DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ASSESSMENT: THE CASE OF THE BARANGAY SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS (BSDO) RESCUE VOLUNTEERS IN THE PAYATAS TRAGEDY

ABSTRACT: The rescuers who are the immediate persons involved in crucial matter-of-life-and-death situations should not only be expected to the well-equipped with the needed skills, they should be appropriately prepared in terms of physical and emotional aspects. With an adequate level of preparedness, disasters and its ripple effects can be managed. This study aims determine the level of preparedness of the Barangay Security and Development Officials (BSDO) rescue volunteers before, during and after the Payatas rescue operations. Using the Likert scale, based on the computed grand weighted mean value of 2.40 for the three (3) aspects of disaster preparedness and across the three (3) phases of the rescue operation, the Barangay Security and Development Officials (BSDO) rescue volunteers were shown to be not so prepared for the Payatas rescue operation: Among the problems encountered by the volunteers before, during and after the operations, the most number of the respondents identified lack of prophylaxis and medical care, insufficient knowledge in doing the rescue work and the absence of follow-up training. The top suggested course of action based on the rescuers` felt needs was to provide regular training regarding rescue operations and on First Aid. The rescue volunteers showed a relatively low level of preparedness to effectively respond to disaster situations such as the Payatas trash slide. They were the least prepared in terms of the physical aspect of rescue preparedness and in terms of the needed skills.

Department of Community & Family Medicine