Disaster Preparedness among Public School Teachers in Manay, Davao Oriental, Philippines: A Post Hoc Comparison

Disaster preparedness in schools is essential for ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff in times of emergency. Teachers play a critical role in executing disaster response plans and sharing knowledge related to disaster readiness. This study used a descriptive-comparative study employing a T-test for Independent Samples and Anova tools. 251 public teachers were invited to answer an adapted survey questionnaire in Manay District, Division of Davao Oriental . Teachers' disaster preparedness levels were rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with a higher score indicating greater preparedness. The study reveals that public school teachers in Manay District, Division of Davao Oriental demonstrate a high level of disaster preparedness overall, with a mean score of 3.71. Teachers strongly recognize the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences related to disasters but show only moderate participation in disaster awareness campaigns. While no significant differences were found in disaster preparedness based on sex, age and years of service were found to be influential factors. Middle-aged teachers (31-40 years) and those with more than ten years of experience exhibited higher levels of preparedness, suggesting that life experience and professional tenure contribute to disaster readiness in educational settings. In response to the findings, it is recommended that training sessions and capacity-building workshops be conducted to enhance disaster awareness and active participation among all teachers, especially those with less experience.