Working close to the people

No words can really describe the devastation that the Jan. 12 eruption of Taal Volcano has wrought on the lives of many people living around the volcano, on the local economy, and on the future of people, livelihood, and businesses which have been disrupted and remain uncertain as experts predict that the worst may yet to come.

Many came to help the evacuees both from the government and the private sector, donating food and water, clothes and blankets, toiletries and medicine, conducting medical missions at the evacuation center.

The House of Representatives did its part by conducting its session in Batangas, its first out-of-town session.

When the House resumed sessions last Jan. 20, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano proposed that the body convene as a committee of the whole and hold its session in Batangas on Jan. 22 to hear first-hand especially from the first responders and those directly affected by the eruption what needs to be done. This is also to allow the government to better respond to the needs of the evacuees. His proposal received the full backing of the House. 

 A total of 204 House members attended the plenary session held at the Batangas Convention Center, which is outside the danger zone.

 According to Cayetano, as the House of the People, holding the session in Batangas would allow the body and its members to know first-hand how they can help affected families rebuild their lives following the Taal eruption. 

  But aside from this, it was also deemed impractical and insensitive on the part of the House to ask the first responders and the evacuees to travel all the way to the Batasan complex in Quezon City just to allow the congressmen to listen to what they have to say.

As reported in the papers, the session proceeded smoothly and did not disrupt the ongoing relief efforts near the convention center,

 Some administration critics could not help it though when they criticized the House leadership for doing this out-of-town session for show. But even if it indeed was conducted to score points with the public, what is important is that something good came out of it.

According to the House, the concerns  and suggestions raised during the Batangas session will serve as inputs in crafting a long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction plan for the Taal-affected areas.

Cayetano earlier directed House disaster management committee chairperson and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez to oversee the development of the rehabilitation plan, which will be prepared in coordination with the other House committees such as agriculture and food, social services, tourism, health, basic education, housing and urban development, local government, MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprise) development, among others, as well as other government agencies and the private sector.

 During the Batangas session, House Resolution 655 was adopted, urging the immediate release of funds for the aid, relief, resettlement, rehabilitation, livelihood, development and social programs and services to communities adversely affected by the Taal volcano eruption. The resolution also directed the appropriate House committee to immediately call the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for a committee briefing to assess the situation and determine the needs of the affected localities and the total budget requirements to address the calamity.

 Also approved was House Resolution 662 expressing the support and commitment of the House to work with all the concerned government agencies to pass the proposed supplemental budget to expedite the effective and responsive assistance to those affected by the volcanic eruption.

 Cayetano assured the full support of the House to the President’s request for a P30 billion supplemental budget to augment the funds needed to assist the areas affected by the volcanic eruption. The Speaker said that the House will also determine if the amount is sufficient, so that it can increase  the supplemental budget if necessary

 According to reports, the existing P16 billion national disaster risk reduction and management fund is not enough to cover the requirements of the Taal evacuees since part of this amount is already allocated for the rehabilitation of Marawi City, while a portion will be spent to aid earthquake victims in Mindanao last year, leaving only P7.5 billion.

 Cayetano also called for the immediate approval of the bill creating  the Department of Disaster Resilience, which is imperative in a country deemed to be among the most vulnerable to calamities and the devastating effects of climate change. The  House appropriations committee has already approved the funding provisions required under the still-unnumbered substitute bill creating the DDR. 

Not so hidden agenda

MAN OF THE HOUR.  Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno (in white shirt) is shown happily receiving an honorary membership certificate from the Manila Yacht Club headed by Commodore Bobby Joseph (second from right). Others in photo are (from left) vice commodore and port captain Ildelfonso Marco Tronqued; past commodore and ethics committee chair Francisco Garcia; Atty. Marian Attabug-Francisco; treasurer Juan Marco Arellano; immediate past commodore and membership committee chair Ildelfonso Tronqued; and assistant corporate secretary Atty. Ivy Reyes-Fajardo. The event was held during the Bulong Pulungan media forum at Sofitel Manila. 

For comments, e-mail at [email protected]