Many Filipinos believe they are more prepared for disasters now than they were seven years ago, but a Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) study shows that much more work has to be done to get the nation, which is the most disaster-prone in the world, to the adequate levels of preparedness.
The Harvard report informs about the strides taken in disaster preparedness in the Philippines while featuring the critical need for further action. Published just ahead of the 11th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan) on November 8, it brings into focus both achievements and remaining challenges.
Drawing from data collected face-to-face from over 4,600 Filipinos nationwide, it shows a 42% increase in self-reported disaster preparedness since 2017. An overall score of 19.2 out of 50, however, reveals that the country still falls short in adequately preparing for frequent natural hazards.
The 19.2 score, which is based on five important preparedness areas like planning, information, and social support, only accounts for 38% of the activities required for a strong disaster readiness, according to Dr. Vincenzo Bollettino, who co-led the study and oversees HHI’s Resilient Communities program.
“A score of 19.2 highlights both progress and areas needing urgent attention. While it shows an improvement in disaster preparedness, the score suggests that Filipinos are only doing 38.4% of the kinds of disaster preparedness activities needed to be prepared,” Dr. Bollettino said in a release Thursday.
HHI’s study additionally found that although Filipinos are better at keeping up with calamities, they still have trouble getting enough material and social support.
Disaster information knowledge had the greatest score of any preparation criterion (4.9 out of 10), but social support had the lowest score (2.3 out of 10), indicating a lack of participation in local disaster response networks.
Just 1 in 4 respondents said they were a member of any local association or group, and only 16% said they knew their local disaster risk officers.
“For a country as vulnerable to disasters as the Philippines, this is not enough, so we must accelerate our efforts to ensure Filipinos are investing, planning, training, and building closer ties to their communities,” he added.
Dr. Patrick Vinck, the director of research at HHI, emphasized the necessity of modernizing systems and empowering local leaders to address the preparedness divide.
Enhancing disaster preparedness in the Philippines, he explained, requires investment in local leadership and the use of technology to improve early warning systems and community engagement.
“This should be accompanied by investments in resilient infrastructures, local capacities, and anticipatory actions,” Dr. Vinck adds.
The study underlined that disaster preparedness varies nationwide, with certain places demonstrating considerable advancement while others lag behind.
The Cordillera Administrative Region, together with Central and Western Visayas, achieved the top ranking in preparation. Simultaneously, the Davao Region, Negros Island, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) received the lowest scores. Notwithstanding its obstacles, BARMM demonstrated the most significant enhancement in preparedness, augmenting its score by 90% since 2017.
Metro Manila, the country’s economic center, posted a preparedness score below the national average, with only a 22% improvement since 2017.
Dr. Bollettino emphasized the necessity of disaster preparedness in the capital, adding that the National Capital Region (NCR) is the hub of the Philippine economy and home to a sizable share of the country’s population.
Given its frequent exposure to natural disasters, he said there is an importance of improving disaster preparedness in this region.
“NCR is the heart of the Philippine economy and home for a significant part of the country’s population, yet it is routinely hit by natural hazards; thus, increasing its disaster preparedness is crucial,” stated Dr. Bollettino.
The study also examined the influence of various socio-demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, education, and wealth, on disaster preparedness among Filipinos.
The findings indicated a strong correlation between education and wealth and preparation levels, although age and gender seem to exert no influence.
Individuals with advanced educational attainment have significantly more preparedness, achieving an average score of 24.1 out of 50, in contrast to a mere 15.3 for those possessing only primary education.
Economic status impacts perceptions of disaster preparedness; wealthy respondents rated their preparedness at 22.8, whereas destitute respondents scored 16.1.
Dr. Bollettino stated that policymakers must listen to Filipinos’ own ideas on preparedness, emphasizing that these insights are critical for developing policies that actually address community needs.
In terms of disaster readiness, Filipinos demonstrated a high level of information knowledge, rating 4.9 out of 10, while community support lagged severely at 2.3 out of 10. Despite some increases, overall preparation scores in several categories remained modest.
The vast majority of Filipinos—87%—have taken steps to secure important documents such as birth certificates and property titles.
Further, 70% track typhoon and disaster alerts, while 60% are knowledgeable about rainfall warning systems, suggesting that numerous places frequently encounter storms and floods.
Even so, thorough disaster preparedness is still lacking. While 58% of households engage in discussions regarding emergency plans, a minimal fraction has implemented further measures: merely 20% own a disaster management plan, 27% have prepared a Go bag, 32% have accumulated essential medications, and only 33% maintain a first-aid kit readily available.
Given the Philippines’ status as the world’s most disaster-prone country for the past three years, there is an urgent need to boost both support and resources for disaster readiness.
Dr. Bollettino said policymakers should understand disaster preparedness from the perspective of everyday Filipinos.
He believes that understanding these insights is crucial for developing policies that truly align with the needs and priorities of local communities.
In the coming weeks, the HHI Resilient Communities team plans to distribute their findings broadly, providing essential data to government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, civil society, and the media to help inform future programs and policies.
The death toll from Super Typhoon Yolanda is estimated at over 6,300 people. Hundreds of people too, were reported missing and remain unaccounted for.
The storm also injured more than 28,000 people and displaced nearly 4 million individuals, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in Philippine history.
