Creation of disaster resilience department revived

MANILA, Philippines — A ranking official of the House of Representatives has revived efforts to create a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) that will help Filipinos deal with all kinds of disasters as a result of climate change.  

House Bill 398 authored by Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte will be tasked to oversee and coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of disaster and climate resilience plans, programs, projects and activities.  

“The DDR will help ensure that the country is on top of all climate change developments with residents who are safe and ready before, during and after the occurrence of a natural disaster,” the Camarines Sur congressman said. 

The proposal seeks to integrate the Climate Change Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction, People’s Survival Fund, Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Efforts, and Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery under the DDR.   

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) will be attached to the DDR under the Villafuerte bill.  

DDR is also envisioned to “provide leadership in the continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation, anticipatory adaption strategies, measures, techniques and options.” 

The Villafuerte bill is in consonance with President Duterte’s call last July during his State of the Nation Address when he urged Congress to act for the speedy approval of a law creating the DDR.  

“It is high time that the Philippines, through legislation, take a decisive step towards resiliency, stability and full readiness in the face of natural disasters. It cannot continue to resort to band-aid measures like creating temporary government agencies to deal with serious, persistent and pressing issues such as climate change and disaster management,” Villafuerte said.   

International credit rating agency Moody’s pointed out that not only is the Philippines situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and within the Typhoon Belt, its labor force in the agriculture sector is also vulnerable to climate-related shocks.   

The congressman said HB 398 “shall do away with redundant bureaucratic processes that may result in delays, confusion and diluted accountability.”