Experiences, Coping Style, and Concerns of BSVAWA with Super-typhoon Odette

Abstract

This study was focused on horrible experiences during the super typhoon Odette among Bonbon Small Vendor and Worker Association (BSVAWA) members, a registered women group in Barangay Bonbon. This is an adopted Barangay where (BSVAWA) resides, located near the coastal area of Clarin. The aim of the study was to assess the experiences, coping mechanisms, and concerns with the super typhoon Odette through focus group discussion and coping style survey questionnaire. The researcher concluded the dominating shared experience were terrible fear due to very strong wind and first-time experiences of high-flooding that destroyed their homes and properties. It was concluded that the identified coping style among the BSVAWA members is the Problem-Focused Coping Style which was ranked first with a weighted mean of 3.38 described as a medium amount of coping style which was interpreted as an ideal coping mechanism for stressful situation. Result showed that the major concern of the respondents was in need of a job and livelihood for survival, and most importantly an aid to rebuild their home as one of the physiological needs and safety. The researcher recommends to create a program and activities that would help respondents on their holistic recovery from the unpleasant experience and program to mitigate stress in every natural disaster and improve their health and wellness. This will be a baseline data that will be important for the Local Government Unit of the area.