From Paper Compliance to Operational Readiness: Governance Gaps in Evacuation Center Management in Albay, Philippines

This study examines the divergence between formal governance compliance and operational readiness in evacuation center management across three disaster-prone cities in Albay Province, Philippines: Tabaco, Legazpi, and Ligao. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, data were collected from 67 participants, including 42 survey respondents and 25 key informant interviews, representing Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, local chief executives, and barangay officials. The study assessed compliance indicators such as manuals of operations, permanent evacuation center managers, budget allocations, and clearly defined maintenance responsibilities, alongside operational readiness measures including leadership, coordination, and decentralized decision-making. Findings indicate that all cities achieved high levels of formal compliance, yet operational performance varied considerably. Leadership and inter-agency coordination remained hindered, decentralized decision-making was uneven, and infrastructure gaps—particularly in Ligao—limited functional readiness. Qualitative evidence further highlighted discrepancies between reported compliance and real-world capacity, underscoring that formal structures alone do not guarantee effective disaster preparedness. The study concludes that bridging the compliance–readiness gap requires strengthening leadership, enhancing coordination, improving infrastructure, and engaging communities in disaster planning. These insights provide guidance for local policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve evacuation center functionality and resilience in high-risk contexts.