Stories women tell: Exploring lived experiences with natural disasters in the coastal and upland communities of Sagñay, Camarines Sur

This phenomenological inquiry explored women’s lived experiences from the coastal and upland communities of Sagñay, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Data sources were transcripts of in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions. Findings suggest that women are vulnerable to disasters due to their socio-economic and geographic conditions, as reflected in the four emerging central themes of psychological, economic, and physical distress; women’s roles in the domestic disaster phases; coping strategies, and the need for long-term and comprehensive disaster management programs. Coping strategies applied before, during, and after disasters have helped them survive disaster effects to a certain extent. However, they cannot escape the constant exposure to environmental hazards as long as there are geographic and socio-economic barriers. Hence, women’s high vulnerability to disasters is confirmed positively, as revealed in their shared narratives. Implications to policies in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) include strengthening mechanisms to increase their involvement in the DRRM stages and increasing their resilience and those of their communities through sustainable programs and activities.