From geographic distance to response delay: Applying a time-based disaster classification in the Philippines

communities could determine whether the proposed thresholds accurately reflect Philippine conditions and whether additional categories or locally adjusted standards are necessary.Schaffer and Bennett's framework offers a practical shift from asking how far a community is from assistance to asking how long assistance will actually take to arrive [1].Applying this approach in the Philippines could strengthen climate-resilient health systems, guide more equitable allocation of emergency resources, and improve preparedness among communities most likely to experience delayed assistance.