Proposed Disaster Risk Reduction Management Project for Coastal Areas

Background: School disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) requires coordinated action before, during, and afteremergencies. Coastal schools need locally informed measures that protect learners and sustain education. Objective: Toassess DRRM implementation in coastal schools in Batangas City and develop a proposed capacity -building project.Methods: A descriptive study during School Year 2019-2020 involved 33 school heads, 33 school DRRM coordinators,and 180 teaching and non-teaching personnel from 33 schools in four districts. The personnel sample was determined usingSlovin's formula and selected through stratified random sampling. A researcher-developed questionnaire and interviewswere used. Data were analyzed using weighted means, standard deviations, analysis of variance, and Scheffe's test. Results:Overall composite means were 3.40 for prevention and mitigation, 3.55 for preparedness, 3.52 for response, and 3.52 forrecovery and rehabilitation. Prevention and mitigation was assessed as moderate extent; the other areas were assessed asgreat extent. Reported between-group differences were significant for prevention and mitigation (F = 3.32, p = 0.04) andrecovery and rehabilitation (F = 4.09, p = 0.02), but not for preparedness or response. Typhoon, earthquake, and floodreceived the highest risk ratings. Duties and functions were greatly manifested overall (3.62), while capacity building andpre-identification of temporary learning spaces were moderately manifested. Training and earthquake -drill equipment werethe highest-rated implementation challenges. Conclusion: The assessments supported the development of Project CARED,a proposed capacity-building initiative addressing lower-rated practices and implementation concerns. Its effectiveness wasnot evaluated.