Natural disasters as elsewhere in the world caused catastrophic economic, social and environmental impacts more so with countries that are geographically prone to such disasters like the Philippines. Aside from the endless scientific efforts of the government in collaboration with other nations to reduce the risk of disaster, exploring the belief systems, values and level of preparedness of the community folks in the micro level is key element in the collective efforts to reduce the economic and social cost of these disasters. Moreover, there is distinct gender roles apparent before, during and after disaster that are valuable in surviving the aftermath of these disasters. Another inevitable key element in reducing the economic and social cost of natural disaster is the preparation of each individual families, community folks not only in accordance to governmental policies and ordinances but their preparation and lack of preparation is explicitly influenced by their belief systems, values and gender roles. Hence, this qualitative study intends to come up with a baseline data on the Ilokano gender roles, belief systems and values during natural risk disaster rescue and recovery as perceived by the Ilokano community folks. 

 The study is under the Gender and Development Program of the University  will provide a gender sensitive Information and Communication (IEC) Material. It is also timely since the IEC material tackles Natural Disaster and Risk Reduction Management and it is a common knowledge that the country is oftentimes struck by these disasters being a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and being prepared is big deal to reduce future casualties. 

This is also in response to Republic Act No. 10121 otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act”. This principally mandates local government units (LGUs) to “adopt a disaster risk reduction management approach that is holistic, comprehensive, integrated and proactive”. Moreover, Section 2 (Declaration of Policy) includes the provisions that the State shall ensure that disaster risk reduction and climate changes measures are “gender responsive, sensitive to indigenous knowledge systems and respectful of human rights”.

The IEC material will be crafted to the current curriculum of the students with a gender sensitive, gender responsive and with infused with Ilokano belief systems as means of presenting the disaster risk reduction management information to the students. This will help the students be more aware of what to do during disasters and at the same time be more abreast to what Ilokano values and gender roles are observed during these times.