Interview

I had ask a Barangay Chairman about the situtation of our area specifically baragay 875, zone 96. The area is in the southern part of Santa Ana, Manila. I had a conversation with her about the disaster plan of our area. My questions were about what is the current situation of the barangay in terms of prevention and preparedness when a certain disaster occur like fire,flooding and earthquakes.

She answered that the status of the barangay is moderately capable of handling a disaster with such programs taking place like the cleaning of canals that will reduce the risk of high flooding in the lower parts of the area. Santa Ana Manila is also known as an area where fire is rarely to happen but there are nearby fire stations near the major roads. Also our area is close to the fire stations of Makati which might help in case of fire. When an earthquake happens the barangay is quite not prepared in what to do and the nearest open area is at the nearby school which has an open field in the centre of it. That school may accommodate people whether people are temporary displaced. She also added that the coordination of other barangays helps in making the area be prepared since our barangay does not have the facilities yet, the unity between others areas with their resources might help.

Awareness

After the interview with an official barangay official, I had noticed that the level of readiness in my barangay, the area that I live in is lacking of resources that may accommodate people when a disaster happens. One of the problem is the lack of space that may be used to build a evacuation site in our own area, the barangay consists of more than a hundred family households and the rest are businesses. By that it needs an evacuation sites that will be used in case of an emergency that may not be just the school nearby or areas in other barangays. The residence of the barangay also needs to be aware of what to do whether a disaster happens or not, the barangay should inform them on what to do either directly or in way they could see it like an infographs or posters. I have learn that the local level of preparedness will affect the whole Santa Ana area or a more massive level. And by being prepare in a more small scale might help in lowering the risk of disaster and improving the overall readiness.