Community Based Disaster Management in the Philippines: Making a Difference in People's Lives

Community participation has been recognized as the additional element in disaster management necessary to reverse the worldwide trend of increasing frequency and loss from disasters, build a culture of safety and disaster resilient communities, and ensure sustainable development for all. This paper highlights the features, processes, components, and gains of community based disaster management (CBDM) as showcased by good practices in community based preparedness and mitigation of key organizations involved in the Philippine Disaster Management Forum.