Why doesn’t the Philippines have a department to deal with Disasters already?

[ASEAN NOW News]

Last week we reported that several lawmakers in the House of Representatives had discussed the need for the immediate passage of a measure seeking to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) to manage the country's disaster preparedness, response, and rehabilitation efforts.

 

Luzon earthquake photo

 

This discussion was prompted by the recent magnitude 7 quake that hit Abra, and nearby areas.

 

However, it begs belief that the members of the House of Representatives are even having to consider such a move especially since the country has been affected in the past 12 months by two major natural catastrophes.

 

A more science-based approach to disaster resilience

 

Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo, ACT-CIS Partylist Reps. Edvic Yap, Jocelyn Tulfo and Jeffrey Soriano, meanwhile, pushed for House Bill No. 452 that aims to create the DDR.

 

The bill seeks to create an “empowered, highly specialized, science and information and communications technology (ICT)-based and fast and responsive Department of Disaster Resilience, with the clear unity of command which shall be primarily responsible for ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities.”

 

“We should emphasize the science-based aspect of this proposal. With the Philippines among the countries most vulnerable to the destructive effects of climate change, science and technology should play a key role in helping us prepare for possible disasters,” the lawmakers said.

 

Under the measure, the DDR shall manage and direct the implementation of national, local, and community-based disaster resilience and disaster management programs, projects, and activities in collaboration with relevant government agencies, local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations, academic groups, and other stakeholders.

 

Duterte said their proposed measure includes the establishment of a National Disaster Operations Center (NDOC), Alternative Command and Control Centers (ACCCs) in the regions and the Disaster Resilience Research and Training Institute (DRRTI).

 

The bill also proposes to establish evacuation centers in every city and municipality that would offer accommodation for people who have been displaced from their homes due to natural or man-made disasters.

 

These are all fine words by the country's politicians, but will there be any positive action? 

 

Insurance fund set up

 

Southeast Asia is one of the most hazard-prone regions in Asia and the Pacific.

 

The region suffered $91 billion in financial losses in 2004–2014 from the impacts of typhoons, storm surges, floods, drought, and earthquakes.

 

Southeast Asia’s poor and vulnerable are also the ones most likely to be adversely affected when disasters strike. 

 

The Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRM) Fund set up in 2013 supported the Philippines in designing the world’s first city disaster insurance pool, covering earthquakes and typhoons.

 

The insurance pool was carefully structured to address the need for rapid access to early recovery financing post-disaster. Other countries in Southeast Asia have shown interest in replicating the city disaster insurance pool.

 

Insurance for microfinance institutions against extreme weather events was also evaluated in Myanmar, providing a design for a not-for-profit contingent disaster liquidity facility that allows microfinance institutions to provide loans, with near-zero interest rates, to disaster-affected clients.

 

Why so late?

 

Minivan escapes earth tremors last week

 

Of course, we all know that the Philippines is prone to these disasters annually due to its location in the area.

 

So why does the government even need to discuss setting up a Disaster Dept instead of having to rely on various government and provincial authorities along with the Philippine forces and police to manger these catastrophes?

 

Let’s hope they have learnt their lesson since the Luzon quake and fast track this desperately need Disaster Department to get the green light asap.

 

Join our 3 x a week Philippines News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php