Digitalization affects risk index; WRI now covers 100 indicators

BY DANIELA AVANZADO

PH FIRST IN WORLD DISASTER RISK INDEX

The Philippines topped the updated World Risk Index (WRI) this 2022 as the most disaster-prone country among 193 nations.

WRI determines each nation’s risk of calamity and its capacity to respond, reduce the impact, and adapt accordingly; it also assesses the exposure and vulnerability of a community from over 100 indicators in its updated framework.

In the report, the country ranked first with an index score of 46.82 and exposure of 39.99, the latter score ranking fourth among all the listed nations.

The Philippines earned a score of 54.81 for the aspect of vulnerability, 51.35 for susceptibility, 57.81 for lack of coping capacities, and 55.48 for lack of adaptive capacities.

The first five categories are classified within the maximum range as “very high.” The lack of adaptive capacities fits within the second-tothe-last category of “high,”

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson and assistant secretary Raffy Alejandro told the public that the council “took note of the result” and that improvement is included in the goals of its council.

India and Indonesia followed the Philippines in the WRI score ranking, while Colombia, Mexico, Myanmar, Mozambique, China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan completed the top 10 most disaster-prone countries of the year.

DIGITALIZATION INFLUENCES RISK INDEX; WRI NOW COVERS 100 INDICATORS

WRI increased its indicators from 27 to 100, focusing on digitalization and how it influenced disaster preparedness through “knowledge acquisition, information dissemination, communication, and control.”

The report showed that unequal access to information and communication technologies might cause a more significant divide among the marginalized sectors, especially in disaster response.

Disinformation were also cited as a risk influencing disaster management.