THE FAMILY MEMBERS’ PERSONAL VULNERABILITIES TO NATURAL CALAMITIES IN PASACAO, CAMARINES SUR, PHILIPPINES

The marginalized farmers and fisher folks who lived under the constant threats of natural calamities are vulnerable in various ways. However, the least significant concern but valuable to the community is the well-being of individuals. As family members displayed various responses to natural calamities, essential in understanding the full recoveries of families, the present study focused on the personal vulnerabilities felt by men, women, and children in the pre-, during, and post-disaster phases. This inquiry employed the descriptive-evaluative design, including 375 respondents using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sampling technique. The research locale included five barangays in the Municipality of Pasacao. These places are known as business centers where most farming and fishing families reside. The researcher devised a survey questionnaire and guided questions before its distribution. The researcher analyzed the data through frequency counting and percentage. The FGDs and interviews among men and women were given consent letters to adhere to the ethical principle. Children also had approved permission from their parents before their inclusion. The result revealed that the dynamic exposure to natural calamities and disasters of men, women, and children leads them to become familiar with their personal feelings. This paper highlights the marginalized families' inner thoughts describing their physiological, physical, emotional, and psychological responses to the natural calamities encountered and how their mental health affects them.