Stakeholder Engagement and Community Resilience in Disaster Risk Reduction: An Empirical Analysis from Catanduanes, Philippines

This study examines the perceived extent of community disaster resilience in Catanduanes, Philippines, by comparing the perspectives of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) program implementers and community beneficiaries. Anchored in Stakeholder Theory, Community Resilience Theory, and Systems Theory, the research employed a descriptive-comparative quantitative design to evaluate four core dimensions of resilience: human capital, social networks and community cohesion, economic capacity and livelihood resilience, and physical infrastructure and environmental robustness. Data were collected using a validated, researcher-developed survey instrument administered to 43 DRRM implementers (including municipal officers and barangay captains) and 401 household heads. Responses were measured using a 4-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were used to assess resilience levels, while independent samples z-tests determined statistically significant differences in stakeholder perceptions. Findings indicate that human capital was rated as “minimally resilient” by both groups (GWM: 2.27 for beneficiaries; 2.42 for implementers), reflecting critical gaps in mental health services and the deployment of specialized response teams. Social cohesion was perceived as “moderately resilient,” though challenges in knowledge management and inter-sectoral coordination persist. Notably, a statistically significant perceptual gap was found in the dimension of physical infrastructure, with implementers rating it more favorably than beneficiaries. This divergence suggests misalignment between program implementation and community experiences. The study proposes evidence- based recommendations to improve stakeholder engagement, enhance the inclusivity of DRRM policy frameworks, and strengthen localized resilience-building strategies. These insights are particularly relevant to disaster-prone island contexts, where governance capacity, community participation, and equitable service delivery remain critical to sustainable disaster resilience.