it would take time before they can return in their normal routines.

       

Currently, our place is not having too much burden when it comes to bouncing back from a calamity or disaster as there are equipment and facilities to respond accordingly. Roads and creeks are being repaired and fixed. But one thing to consider for improvement is the number of public servants that are willing to volunteer and help at the time this kind of undertaking occurred. When numerous people are to be saved from different places, with the roads on a high flood level, going from one place to another is very time consuming. So there is a need for more personnel in the barangay or people included in the disaster management plan for a more effective strategy in coping with disasters.

     

Barangay 188 is now headed by Kapitana Liezel Chan, with 7 kagawads and their own different committees to part-take in different tasks related to the needs of the barangay. Facilities to cater different purposes are spread out in the area while the equipment are in the barangay hall and when support is needed, those that are in the city hall are also utilized.

Photo of Kapitana Liezel Chan with Oca Malapitan grabbed from Brgy. 188 Facebook page

These are some photos of safe areas in our community aside from the Tala High School and Tala Hospital. Some hazardous place are also included.

Photo of  Glorietta Park at Barangay 188

Photo of Holy Rosary College Foundation

Photo of a street at Barangay 188 near a creek 

Photo of a lower area at Barangay 188

As what have been mentioned by Mrs. Domasig in the interview, our community needs more public servants and volunteers that are willing to serve and be called on when support is needed. And I believe that the local government can give more incentives or better compensation for the public servants and due credit to the volunteers after a task is accomplished. They may also train youth in schools and conduct seminars in different areas especially those near the rivers and creeks so that many people can be qualified to volunteer and help in rescue operations. There are lots of solutions that can be utilized. 

This can be related to the disaster situation of our country wherein in times of calamities, we are a bit-lacking of manpower and volunteers to respond in remote areas that need more help. The knowledge and awareness on how to act in times of calamity so that if not everyone, plenty of people will know what to do to help the responders, is not present to many people.

The government must address this issue of reducing disaster risk and provide a plan in which everyone can take part of because natural disasters are something we can’t control, but still we can mitigate and face.

After the community walk, I am actually happy that I don’t feel unsafe around our place as the roads are fixed, there are street lights on the main roads, and government offices as well as public facilities are accessible within all sides of the area. But still, DRRM planning is important no matter how safe I feel because when it comes to disasters, many things could happen. It is better safe and prepared than sorry.

As a resident of Barangay 188, Tala, Caloocan City, I may contribute in sharing awareness and preparedness toward disasters and hazards through encouraging the youth to be involved in seminars and exhibit volunteerism to decrease the level of vulnerability of our place. In this way, we can increase the capacity of our community when it comes to readiness in a situation wherein no one can 100% forecast what are the possible things to happen.