MANILA, Philippines — With the tropical weather and unstable land forms, coupled with high population density and lack of infrastructures, the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable developing countries that suffer from various natural disasters such as flood, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, and man-made disasters.

Disasters can strike at any time but if we are adequately prepared, it is possible to reduce the impact by acting quickly, using life-saving tools and techniques.

Governments on all levels as well as private organizations should have disaster plans that will make it possible to overcome a catastrophe and return to normal as quickly as possible. A book on good practices for disaster risk reduction was recently launched by an international non-governmental organization.

The book listed four good practices of local government units in the country. In Bulacan, digital rain gauges or river stage monitors and cyclone tracking maps have been set up in high schools and students are being trained to monitor data from the installed instruments. In Dumangas, Iloilo, the local government has established a Climate Field School to educate farmers on forecasts on rainfall and the dry season. In St. Bernard in Leyte, an early warning device has been set up that detects rainfall volume and floods that will indicate if there is need to evacuate. And in Hinduyan, Leyte, the local government has established a marine protected area and an increase in fish catch has been observed.

Crucial to disaster management is the political will of leaders and community participation. The suggestion for the national government to pattern disaster risk reduction efforts after local government schemes has elicited action by the Department of Interior and Local Government which is now in the process of identifying places with good practices in addressing disaster risk management and the impact of environment change.