Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez on Sunday assured the swift passage into law of a consolidated bill that would create a new department that will focus solely on disaster response under the speakership of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Romualdez is one of the authors of 43 pending measures on the creation of a disaster management department.
“I am very much certain that this measure will pass the House of Representatives under Speaker Arroyo,” she said, adding such could help expedite the massive reconstruction in Marawi City.
Under the proposed measure, the rehabilitation of destructed areas caused by war and terrorism is covered.
“The mandate of the proposed department also covers rebuilding of areas ruined by armed conflict and terrorism, just like what had happened to Marawi City,” Romualdez said.
“The Philippines cannot continue to have a disaster organization that only has coordinative functions given its too much exposure to disasters,” she added.
President Rodrigo Duterte already appealed to Congress to pass the measure immediately.
“As I had stated last year, we must learn from the experiences from the Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” and other mega disasters, and from global best practices. We need a truly empowered department characterized by a unity of command, science-based approach and full-time focus on natural hazards and disasters, and the wherewithal to take charge of the disaster risk reduction; preparedness and response; with better recovery and faster rehabilitation,” the President said.
“Hence, we, in the Cabinet, have approved for immediate endorsement to Congress the passage of a law creating the Department of Disaster Management—a high-priority measure aimed at genuinely strengthening our country’s capacity for resilience to natural disasters. I fervently appeal to Congress to pass this bill with utmost urgency. Our people’s safety requirements cannot wait,” Duterte added.