MANILA: Filipinos have become significantly more prepared for natural disasters over the past seven years, according to a recent nationwide survey by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI). The study, which focused on disaster preparedness and perceptions of climate change in the Philippines, indicates a 42 percent increase in self-reported preparedness levels among Filipinos.
According to Philippines News Agency, data for the study were gathered from 4,608 participants across various regions between February and March 2024. The survey assessed disaster preparedness across five objective measures: planning, training, material investment, information, and social support. Filipinos scored an average of 19.2 out of 50, which marks a significant improvement from the 13.5 average score reported in a similar study conducted in 2017.
The regions showing the highest levels of preparedness include the Cordillera Administrative Region with a score of 24.0, followed by Central Visayas at 21.5, and Western Visayas a
t 21.4. Conversely, Davao Region, Negros Island, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) reported the lowest preparedness levels, with scores of 17.3, 15.8, and 15.1, respectively.
Metro Manila ranked 11th in disaster preparedness, with a score of 19.1, slightly below the national average. The capital region has shown one of the slowest progress rates over the years, with only a 22 percent increase from its 2017 score of 15.7.
The HHI emphasized the need for intensified disaster preparedness efforts, given that the Philippines is considered the most disaster-prone country globally. Dr. Vincenzo Bollettino, director of the HHI Resilient Communities program, pointed out that while the current score reflects improvement, it still indicates that Filipinos are engaging in only 38.4 percent of the necessary activities for disaster preparedness.
The study revealed that Filipinos scored highest in the information category (4.9 out of 10) and lowest in social support (2.3 out of 10), suggest
ing areas that require urgent attention. Dr. Patrick Vinck, Director of Research at HHI, highlighted the importance of investing in local leadership, technology for early warning systems, community engagement, resilient infrastructures, local capacities, and anticipatory actions to further enhance disaster preparedness.
During the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Pasay City, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the role of the private sector in promoting investments and practices in environmental, social, and governance areas. He advocated for a future that is safer, more adaptive, inclusive, and resilient to disasters, reducing the frequency of recovery needs.
