The Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Usually, in times of calamities and disasters, men are seen as the first responders on the field. But this women's month, we'll zoom in on women in disaster response and celebrate their roles saving lives both behind the scenes and on the frontlines.

The Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO) aims to be a benchmark in the industry where strength and skill are not defined by gender, and diversity brings a holistic approach to the field.

QCDRRMO Officer-in-Charge Bianca Perez. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

The office's head, Bianca Perez, believes there was a shift in the perception of a predominantly male industry, moving from primarily disaster response where the responders are primarily seen and usually men, to cover a wider scope.

"Sinasabing male-dominated yung DRRM industry and world, sa Pilipinas... Unang iniisip natin ay yung mga responders sa frontline, mga nagbubuhat ng debris, nag rerescue ng mga tao. Ang leaning dyan nung disaster response is panay lalake yung mga nag aaplly for it, pakiramdam ng mga tao na ay lalake lang yung may kaya ng ganitong trabaho."

(It’s often said the DRRM industry and world in the Philippines is male dominated. The first ones we think about are the responders in the frontline, the ones carrying debris and rescuing people. People will tend to think disaster response is full of male applicants because only men can do this sort of work.) 

But women in the industry bring a new perspective, helping fill gaps in ensuring DRRM's services are all-encompassing.

"So it is also important to give voice to women so that they would not be afraid to speak if there are any abuses going on or if they think there are any concerns that are usually taken for granted na babae lang ang nakakakita,” says Perez.

(So it is also important to give voice to women so that they would not be afraid to speak if there are any abuses going on or if they think there are any concerns that are usually taken for granted that only women can see)

For QCDRRMO Operations Center Manager Aleandra Rivera, being in the operations center is no less important than being a responder. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

QCDRRMO Operations Center Manager Aleandra Rivera seconds this.

“The work in disaster risk reduction and management doesn't stop at response. Katulad nito sa operations center, technically hindi kami responders, we can never be responders, pero yung binibigay naming resources na in terms of information, napaka crucial sa mga tao natin on the ground. There is a lot of opportunities for women to fill all sorts of roles within DRRM.”

(The work in disaster risk reduction and management doesn't stop at response. Just like here in the operations center. Technically we are not first responders, we can never be responders. But the resources we give in terms of information is so crucial to the ones on the ground.)

She adds, “At the end of the day, kung ang skills mo is more on managing resources and problem-solving capabilities and kaya mong mag survive in a high-pressure environment, welcome na welcome ka dito sa DRRM.”

(At the end of the day, if your skills lie more on managing resources and problem-solving capabilities and you can survive in a high-pressure environment, you’re very welcome here in DRRM.)

Members of the emergency medical services team of the QCDRRMO on site of a fire incident in Quezon City on March 19, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Women’s perspective

Perez mentioned that women in the team have allowed the DRRM to pinpoint certain needs and provide facilities that would otherwise be overlooked.

"Tulad ng sinabi ko nga na kapag sa mga evacuation, 'yung mga para sa mga babae 'yung kailangan ng breast milk for children. Usually dati, hindi siya binibigyan ng pansin kasi usually mga nanay lang ang makakaisip. Yung mga atensyon sa mga bata, kelangan nila ng paglilibangan kapag nasa evacuation center, kelangan nilang madistract, kelangan nila at least makabalik sa pagaaral even for the time that they are there. It's usually the mothers that would think that way because mothers think like this for their families, for their households.”

(Like I said, when in an evacuation center, women need breast milk for children. It’s usually not given attention because only mothers think of that. The attention given to children, they need something to occupy their time when in an evacuation center. They need to be distracted. They at least need to return to their studies even for the time they are there. It's usually the mothers that would think that way because mothers think like this for their families, for their households.)

Ambulance Rescue (EMS) Special Operations Support Staff Aileen Lagdamen has a piece of advice for women. “Yung advice ko sa mga kababaihan, hindi naman porke't babae kayo hindi nyo na kaya gawin yung trabaho ng lalake, kanya kanya naman tayong lakas. Kung may kaya yung lakake, may kaya din naman ang mga babae.” Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Those concerns that are taken for granted, they should be given, they should be voiced out kasi that is the only way we can address them,” she says. 

Perez adds: “So all of these concerns na before it might not have been binibigyan attensyon, ngayon mas nakikita na natin dahil mas binibigyan natin ng boses and mas may authority na yung mga tao, yung mga babae mabigyan ng boses yung mga concerns na hindi naman naririnig before."

(So all these concerns that might not have been given attention before, can be seen now because we give a voice and authority to the women that might not have been heard before.)

Female empowerment 

All of this was achieved as everyone within the office, especially women, are empowered to step up and serve the city and its constituents. 

"And it really lies in recognizing people have their respective strengths and potential for growth in all aspects of work, in all aspects of DRRM, regardless of their gender, regardless of their culture, regardless of where they're coming from. It's really seeing how best each individual can contribute to the vision of a safer and more resilient city,” says Perez.  

"There is strength in all of us, in all of the women here in the community, in the world, there is strength in all of us. We just have to recognize that strength and speak up.”

Instructor Rizhelle Apo incorporates her insights and experiences as a mother into her lectures. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News 

For instructor Rizhelle Apo, it’s not just about empowering the women in the office but also the community.

“Ano ang gagawin ng mga nanay? Ng mga anak na babae? Especially ang mga batang babae is part of the vulnerable sector. Ang mga buntis is part of the vulnerable sector. Ako bilang isang babae, nararamdaman ko na bilang isang nanay, ano yung mga pangangailangan ng mga nanay pag nagkaroon ng isang disaster?”

(What’s a mother to do? Daughters? Specially young women are part of the vulnerable sector. Pregnant women are part of the vulnerable sector. As a woman, I feel as a mother, what are the needs of mothers when there are disasters?)

“So ako basically, isang instructor ako, yun yung ine-emphasize ko sa mga lecture ko na ano 'yung pwedeng gawin ng isang nanay, isang anak na babae pag nagkaroon ng disaster.”

(Basically as an instructor, I emphasize in my lectures what a mother, a daughter can do in times of disasters.)

Gender Sensitivity

EMS and SAR Special Operations Support Staff Jenny Plenago says its crucial to have women on the team for certain situations. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

For EMS and SAR Special Operations Support Staff Jenny Plenago, gender sensitivity also plays a role -- not just for the office but for the people it serves as well.

She says it’s important to have females in the team to treat some patients. “Minsan, yung babae or yung patient is a girl or lady, or babae, ang gusto po nila ang magti-treat ng kahit anung emergency sa kanila, gusto nila babae rin yung magti-treat sa kanila.” 

(Sometimes female patients want other females to treat them no matter the emergency.) 

Plenago adds: “Within Quezon city po meron din po tayong mga Muslim area na gusto nila sa mga asawa nila o sa babae na part din ng family nila na babae din yung magti-treat sa kanila. Na bawal  yung lalaking humawak sa kanila, so mas importante din po talga na may babae po sa team.”

(Within Quezon City there are Muslim areas wherein the residents want their wives or female relatives to be attended by women. Other males cannot touch them so it’s really important to have women in the team.)

Bayanihan

With a large city such as Quezon City, every capable person with their unique strengths count in keeping people safe in times of trouble. 

"So in the end, why would we be discriminatory when the threats we are facing, the hazards we are facing is the greatest equalizer of all. We only have bayanihan, we only have each other in the face of emergencies and disasters," says Perez