7 A20: Yes, after super typhoon Haiyan, we have zero casualty. There were three (3) strong typhoons that hit Camotes Island before, but the casualties then were fishermen. After super typhoon Haiyan, there was no casualty. Only three (3) individuals got minor injuries, but they were rescued and brought to the hospital. I think the vulnerability and capacity assessment we conducted before where we have identified and classified houses and did community mapping and climate projections helped to achieve zero casualty. Q21: What do you think is the most significant learning you gained from the devastating calamities you were able to survive on? A21: It is really important to prepare people, both at the family level and community or local government level. Everyone in the community should be educated about climate change and disaster risk reduction and management because they are the ones who would first respond to the situation. The government and other people and organizations who will give aid will come after, not during the typhoon. This is crucial in saving lives and reducing casualties and damages. It is useless if the knowledge is not shared or downloaded properly to the grassroots level because if the information, advice, or warning was already given, they would not understand and this would hinder or limit their capacity to act timely and correctly. For example, my experience in Palo, Leyte, when I was hired as resource person in helping the municipality in crafting a DRRM plan in the most devastated barangay. During our three (3)-day training, one of the barangay captains narrated that we informed them about the storm surge, but people did not take it seriously because big waves are just ordinary occurrence for them. They did not evacuate because they did not fully understand what storm surge was or its context. If the warning that was relayed to them was tsunami, then they surely made safety precautions. This is in comparison with my experience in my place in Camotes Island wherein when we notified the people for force evacuation, they followed. In any calamity or disaster, there is no exact formula. All you have to do is to teach or educate them. Community empowerment and preparedness through community-based intervention is effective to avoid or reduce risks. Q22: Since you have extensively worked on the ground and experienced first hand super typhoon Haiyan and other calamities, what do you think are the gaps needed to be addressed? A22: First, the implementation of the Pre-emptive Evacuation for all families living in hazardous areas such as slope, besides the creeks, river, lake, and coastal shores should be taken seriously. Barangay/Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council needs to strengthen their force by tapping partners and widening their networks. Response