FMJ backs Department of Disaster Resilience
By J.Lo
"Yes, I don't like to say it but it has been happening more frequently... not the earthquake but weather... the extreme weather... it's not necessarily storms, but in Europe and America, you will notice that it is very hot," President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is supportive of proposed measure that would create Department on Disaster Resilience, following strong earthquake that hit northern Luzon earlier.
"So these are the things that we have to be careful, we need more capability that we have now… We are good in our typhoon measures, we know how to handle earthquake but dangers, effects of climate change present are different, that's why we need specialist agency," he stressed.
Philippines is among countries hardest-hit by natural disasters in the last 20 years, with weather effects exacerbated by climate change.
In January of this year, former senate president Vicente Sotto III said bill creating Department of Disaster Resilience was unlikely to be approved in the 18th Congress because of intense interpellation.
The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill in 2020.
According to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the quake earlier reported as magnitude 7.3 occurred at 8:43 in the morning and was located at 17.64°N, 120.63°E - 003 km N 45° W of Tayum in Abra. It had a depth of 17 kilometers.
The quake was felt strongly in many areas in Luzon, including in Metro Manila.
Following the quake, some legislators emphasized the need for Department of Disaster Resilience as they believe that this will consolidate government resources towards " more unified disaster preparedness, response, and management strategy."
For one, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said quake "makes our long-running clamor for the establishment of Department of Disaster Resilience relevant."
"Once established, we will have Cabinet secretary-level department whose primary tasks are not limited to extending immediate assistance but also making sure rapid recovery and rehabilitation of affected communities," Go said in a separate press release.
Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito said country's vulnerability to natural disasters "calls for a fully fledged department dedicated to disaster preparedness, response, and management."
Senator Grace Poe likewise said recent earthquake "brought to fore" previous calls to create Department of Disaster Resilience and Emergency Assistance and Management which, she said, would be first responder during calamities.
"The proposed body will also efficiently plan and collaborate with concerned agencies and local government units on disaster mitigation and management, our people especially in vulnerable communities should not suffer more in the face of calamities, " she said.
In a virtual interview with Senator Imee Marcos, the president's sister agreed that there should be government body that will respond to natural calamities like United States' Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The lawmaker noted that National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council usually lacks budget as it is just coordinating body and some of its funding were realigned for rehabilitation of Marawi City.
" It has a small budget, and most of it has been allocated to Marawi rehabilitation so NDRRMC can hardly take action…they have to ask other departments for their quick response funds," Imee said.
Although she raised this suggestion, Imee said she is not in favor of creating a new department, considering recent stand of the administration on rightsizing bureaucracy.
"I don't want to immediately make another department because we will use up the funds towards salaries for undersecretaries and assistant secretaries…let's try an authority or council first, something that is smaller and doesn't need to be a full-blown department,isang authority directly under the president with its own powers and functions... some budget and more teeth " she said.
During Senate's Wednesday plenary session, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano cited 2021 World Risk Report which showed that average of 20 typhoons hit Philippines and the country ranked eighth out of 181 countries in terms of disaster risk.
In another study by German Watch, Cayetano said, Philippines ranked fourth among countries that are most affected by climate change and weather catastrophes from 2000 to 2019.
"No less than our Senate president pro tempore Loren Legarda fittingly was first one to speak on the environment…so, I would just like to manifest and ask leadership to consider asking the president to consider these bills urgent," he added.
The lawmaker noted that several bills introduced by several senators like Senator Pia Cayetano, Go, and himself have already been filed in the chamber.
Although he acknowledged commitment and dedication of the people in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Cayetano said body is composed of 44 agencies which are only tasked to coordinate with each other during the times of catastrophes.
"I've seen them work but Mr. President ano ito, 44 agencies, ad hoc coordination. Coordinating lang sila…we need one department that will be accountable, one department that will be the one to do the job and we can pinpoint if any coordination is needed," Cayetano stressed.
The lawmaker will draft personal letter to President Marcos to ask Palace that these bills will be certified urgent.
"But if the majority leader can consider in the Rules Committee meeting if the Senate as a whole wants to ask for this bill to be certified urgent, I'd greatly appreciate that," Cayetano added.
In response, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva wants to be part of this measure creating DDR and the Committee on Rules will consider Cayetano's suggestion as soon as they finish its organization.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who manifested he also filed bill creating DDR, also expressed his full support on Cayetano's manifestation.
"I fully support it and You have the support from this chair," Zubiri said.
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