Disaster agency bill passed on second reading

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved on second reading Tuesday a measure that will establish an agency tasked solely to help government address natural disasters, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Legislators voted to approve House Bill 5989 (Disaster Resilience Act) creating the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) that will be the primary agency responsible for leading national efforts before, during and after disasters.

“This would help drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate, the bureaucratic red tape that has caused many delays in the delivery of immediate assistance needed by disaster and calamity victims,” House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said.

Romualdez and his wife, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie were among the principal authors of the DDR bill that was sponsored by Batangas Rep. Mario Vittorio Mariño, chairman the House committee on government reorganization.

The DDR guarantees a unity of command, science-based approach, and full-time focus on natural hazards and disasters.

The DDR shall also provide leadership in the continuous development of strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation, as well as anticipatory adaptation strategies, measures, techniques and options.

It shall also augment the capacity of local government units in collaboration with relevant national agencies and other stakeholders to implement disaster risk reduction and management and climate change action plans, programs, projects and activities.

“Guaranteeing disaster resiliency through closer coordination and stronger management synchronization at all levels of the country’s disaster risk reduction and management system cannot be delayed any further,” the Romualdez couple said.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier called on his 301 other House colleagues to hasten the measure’s approval. HB 5989 will solely focus on disaster preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response, recovery and rehabilitation.

“While our government is now focused on its fight against COVID-19 pandemic, we also have to be prepared to respond to inevitable natural disasters like floods, typhoons and earthquakes,” Cayetano pointed out.

He made the statement following President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address, where he mentioned the bill, as the Speaker underscored the need to manage the “dual disaster” of natural disasters and poverty in an integrated, systematic and cohesive manner.

Another principal author, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the bill will improve the country’s disaster and emergency preparation.

“We can no longer deny the fact that climate change is real, that we are a volcanically and tectonically active country, and that we face several typhoons each year. Disasters are a fact of Philippine life,” Salceda said.