Disaster Resilience Dept pushed

FOLLOWING the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit Northern Luzon, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go renewed his call for the passage of his twin measures establishing the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).

“At the beginning of the 19th Congress, I immediately refiled Senate Bill (SB) 188, a proposed measure seeking to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience. I have initially filed the bill in the 18th Congress,” Go said after an aid distribution to indigents of Manay, Davao Oriental on July 28.

The proposed DDR would bring together all essential functions and mandates currently scattered among various disaster-related agencies. It shall be primarily responsible for implementing programs, projects and activities that ensure communities are disaster-resilient, adaptive and safe.

Go said, “The Philippines’ experiences with natural disasters have shown that the existing laws, policies, resource1s, and institutional arrangements governing disaster management lacked responsiveness to the country’s requirements for disaster resilience.”

The senator maintained that a new department with a secretary in charge would ensure more focused government efforts during calamities.

This, he said, will support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pronouncements in his inaugural speech to “spare victims” and “help them recover” from the impact of climate change.