Kagawad Robert Benito, or ―Obet‖ as his ka-barangays call him, is the duly elected Disaster Committee Head of Barangay Pansol’s council. Being so, he is responsible for managing and improving Barangay Pansol’s disaster response system and facilities. His job is vital to their community’s safety, considering the vulnerabilities and hazards present in Barangay Pansol: buildings that had been erected with substandard safety features, trees and electric posts located near roads and houses that can collapse, slopes in the terrain that can lead to traffic accidents and landslides, and the mere fact that the barangay lies directly above the West Valley Fault. In the duration of his term as Barangay Disaster Committee Head, Kagawad Obet never leaves the barangay’s premises to ensure his quick response when disaster strikes.
Kagawad Obet was very concerned by the incomprehensive disaster preparedness plans of the previous barangay council. ―When I was elected Kagawad, there were no documents for disaster risk and response management

Kgd. Obet during a barangay forum Photo courtesy of Brgy. Pansol QC Facebook Page

turned over to me by the previous Disaster Committee Head. The barangay was also short on funding, facilities, and equipment for disaster response,‖ said Kagawad Obet. Additionally, according to him, the community was then uncoordinated, with only a limited sense of the disasters that can occur in their area and the disaster preparedness plans of their barangay council.
As he was seeking ways to improve their community’s disaster preparedness plans, he made it a point to actively participate in projects launched by the city LGU and NGOs for disaster preparedness in communities, such as CREST.
―We participated in their Community-Based Disaster Management training and seminars, and the UP for the Big One Network launching. Although there were only a limited number of people I met and interacted with, due to CoVID-19 restrictions, I learned a lot especially about how my committee is supposed to manage the people, the area, and our community’s security. I also learned strategies to help disseminate disaster plans to our community members to ensure everyone’s preparedness and safety during disasters.‖
Kagawad Obet is very grateful for the partnership and good relations that their barangay council had built with CREST. He expressed that as a fellow volunteer, he felt a deep connection with CREST’s team of volunteers who likewise ―are passionate and sincere in giving their wholehearted service to communities.‖
―Everything that CREST gave to us helped the community a lot, especially our disaster committee. As the new director of the committee, I was in great need of knowledge and strategies I can use to improve our activities and to be able to plan better. I’m glad and thankful for CREST and the work that they do.‖
Barangay Pansol is one of the six barangay-beneficiaries of the second launching of the Enhancing
Capacities in Disaster Risk Reduction Management for more Resilient People And Communities (EnCap 2) Project that aims to strengthen community-based disaster management in disaster-prone communities in Quezon City, NCR.