In the wake of the recent 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck off Batangas province and jolted parts of Luzon, and amid the continued state of unrest of the Mayon Volcano in Albay, Senator Bong Go reiterated his call for the passage of his proposed measures that will establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), as well as mandatory evacuation centers throughout the country.
During an interview after he personally distributed assistance to indigents in Quezon City, Go emphasized the need for more efficient coordination and the establishment of the DDR.
The legislator stressed the importance of having a designated point person and the drawbacks of relying solely on task forces, stating, “Dahil kapag panibagong task force, kapag panibagong administrasyon, panibago na naman ang kakausapin mo.”
“It should be a cabinet-level dahil tuwing mayro’ng bagyo, kapag pumunta rin ‘yung usec (undersecretary), mahihirapan siyang ipatawag ang mga secretaries ng ibang departments.”
“It should be a cabinet-level dahil tuwing mayro’ng bagyo, kapag pumunta rin ‘yung usec (undersecretary), mahihirapan siyang ipatawag ang mga secretaries ng ibang departments. Dapat may point person talaga with authority and clear mandate,” the lawmaker added.
As the country is prone to various calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, Go stressed that his proposed Senate Bill No. 188, which will establish the DDR, would centralize efforts, streamline coordination, and ensure more swift and effective response to emergencies.
The creation of the said department, if enacted into law, shall concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.
The senator went on to highlight the responsibilities that such a secretary would undertake, emphasizing, “si Secretary ng Department of Disaster, siya na po ang makikipag-coordinate sa Department of Energy para ibalik ‘yung kuryente. Coordinate with DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) para i-clearing kaagad ang mga natumbang mga poste tuwing may bagyo o lindol.”
The Office of Civil Defense has recently voiced its support for the establishment of the DDR or other similar governing body, emphasizing the importance of such an institution in improving operations in managing and responding to future crises.
“Kailangan po ng mas malakas na kapangyarihan ang Office of Civil Defense, maaaring maging departamento o authority; but it needs legislation.”
“Nabanggit nga kanina, paano natin pagbabawalan doon ‘eh coordination lang naman tayo, hindi ho ba? So kailangan po ng mas malakas na kapangyarihan ang Office of Civil Defense, maaaring maging departamento o authority; but it needs legislation,” OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said in a recent interview when asked about evacuation efforts in permanent danger zones near active volcanoes.
“Things can be better if there will be an independent authority or department, but it’s not that simple – tanggap po namin iyon… We leave it to Congress and we leave it to the Palace, to Malacañang. Meanwhile, kami naman, we are doing our best given the limitations, makakaasa po kayo,” the OCD chief said.
Meanwhile, Go also spoke on the necessity of creating dedicated evacuation centers in strategic locations, stating, “Dapat mayroon tayong malinis, maayos na evacuation center sa bawat lugar para hindi maantala ang pag-aaral ng mga bata dahil nagagamit minsan ang mga eskwelahan tuwing mayroong disaster.”
His proposed SBN 193 seeks to mandate the establishment of permanent, secure, and well-equipped evacuation centers in every municipality, city, and province throughout the Philippines.
The establishment and construction of the evacuation centers will be overseen by the DPWH and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
According to the proposed measure, the DPWH will be in charge of constructing the evacuation centers based on standards, issuances, and guidelines set by the DPWH. The DENR, on the other hand, will determine the location of each evacuation center in close coordination with the local government units concerned.
The minimum requirements for every evacuation center are also specified in the bill.
The centers must have amenities and accessibility that enable them to accommodate a large number of evacuees.
Meanwhile, in response to the recent earthquake that hit Batangas, Go emphasized the importance of residents following safety advisories, stating, “Kung ano pong sinabi ng ating Mayor, ng ating LGUs, at ng concerned agencies, sundin natin. Kung kailangan na lumikas sa ligtas na lugar, lumikas dapat kaagad.”
“Unahin po natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng mga Pilipino. Importante ay mailigtas natin ang buhay ng mga apektado,” he stressed.
Go also underscored the significance of adhering to evacuation protocols and participating in earthquake drills.
