A PANEL in the House of Representatives has formed a technical working group that will study and harmonize eight bills seeking to create an independent agency that will handle the country’s disaster preparedness and emergency management.
The House committees on government reorganization and national defense and security created the TWG headed by Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay will harmonize House Bill 108, 344, 596, 2638, 3093, 4203, 4648 and 6075 authored, respectively, by Reps. Gary Alejano of Magdalo party-list, Yedda Marie Romualdez of Leyte, Prospero Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur, Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela City, Winnie Castelo of Quezon City, Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon party-list, Doy Leachon of Oriental Mindoro and Salceda.
The bills include measures on recovery and reconstruction plan led by Phivolcs; drills (earthquake, fire, etc.); fisherfolk as auxiliary response team during disasters; accounting/administration of disaster aid or donations; creating operational assessment of hazard centers; climate change adaptation linkages; providing for emergency warehouses and establishing disaster and emergency centers, among others.
Agencies which have expressed their support for the bills are the National Economic Development Authority, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Civil Service Commission, Center for Disaster Preparedness, Armed Forces of the Philippines and World Vision Philippines.
During the hearing, Rep. Ron Salo of Kabayan Party-List, who acted as the chairman of the committee on government reorganization, said the joint committee will initially deliberate on the bills relating to disasters.
Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil of Pangasinan, who acted as co-chairperson of the joint committee, read the opening speech of Rep. Amado Espino of Pangasinan, chairperson of the national defense and security body.
He said the panel will discuss the issue of creation of a body or agency to handle the disaster risk reduction and management program of the government.
“We have a total of 43 measures all related to each other. Although certain measures provide for the creation of the agency, it is comprehensive enough to include a myriad of provisions on the other aspects of disaster preparedness that we saw it proper to include all of the measures on the topic,” Bataoil said
Bataoil said the committees will be briefed on how the new office will be better than the present setup.
“And we have to consider the transition from the present system to the new setup because we are aware that when a disaster happens it will have to be addressed with utmost urgency and handled with the best capability that this government can offer,” he said.
Herrera-Dy said the 2015 World Risk Report Index, which evaluates a country’s risk of exposure to natural hazards and vulnerability from impacts, showed the Philippines was in the top three.
“Out of 171 countries, we are third most exposed and most vulnerable to natural disasters. Likewise in the Climate Change Vulnerability Index we are ranked 13th. Current government procedures require a revamp,” she said.
Herrera-Dy said that “we need a more systematized approach in a disaster management and have in place key mechanisms to ensure quick and efficient means of disaster preparedness and assistance to those affected.”
Romualdez, whose province, Leyte, was struck by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake a few weeks ago, said natural disasters with increasing magnitude and frequencies like Typhoon Haiyan have continued to affect the country which is now the second most vulnerable in the world to disasters and climate change.
“Nearly 74 percent of the population and 80 percent of the land area are identified as vulnerable to disasters with Manila, the capital, considered an extreme risk,” she said.
Romualdez said even man-made calamities and acts of terrorism such as the recent events in Marawi and Metro Manila have underscored the need for a more advanced, systematic and effective strategy of emergency management.
“A new department of disaster preparedness and emergency management will effectively improve the institutional capacity of the government for disaster risk reduction and management, reduce the vulnerabilities surrounding the affected local population as well as build the resilience of local communities to both natural and man-made disasters and calamities,” Romualdez said.
Pichay said the yearly loss of life and damage to property become new statistics as typhoons, earthquakes and similar phenomena ravage the country.
“But while we cannot outlaw these occurrences, we can direct our concerned efforts in ensuring proper preparation, mitigation and response in the form of an effective emergency and disaster management,” he said.
Pichay said measures toward the devastation caused by disasters are short-term and reactive in nature.
“But what we truly need is a measure with substantial and long lasting results. One salient way to bring this about is through a comprehensive and centralized emergency authority.”
Alejano stressed the need for a permanent national agency that would focus on the country’s planning and preparation for disasters and emergencies as the country is ravaged annually by numerous natural and man-made emergencies.
“Under my proposal, the emergency management agency (EMA) will undertake disaster mitigation and preparedness measures as well as quick response mechanism which will allow us to reduce the risks of disasters and mitigate possible damage to life and property, initiate rapid and effective response to disasters and effectively manage post-disaster recovery,” Alejano said.