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University of the Philippines Manila
SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Palo, Leyte
The Philippines’ location on the “Pacific Ring of Fire” and along the Pacific
typhoon belt mean that the country experiences many forms of natural disasters such as
typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and fires.
The devastation of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 spurred the Philippines to further
develop its disaster management structures and resources by improving communication
and institutionalizing roles and responsibilities for national and international players.
Thus, more recent floods, typhoons, and landslides have seen improved communication
and coordination that mitigated impacts on lives and livelihoods.
Such mitigation is crucial to the Philippines’ economic and social recovery in the
wake of the Coronavirus Disease – 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Pre-pandemic, the
Philippines boasted one of the region’s most dynamic economies. It was driven by
consumer demand, a strong labor market, and remittances from overseas, all supported by
the trends of a growing middle class, increasing urbanization, and demographics. The
Philippines sustained an average annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of
4.5% during 2000-2009, and this rate increased to an average of 6.4% during 2010-2019.
The country was on a trajectory toward upper middle-income status, but the economic
setback of the pandemic likely means the country will maintain a lower middle-income
classification. The pandemic and community quarantine measures have led to declines
across consumption, investment, exports, tourism, and remittances, and the consequences
are likely to be long-lasting, particularly for the 16.6% of people who were in poverty
before the pandemic. In addition to poverty and the knock-on effects of the pandemic, the
country’s people are already confronting climate change impacts, including sea level rise,
increased frequency of extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and heavy rainfall.
In part, this is due to the archipelago’s vulnerability to natural hazards and concentrations
of settlements in coastal areas, but it is also linked to reliance on climate sensitive natural
resources. Sea levels around the Philippines are rising faster than the global average,
posing a greater risk of higher storm surges, which are expected to affect 14% of the
population and 42% of coastal residents. Informal settlements, which comprise 45% of
the urban population, are particularly at risk due to precarious infrastructure and will be
vulnerable to negative impacts due to limited access to clean water and a lack of health
care access.
As a result of both natural hazards and climate change, society has developed
strategies and mitigation mechanisms that have buy-in at the highest levels of national
government. Until recently, the country had focused on disaster management policy, but
the past decade has seen greater integration of disaster risk management and climate
change adaptation into the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Framework. The Philippine Congress enacted the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act in 2010 to establish a multilevel disaster risk management system.
Moreover, the Philippine Government is putting significant thought into developing
resilient infrastructure to allow communities to recover swiftly. Finally, investing in
green infrastructure is a priority as the government seeks to meet climate commitments.
All the preparedness in the world will not stop disasters from striking, and in
major natural disasters, the Philippines may accept international assistance. The country
has developed structures and institutions to screen and expedite entry of international
humanitarian teams, equipment, and donations. Coordination includes not only national,
provincial, and local government civilians, but also the armed forces and police as well as
international agencies. Finally, the U.S. government and armed forces have historically
been involved in disaster response in the Philippines and, via the 2014 Enhanced Defense
Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), they have been able to advance relations on
humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).
Reference: https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/2021-philippines-disaster-
management-reference-handbook
Emergency response in the Philippines is an extensive and critical topic as the

country frequently experiences various types of emergencies. From natural disasters like
typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions to man-made crises such as fires and
transportation accidents, the Philippines faces numerous challenges in managing and
responding to these emergencies efficiently.
In my observation, the emergency response in the Philippines involves a
collaborative effort between the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
and local communities. One of the key organizations leading emergency response is the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which
coordinates and directs disaster management efforts at the national level. The NDRRMC
works hand in hand with other agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP), the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and local government units to ensure an effective
response during emergencies.
A well-coordinated emergency response entails various components. Firstly,
preparedness and risk reduction measures play a significant role in minimizing the impact
of disasters. This includes conducting drills, raising public awareness, and implementing
measures to enhance resiliency. Secondly, prompt and efficient response during
emergencies is crucial. Search and rescue operations, establishment of evacuation centers,
provision of medical aid, distribution of relief goods, and restoration of essential services
are key components of the response.
While efforts are being made, there are still challenges that need attention.
Adequate funding, resource allocation, and capacity building are areas that require further
improvement. Additionally, enhancing communication channels and strengthening
partnerships between different stakeholders would greatly contribute to a more effective
emergency response system.

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University of the Philippines Manila

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Emergency response in the Philippines is an extensive and critical topic as the

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