CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

Introduction

With about 100 tropical cyclones form in the world annually, where two-

thirds become typhoons and hurricanes, 19 to 20 of those tropical cyclones enters

the Philippines every year (The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and

Astronomical Services Administration, 2015). It is really undeniable that the

Philippines is prone to tropical cyclones due to its geographical location. In fact,

there are many strong typhoons that visited the Philippines and caused different

effects to the country. Several years had passed since Typhoon Pablo with an

international name Bopha made landfall in Mindanao on Dec 4, 2012 and

considered as one of the worst typhoon, causing massive flooding that killed 1,901

people. Moreover it was only last November 8, 2013 when typhoon Yolanda with

the international name Haiyan, wiped out the Eastern Visayas, especially the part

of Tacloban City, Leyte and Guian, Samar taking out billions of properties

thousands of lives and detrimental trauma among the victims. It was not the

typhoon itself that damaged but it was the storm surge, floods, and landslide.

With these tropical cyclones that occur in the country, the threat for

devastating flood and landslide brought by extreme typhoons and different factors

is in its rise, and might destroy the country even worse in the near future. Flood

according to National Geographic Society (2015) occurs when water overflows or

inundates land that is normally dry and can happen in multitude of ways. While

Landslide is the movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope and result from
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the failure of the materials which make up the hill slope and are driven by the

force of gravity (Geoscience Australia, 2012).

Batangas Province as reported by DENR-CALABARZON has different

areas that is critical to flood and landslide. One of this is the municipality of

Mabini. Flood and landslide is a more crucial disaster for Mabini, Batangas

because of the 10 barangays which are susceptible and vulnerable to it. Since

Mabini is located between Batangas Bay to the east and Balayan Bay to the west,

it is surrounded by bodies of water and big rock formation. The barangay that lies

especially in the coastal areas which includes Barangay Anilao Proper, Barangay

Anilao East, Barangay Majuben and between the boundary of Barangay

Sampaguita and Barangay Poblacion can be more prone to danger. The barangay

in high land areas that are prone to landslide are Barangay San Jose, Barangay

Sulu, Barangay Ligaya, Barangay Bagalangit and Barangay San Teodoro. With

this, it is threatening once a flood and landslide starts to occur. There is the

possibility that many lives and property will be gone and it might be more

dangerous than of other disaster that occurred in the country.

One of the researchers is a resident of Mabini, Batangas and she had proven

that whenever there is a coming typhoon, it can be seen that the people living in

the place feels threatened because of their location. It is also proven that flood and

landslide occured to the place way back many years, especially during of Typhoon

Glenda and Typhoon Yolanda. Rise of water and falling of big rocks are being

experienced whenever there is a strong typhoon that is hitting their place. It is

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really undeniable that Mabini, Batangas is prone to disasters and with this, there is

a need to asses the level of psychological preparedness of the residents living in

the place since disastrous events really affect not only the physical aspect of

individual but more importantly their mental being.

In addition to this the district has only twenty-five (25) number of rescuers

for the residents and four (4) rescuers are assigned for each barangays despite that

there are thousands of people to be rescued. Evacuation centers must be located on

higher areas. Based on the researchers interview among the residents of Mabini,

Batangas, it shows that most of the residents lack of psychological awareness

regarding natural disaster that may occur in their place. Due to these problems, the

researchers become more encouraged to do this research to help the residents in

Mabini to have resilient mindset and alernesst for the coming threat which can be

achieved through psychological preparation.

Australian Psychological Society reported that psychological preparedness

means having a realistic expectation that emergency situations, such as flood and

landslide, can quickly become unmanageable, unpredictable and life threatening

(Anonymous 2012). Psychological preparedness would constitute anticipation of

external threat, identification of ones emotional response and the management of

feelings, cognition and behavior during the event.

Psychological preparedness would make the resident ready to reduce the

mental health causality such as trauma and bereavement following the disaster.

One study shows that the best strategy for limiting the responses to traumatic
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event is to implement preventive disaster-intervention strategies, as in the form of

psychological preparedness (Rosen field, et. Al, 2005) because there is a higher

ratio of mental health casualties than physical casualties. Psychological

preparedness would protect the mental well-being of the disaster victim from

serious traumatic response, maladjustment and maladaptive coping mechanism for

both adult and children brought by mental health casualty.

Due to the existing need for the disaster phase sensitive psychological

program, as Psychology student we give emphasis to this kind of study. Based on

the researchers study, there is a very limited view of how psychology could

contribute in the disaster preparedness. There are already some established

psychological program but for response and recovery phases only. This includes

Psychological First Aid and stress debriefing. This study would be beneficial not

only for the residents but for the city government as well, since, it can lessen the

recovery and rehabilitation cost in the human dimension. Even though mental

health casualty after the disaster is not yet included in the citys record, it is still

better to look forward and not to remain stagnant with this important concern. No

one can ever say how devastating the upcoming disaster is, so people will be

prepared not just physically but also psychologically, with that, mental casualty

could be lessened.

Statement of the Problem

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This study aimed to assess the level of psychological preparedness of the

residents in the flood and landslide-prone barangay in Mabini, Batangas.

Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of :

1.1. sex;

1.2. age;

1.3. civil status;

1.4. educational attainment;

1.5. house structure;

1.6. size of household; and

1.7. prior experience with landslide and flood?

2. What is the level of psychological preparedness of the respondent in terms

of their:

2.1. anticipation of external threat;

2.2. identification of ones emotional responses; and

2.3. management of ones psychological response?

3. Is there a significant association between the respondents level of

psychological preparedness and their profile variables?

4. What extension project may be proposed to address the identified issues

of the residents in the flood and landslide barangay in Mabini, Batangas?

Scope, Limitation and Delimitation of the Study

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The study has assessed the level of psychological preparedness of the

residents in the flood and landslide-prone barangays in Mabini, Batangas. It also

sought to know the profile variables including sex, age, civil status, educational

attainment, house structure, household size and ones prior experience to flood and

landslide.

The researcher used a self-constructed questionnaire based on an 18-item

validated test from Australia, namely, Psychological Preparedness for the Disaster

Threat Scale(PPDTS) by Zulch et, al (2012), along with an interview. The research

design that was utilized by the researcher was the descriptive research design.

To get the representative sample for the study, the researchers used the

Slovins formula and chose the respondents through systematic random sampling.

The flood and landslide-prone Barangay in MabiniBatangas was the research

environment of the study which was obtained from the data from District of

Mabini Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The study focused on naturally occurring disasters specifically flood and

landslide. Psychological preparedness was for the residents only, not on the

preparedness of the authority to respond in the disaster situation. Factors such as

attitudes in the environmental threat, perception of the flood and landslide risk,

physical preparedness and others disaster phase are not included in the study.

Significance of the Study

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The study dealt with the level of psychological preparedness of the

residents in the flood and landslide-prone barangay in MabiniBatangas.

Specifically, this study would be a great of help to the following:

Residents in the flood and landslide-prone barangay in Mabini,

Batangas. The assessment of the level of psychological preparedness for the

devastating flood and landslide would help them face the threat with ease. This

would likewise move them to mitigate the effects of those life threatening flood

and landslide thus, reducing the risk or danger to human, infrastructure and

properties.

Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Council. The level of psychological

preparedness of the residents of each barangay would be revealed. With this, the

Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Council will be more aware about the

psychological preparedness of the residents in their place and they will have the

idea on how to plan whenever there is upcoming disaster that is about to hit their

place.

District of Mabini Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The study would reveal the level of psychological preparedness for the disaster

threat on their locality that would stand as a collaborative effort as they are

working hard for the districts disaster risk reduction and management. The output

of the study would be utilized and proposed for the resident of the flood and

landslide prone barangay in Mabini, Batangas.

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Batangas State University. This study would contribute to the universitys

advocacy on environmental concern. This would promote awareness to institution

about current and probable disaster threat that might be encountered. This would

serve as another manifestation of providing quality education.

Psychology students. Since this highlights the role of psychology to

prevention of and esteem to pursue ones interest in the field.

Future researchers. This would serve as a guide and reference in their

future study. This would also serve as a source of research topics to deal with.