ABSTRACT
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. This takes a major toll on both the lives of people and property. Among the most affected during these events are persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly. With chronic health problems and physical and mental disabilities, these groups are significantly more vulnerable during crises and are at a disadvantage when recovering from such adversaries. Conventional disaster protocols simply do not account for PWDs and the elderly, resulting in hardships at times of calamities. With this, the government and its disaster response organizations must consider the increased needs of the elderly and PWDs in order to ensure inclusivity in disaster response and management. Thus, this chapter aims to assess the disaster response and impact of disasters in the Philippines on the elderly and PWDs and identify possible points of improvement for disaster response organizations. The chapter also highlights the need for a more inclusive response in the context of disaster justice and proposes solutions to create a culture of preparedness in light of future disasters.
