| Summary, etc |
This study assessed the building safety and disaster preparedness of Cagayan State University-Carig Campus to develop a comprehensive disaster mitigation plan tailored to its unique vulnerabilities. Employing a qualitative descriptive research design, the study evaluated 17 university buildings through structured checklists and surveyed 390 students using validated questionnaires. The findings revealed significant deficiencies in critical safety features such as emergency signage, fire safety compliance, and earthquake preparedness, although buildings were generally better equipped for typhoons. Student's respondents demonstrated moderate to high awareness of disaster preparedness, particularly in typhoon and fire scenarios, but showed gaps in hands-on first aid skills, communication protocols, and participation in drills. Correlation analysis suggested that there is no statistically significant correlation between students' disaster awareness and the disaster-readiness assessments of their college buildings. The study underscores the importance of combining structural improvements with community engagement in disaster preparedness. Recommendations include upgrading infrastructure, conducting regular drills, improving emergency communication systems, and institutionalizing a strategic disaster mitigation framework aligned with national and international safety standards The results aim to enhance the resilience of educational institutions in disaster-prone regions.
Keywords: disaster mitigation, building safety, university resilience, disaster preparedness, emergency awareness |