Situated right in the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is very vulnerable to numerous natural disasters.

It is one of countries which sit on top of the Pacific Ring of Fire, or the area near the Pacific with the most active tectonic plates, which makes it susceptible to earthquakes and tsunamis, as it is also surrounded by bodies of water. As it is also a country which is open to the entire Pacific Ocean, it is the most exposed to tropical typhoons with around 19 tropical storms entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in a typical year. Given this high probability of natural disasters to occur, it should be noted that the country must be ready to address these natural phenomena at all cost and to have some sort of counter measures to at least help alleviate the disaster to the people affected. The recent catastrophic event left by Super Typhoon Yolanda, with the international name Haiyan, had been more than enough for most people to realize the importance of being prepared. As of writing, there had been 4,011 casualties, 1, 602 missing and 18,557 are declared injured while the cost of damage reaches roughly Php 12.24-billion. A few days before it hit the Philippines, there had been plenty of news reported of the supposedly huge and intimidating typhoon as seen from the aerial view clippings. It is mighty huge that it can easily encompass almost half of the country. The government warned the local government units and its people of the impending doom set to ravage the country. The president called forth the attention of the mass as he warned to take the impending danger seriously in a nationwide televised speech across several media. Immediate evacuations were set especially to those along the path of the super typhoon. But, are these enough? There is no doubt that we Filipinos are the most experienced people on earth when it comes to typhoons. But like the present and previous governments we never learned any lessons from our vast experience in this storm weary nation. Just like our political system and our economy, the biggest problem of the Filipino people is always the same year after year that we never get to fix ourselves nor do we know how to prepare thoroughly. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is the agency tasked to prepare for, and respond to, natural calamities, like typhoons and earthquakes. It also monitors human-induced emergencies, such as armed conflicts and maritime accidents. The NDRRMC uses strategies to mitigate the impact of disasters and increase the resiliency of both the national government and local government units (LGUs) in the face of disasters. Did they really do their duty or is it another half-hearted attempt at their part?

As the typhoon barges across the central Philippines, the media isnt just overhyping one of the worst typhoons to ever make a landfall. In its wake laid thousands of lives destroyed and struggling to live. The sturdiest homes were wrecked apart and even the evacuation centers and the local emergency measures were thwarted. Even some of the officials and the local emergency units were not spared.

NDRRMC update as of 8am: Casualties-4,011;Missing-1,602; Injured-18,557. Cost of damage reaches Php 12.24-billion

Relief aid begins to move, is it enough? Much-needed aid finally reaches survivors of super typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan). Nearly 50,000 food packs reach victims in Tacloban City, one of the hardest-hit areas. More than 100,000 hygiene kits will also be deployed. International aid is pouring in -- not only to provide food and other supplies, but to help in delivering them. The US, Japan, Australia, and UK sent planes to deliver supplies to far-flung areas. This comes after criticisms the government has been slow and inefficient in directing where aid needs to go. A week since the typhoon hit Central Philippines -- killing at least 2,360 people and displacing more than 544,00 people -- the priority is to reach the victims and assist survivors. The national government and international aid workers race to deliver the supplies to remote areas that have gone on for days without supplies. Despite the outpouring of support, more help is needed. The United Nations estimates the Philippines will need $301 million for the rehabilitation and recovery of more than 11.5 million affected people.

World's soldiers come to help International aid is pouring in -- and countries are sending both supplies and their own troops to help. On Thursday, November 14, US Navy ships arrive in Leyte Gulf to help in the relief efforts for victims of Typhoon haiyan. The group consists of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, with 5,000 sailors aboard, guided-missile cruisers and destroyers, cargo ship and an oceanographic survey ship. 21 helicopters will also be used to transport emergency supplies around the disaster zone. Other transport planes, helicopters, ships and medics are also coming in from other countries in the Asia-Pacific and Europe. On Thursday, A Canadian military advance team arrived in Iloilo, bringing medicines and water purification equipment. British destroyer HMS Daring also joined the aid effort along with several aircraft. At least 9 C130 planes and other aircraft from the militaries of the US, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea have been moving relief goods from the logistics hub in Cebu.

Still no aid at Guiuan, ground zero, #YolandaPH's first landfall The farthest islands in Guiuan, Eastern Samar have not received relief goods for at least 4 days. Locals are still totally cut off from Guiuan town proper and much needed aid, with all their

boats damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda. Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, sister of Mayor Christopher Gonzales identified the four isolated barangays as Homonhon, Manicani, Suluan and Calicoan. The mayor requested for a helicopter to deliver food to these areas. The super typhoon first hit land in Guiuan on Friday. Gonzales-Kwan said that despite being the first-hit, the town is the last to receive goods. She said goods pass by Leyte and other parts of Samar before getting to Guiuan. By that time, there aren't much relief goods left to distribute. Social welfare secretary Dinky Soliman said 16,000 food packs is on its way to Guiuan.

There is still no power, no communication. With no evacuation centers, survivors build makeshift roofs over concrete walls still standing. Looting is a problem. An 8 am to 5 pm curfew is now being imposed. Gonzales-Kwan describes Yolanda's arrival like "an atomic bomb that dropped on us."

Lessons from past disasters How do we minimize the loss of lives and damage when ferocious typhoons come our way? Rapplers Editor-at-large Marites Vitug said her search for answers led her to 2 persons who have extensively studied disasters- Asia Foundations Kathryn Hawley and the World Banks Abhas Jha. Hawley said even the best-prepared nation would have a hard time bracing itself against a destructive storm such as Haiyan. Governments should put in place: prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures. Prevention includes building codes and enforcement of land use. Preparedness involves stockpiling of food and water warehoused in strategic locations and training personnel for emergency response, public information networks etc. Jha says setting up a fully empowered Reconstruction Agency like BRR in Indonesia after Aceh or the Queensland Reconstruction Authority in Australia is an essential first step. Such an institution must have a clear mandate, funding and capacity support enabling it to fulfil its roles. COORDINATION KEY. Disaster experts say it is vital for the government and aid groups to set up coordination systems to efficiently reach the people who need help the most.

FAST FACTS: The NDRRMC

MANILA, Philippines Its name and acronym may be lengthy, but it plays a major role in keeping the country safe from disasters and ensuring quick recovery afterwards.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is the agency tasked to prepare for, and respond to, natural calamities, like typhoons and earthquakes. It also monitors human-induced emergencies, such as armed conflicts and maritime accidents.

The NDRRMC uses strategies to mitigate the impact of disasters and increase the resiliency of both the national government and local government units (LGUs) in the face of disasters.

As a policy-making body, it is assigned to formulate a national disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) framework that provides for a "comprehensive, all hazards, multisectoral, inter-agency and community-based approach to disaster risk reduction and management," according to Republic Act 10121, NDRRMC's enabling law.

The DRRM framework it created in June 2011 is integrated into a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, which is implemented by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), under the Department of National Defense (DND). It covers 4 DRRM aspects, namely: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation, and recovery.

Read more about the NDRRMC and the Cabinet officials that comprise it in the infographic below.

10 tips for NGOs responding to Haiyan The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was one of the worst natural disasters in human history and also a tragedy where the international aid community could have done much better.

A report by the 2004 Tsunami Evaluation Coalition highlighted one of the biggest weaknesses in the international relief operation was its lack of understanding of the local context and its reluctance or inability to consult with, and work through and with, local communities, groups and organizations.

The report recommended that the international humanitarian community transform its role from supplying aid to supporting and facilitating communities own relief and recovery priorities, and strive to increase their disaster response capacities and to improve the linkages and coherence between themselves and other actors in the international disaster response system, including those from the affected countries themselves.

I asked Roger Yates, Plan Internationals top expert in disaster and humanitarian response, what are the main lessons learned from that disaster for NGOs currently responding to the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Yates, with over 25 years of experience dealing with these situations, including the 2004 tsunami, offered 10 tips:

1. Focus on the priorities. Dont try to do everything at once. Accept initial levels of chaos and confusion. Immediate priorities probably include understanding how things work in the Philippines, and who is doing what; developing initial plans based on local needs, not what

donors have to give; and thinking ahead when organizing initial work so it will be relevant later on. Prepare to adapt priorities as circumstances change in the coming weeks.

2. Understand the role of the military and the government. The army will probably play a leading role in the initial response, with international assistance. They may run the airport, clear major routes, oversee logistics and provide security. NGOs should understand how the military is organized and what they see as their role as well as how government is run. NGOs may be able to influence what they are doing and define complementary roles, like for instance offer expertise in distribution of supplies and engaging with marginalized people.

3. Work with local elected officials and other community leaders. They know who lives (or lived) where and how things work, though probably lack the capacity to effectively deliver relief goods. NGOs should listen to city, municipality and barangay leaders when they are designing relief activities and identifying who to give relief to, and reviewing how to improve their activities.

4. Keep the public (in affected communities) informed about: when and where NGOs are going to provide assistance; key public health messages; how people can give and get information about missing people and the dead: and other priorities that emerge for affected people (like transport options or the role of authorities). NGOs can put up notice boards, distribute leaflets, broadcast messages by local radio and television.

5. Work collaboratively, not independently. NGOs should recognize their role as one part of a locally-led, wider effort. All NGOs should consider other actors plans when they design their own activities and share information about their activities. They should publish their needs assessments and plans on-line (using co-ordination websites like Humanitarian Response or GDACS). They should support local partners and organizations. All NGOs should be prepared to adapt what theyre doing to what other actors are doing. And donors should support this flexibility when necessary.

6. Go the extra mile to find the most vulnerable and worst affected people, such as adolescent girls. They are likely to have specific needs and to be easily ignored or sidelined by mainstream relief efforts. NGOs can play an important role in making sure they benefit fully from official relief. Though this will likely need specific resourcing.

7. Dont underestimate the importance of mental health. People need help in dealing with immediate shock, trauma and grief as well as help in coming to terms with whats happened to their families and their plans for the future. NGOs can help reduce stress, for instance by encouraging practical mutual support within communities (around accessing aid), avoiding huge life-changing decisions and treating people with kind dignity.

8. Support local markets and move to cash transfers as soon as possible. Local markets are probably working better than assumed. They will improve rapidly as opportunities arise and create jobs, dignity and normality. NGOs should support local markets as much as possible. For instance, they should buy goods locally wherever possible and give people money (through cash transfers) so they can choose what to buy for themselves.

9. Build up a two-way communication with the local public. In the coming weeks, NGOs should provide more information to the public about how to get in touch with them. Every time an NGO logo or notice board is put up, it should include contact details of named staff members. NGOs should be transparent about their plans and budgets. They should make use of local media outlets. They should ensure that local people are involved in designing projects. And they should systematically ask local people for comments and feedback about the relief they provide and respond to their comments. Donors should support this flexibility.

10. Building permanent houses is difficult. Dont rush into it! Thoughtful construction takes time, involving many social and legal issues as well as technical ones. NGOs shouldnt expect that people can move from temporary shelter (like tents) to permanent houses in a year. They may be stuck in tents for a long time. Interim housing may be an important option. NGOs should

consider providing people with reasonable quality housing materials or money to buy their own. - Rappler.com

(Editors note: This article originally appeared on devex.com and was titled, 10 tips for NGOs responding to Philippine typhoon. See more tips here. Alex Jacobs is director for program quality at Plan International. He has 20 years of experience in working in NGOs like Oxfam and Mango. Jacobs carried out countless evaluations of humanitarian programs and contributed to leading international initiatives, and has been a visiting fellow at Oxford and Duke universities.) Focus on the priorities. Dont try to do everything at once. Accept initial levels of chaos and confusion. Immediate priorities probably include understanding how things work in the Philippines, and who is doing what; developing initial plans based on local needs, not what donors have to give; and thinking ahead when organizing initial work so it will be relevant later on. Prepare to adapt priorities as circumstances change in the coming weeks.

2. Understand the role of the military and the government. The army will probably play a leading role in the initial response, with international assistance. They may run the airport, clear major routes, oversee logistics and provide security. NGOs should understand how the military is organized and what they see as their role as well as how government is run. NGOs may be able to influence what they are doing and define complementary roles, like for instance offer expertise in distribution of supplies and engaging with marginalized people.

3. Work with local elected officials and other community leaders. They know who lives (or lived) where and how things work, though probably lack the capacity to effectively deliver relief goods. NGOs should listen to city, municipality and barangay leaders when they are designing relief activities and identifying who to give relief to, and reviewing how to improve their activities.

4. Keep the public (in affected communities) informed about: when and where NGOs are going to provide assistance; key public health messages; how people can give and get information about missing people and the dead: and other priorities that emerge for affected people (like

transport options or the role of authorities). NGOs can put up notice boards, distribute leaflets, broadcast messages by local radio and television.

5. Work collaboratively, not independently. NGOs should recognize their role as one part of a locally-led, wider effort. All NGOs should consider other actors plans when they design their own activities and share information about their activities. They should publish their needs assessments and plans on-line (using co-ordination websites like Humanitarian Response or GDACS). They should support local partners and organizations. All NGOs should be prepared to adapt what theyre doing to what other actors are doing. And donors should support this flexibility when necessary.

6. Go the extra mile to find the most vulnerable and worst affected people, such as adolescent girls. They are likely to have specific needs and to be easily ignored or sidelined by mainstream relief efforts. NGOs can play an important role in making sure they benefit fully from official relief. Though this will likely need specific resourcing.

7. Dont underestimate the importance of mental health. People need help in dealing with immediate shock, trauma and grief as well as help in coming to terms with whats happened to their families and their plans for the future. NGOs can help reduce stress, for instance by encouraging practical mutual support within communities (around accessing aid), avoiding huge life-changing decisions and treating people with kind dignity.

8. Support local markets and move to cash transfers as soon as possible. Local markets are probably working better than assumed. They will improve rapidly as opportunities arise and create jobs, dignity and normality. NGOs should support local markets as much as possible. For instance, they should buy goods locally wherever possible and give people money (through cash transfers) so they can choose what to buy for themselves.

9. Build up a two-way communication with the local public. In the coming weeks, NGOs should provide more information to the public about how to get in touch with them. Every time an NGO logo or notice board is put up, it should include contact details of named staff members. NGOs should be transparent about their plans and budgets. They should make use of local media outlets. They should ensure that local people are involved in designing projects. And they should systematically ask local people for comments and feedback about the relief they provide and respond to their comments. Donors should support this flexibility.

10. Building permanent houses is difficult. Dont rush into it! Thoughtful construction takes time, involving many social and legal issues as well as technical ones. NGOs shouldnt expect that people can move from temporary shelter (like tents) to permanent houses in a year. They may be stuck in tents for a long time. Interim housing may be an important option. NGOs should consider providing people with reasonable quality housing materials or money to buy their own.