Building Community Resilience in the Face of Catastrophe:

A Holistic Approach to Disaster Management

Research Proposal
In
Social Work Research 1

Prepared by:
Frances Babes Blas
Rizalyn Gatchalian
Jethniel Vince Barcena
 Building Community Resilience in the Face of Catastrophe:

A Holistic Approach to Disaster Management

Abstract

This research explores community resilience in the face of catastrophe, specifically

natural disasters, within the context of the University of Abra-La Paz Campus. Recent

catastrophic events, including a 7.3 magnitude earthquake and Typhoon Egay, have necessitated

a focus on strategies that enable communities to efficiently anticipate, respond to, and recover

from such adversities. The study will employ a quantitative approach to assess the level of

disaster’s preparedness and awareness, as well as the level of attitude regarding disaster

management of the students, faculty members, and staffs of the University of Abra-La Paz

Campus. Key elements of the research include the integration of the 'building back better'

concept into disaster management, and an evaluation of previous disaster management strategies.

The ultimate goal of the study is to enhance the community's capacity to navigate and recover

from future natural disasters, contributing to a more resilient University of Abra-La Paz Campus.

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines disaster as an occurrence disrupting the

normal conditions of existence and causing a level of suffering that exceeds the capacity of

adjustment of the affected community. Over the decades, the concern about the loss of life and

property had been abruptly increasing. The Emergency Event Database (EM-DAT) registered
387 natural disasters and hazards globally in 2022 causing the loss of 30,704 lives and having an

impact on 185 million people. And in 2023, according to a new analysis from Save the

Children , at least 12,000 people - 30% more than in 2022 - lost their lives due to floods,

wildfires, cyclones, storms, and landslides globally in 2023. Data from the World Risk Index

(WRI) rates 193 nations in 2023 according to how vulnerable they are to major natural disasters

like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and droughts. Findings showed that the Philippines,

Indonesia, and India have the highest overall disaster risk and the Philippines have been

consistently remains the most at-risk country for the 13 th straight year. Disaster education,

which includes education on disaster risks, mitigation and preparedness strategies, is one

approach to reducing the negative consequences of disasters (Smith 1993; Mulyasari et.al.

2011). According to the 2005-2015 Hyogo Framework for Action, the objective of disaster

education is ‘to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels,’ in order to reduce the

adverse social and economic impacts of hazards. The United Nations office for Disaster Risk

Reduction define Disaster Management as the organization, planning and application of

measures preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters. This research proposal

introduces a pertinent topic on the emphasis on a comprehensive and holistic approach to disaster

management in the context of the newly established University of Abra-La Paz Campus. The

study is contextualized within the unfortunate series of events that have plagued the University

of Abra-La Paz Campus in Brgy. Mudeng, La Paz, Abra. Notably, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake

on July 27, 2022, and the subsequent Typhoon Egay on July 26, 2023, have been the catalysts for

this research. The devastating impacts of these events impel the need for effective strategies that

enable communities to efficiently anticipate, respond to, and recover from such catastrophes.
 Background of the Study

The background of this study lies in the challenging events experienced by the

community at the University of Abra-La Paz Campus, Brgy. Mudeng, La Paz, Abra. This region

has endured the destructive impacts of a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in 2022 that struck the whole

province of Abra and Typhoon Egay the following year. The earthquake causes a total of 12,802

damaged houses: 12,645 partially damaged and 157 fully damaged; and according to the

National Risk Reduction and Management Council, five people were killed and 131 were left

injured. According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), there were a total of 13,093

houses that has been destroyed with 12,641 partially and 452 totally damaged by Egay. The

municipality of Bangued reported the most number of destroyed houses with 6,593, followed by

La Paz with 2,453, then San Quintin with 545. The magnitude of these disasters and the

subsequent need for recovery has underscored the need for enhancing community resilience and

a comprehensive disaster management plan. This study aims to bridge the gap in existing

literature by assessing the level of preparedness and awareness of the students, faculty members,

and staffs of the University of Abra-La Paz Campus, as well as their their level of attitude

towards disaster management that allows for an efficient anticipation, preparedness, response,

and recovery from such adversities. It aims to contribute to the broader understanding of building

community resilience in the face of catastrophe, with the ultimate goal of fortifying the

community's ability to navigate and recover from future natural disasters.

The research proposal draws on a rich array of literature to explore the multifaceted concept of

community resilience, particularly within the context of the University of Abra-La Paz Campus

in Brgy. Mudeng, La Paz, Abra. The critical events of a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in 2022 and

Typhoon Egay in 2023 underscore the need for a robust disaster management plan and

heightened community resilience. Several key works contribute distinct perspectives and

findings to this study.

Chandra's (2010) work illuminates the relationship between community resilience and disaster

mitigation, emphasizing the importance of holistic preparedness beyond physical infrastructure.

Milliken's (2017) focus on interactive learning tools for local decision-makers provides

actionable strategies, highlighting the pivotal role of decision-makers in resilience building. The

National Academies' publication (2012) emphasizes resilience as a national imperative, aligning

with the proposal's aim to integrate local efforts into broader national strategies.

Norris et al.'s (2007) comprehensive view of community resilience offers a theoretical

framework and diverse dimensions, enriching the proposal's approach. Dasanayaka and

Matsuda's (2022) investigation into social capital's role in disaster recovery underscores the

significance of social connections, informing the proposal's consideration of social fabric in

resilience. Zaman and Raihan's (2023) empirical analysis of factors influencing resilience

provides practical insights that can guide the proposal's resilience assessment.

Alexander's (2013) historical exploration of resilience contributes a temporal dimension to the

concept, enriching the proposal's conceptual framework. Winderl's (2014) review of resilience

measurements informs the selection of appropriate tools for the proposal's assessment. Monteil et
al.'s (2020) exploration of sociocultural changes post-disaster suggests a dynamic aspect to

resilience, broadening the proposal's understanding. Ostadtaghizadeh et al.'s (2015) systematic

review of assessment models guides the selection of a robust assessment model for the

University of Abra-La Paz Campus.

Pierce et al.'s (2011) discussion on the intersection of resilience and sustainability informs the

proposal's consideration of long-term and environmentally conscious approaches. Elkady et al.'s

(2023) Spanish case study provides practical examples applicable to the proposal, while Dube's

(2020) concept of "building back better" introduces a transformative aspect to recovery efforts.

The IFRC's (2010) insights into community-based disaster risk management strategies offer

practical guidance, and Koshimura and Shuto's (2015) case study on the Great East Japan

Earthquake provides specific examples of resilience building in response to a major disaster.

Together, these works provide a comprehensive foundation for the research proposal, aiming to

enhance community resilience at the University of Abra-La Paz Campus.

Theoretical Framework

Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)

Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was developed by R.W. Rogers in 1975 to gain a deeper

comprehension of fear appeals and how people cope with them. Protection Motivation Theory

(PMT) asserts that a certain level of risk-related information can provide the required motivation

to ascertain the risk severity, vulnerability, and capacity for risk mitigation in individuals. PMT

has become a popular theory to explain people’s risk reduction behavior against natural hazards.

According to this theory, an individual is more likely to engage preventative actions if they
believe that there is a possibility that a risk may occur (perceived vulnerability) and the result of

the risk is serious (perceived severity) , and that the perceived internal and external rewards are

smaller than existing behaviors that raise the probability of the harm.

The Cognitive Preparation Model (Paton, 2003; Paton et al., 2003b)

Cognitive Preparation Model is a social-cognitive viewpoint that explains developmental process

of catastrophe preparedness. It starts with things that spur people to be ready, moves through the

stages of intention formation, and culminates with the decision to get ready. This model is based

on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), which describes the influence of individual’s experiences,

the actions of others, and environmental factors on individual health behaviors.

Research Question

This study seeks to answer the following research question:

 What is the level of preparedness and awareness of the respondents towards catastrophic

events?

 What is the level of attitude of the respondents regarding disaster management?

 Is there a significant correlation between the titles of the personnel and their awareness

and attitude regarding disaster management?

 Is there a significant difference on the awareness and attitude of the students related to

disaster management according to the departments in which they belong?

 Is there a significant difference on the awareness and attitude of the students related to

disaster management according to certain factors (Age, gender, disaster experience, and

disaster training they received)?

The primary purpose of this quantitative research is to comprehensively assess the level

of preparedness and awareness of the students, faculty members, and staffs of the University of

Abra-La Paz Campus, as well as their level of attitude towards disaster management that allows

for an efficient anticipation, preparedness, response, and recovery from such adversities. By

assessing their level of preparedness and awareness, the study aims to inform a more effective

and holistic disaster management strategy.

Method

Participants

The participants of this study will include individuals who are part of the University of

Abra-La Paz Campus community. This includes students, faculty members, administrative staff,

and other workers. These individuals will be randomly selected to ensure a representative sample

of the campus community.

Materials

The materials required for this research are primarily questionnaires and surveys

designed to measure their level of preparedness and awareness to a disaster as well as their level

of attitude towards disaster management. Other materials include demographic information

forms to gather necessary background information about the participants.

Quantitative data will be gathered through the dissemination of structured questionnaires

and surveys. Participants will be required to respond to inquiries featuring a of numerical

metrics, strategically formulated to quantitatively assess disaster management. The surveys will

be administered either digitally or in person, accommodating participants' preferences. Stringent

confidentiality measures will be upheld, and participants will be briefed on the research's

objectives and their rights to ensure ethical standards in data collection.

Data Analysis

After data collection, the responses will be tabulated and statistically analyzed using

statistical tools percentage, mean, Kruskal Wallis test in which p-value less than 0.05 is

considered as significant at 5% level of significance and p-value less than 0.01 is

considered as significant at 1% level of significance . The results will be used for an enhanced

community resiliency and disaster preparedness.

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Chandra, A. (2010, January 11). Understanding community resilience in the context of National

Health Security: A literature review. RAND.

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Dasanayaka, U., & Matsuda, Y. (2022). Role of social capital in local knowledge evolution and

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