Considering its geographical
location, on the rim of the Pacific Ring of Fire and on the general path of
typhoons from the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is an absolute magnet of
natural disasters ranging from severe weather, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
In the past, the government has tried to marshal disaster response in concert
with non-government, civil and private sectors via the National Disaster
Coordinating Council, which became the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council in 2010. But the ever-increasing scale of disasters the
country is facing has spurred with Congress the need to create a full cabinet
department.
CNN Philippines reports that the Philippine Congress has made it
one of its top priorities to iron out the specifics in forming a new Department
of Disaster Resilience, to better oversee national disaster preparedness and
response. This comes in the wake of the growing crisis regarding the eruption
of Taal Volcano, the after-effects of which has damaged communities and
agricultural land, grounding commerce and livelihood to a halt with many people
displaced from their homes. This Department is but one of at least three new
cabinet departments that Congress is mulling over to create, each specializing
in a particular problem prominent in the nation today.
On Sunday, January 19, Senate
Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri noted the immediate need for a government
agency that is scientific, quick, focused and well-equipped to face disasters. “The
creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) will ensure a more
efficient, coordinated, and complete system of disaster management--from risk
assessment to emergency response right down to reintegration assistance and
rehabilitation," remarked Sen. Zubiri. This Monday, January 20, sees
Congress resume sessions following the four-week Holiday break. The Upper House
is currently sounding out the measure to form the DDR after the Lower House
Committees on Government Reorganization and on Disaster Management cleared it.
Aside from the Department of
Disaster Resilience, Congress is also looking into bills for creating two more
Departments by law. One of these others is the Department of Filipinos Overseas
(DFO) to take up the work of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA). The third is the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to better work on
the chronic water shortages in the country, especially Metro Manila. At the
very least, the House could push for the creation of the DFO before March 13,
when Congress adjourns again for Holy Week.
0 comments:
Post a Comment