SEN. GUINGONA BATS FOR A STRENGTHENED PHL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III has filed Senate Bill No. 2417 to strengthen the Philippine disaster risk reduction and management system and help the country properly plan and respond to disaster situations.

Sen. Guingona said the present institutional set-up of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) is insufficient to respond to disasters with magnitudes covering broader segments of the country.

The agency's system, Sen. Guingona observed, is also inadequate to execute recovery and rehabilitation efforts that require large amounts of financial and human resources.

"There is evidently a need for an independent, stand-alone disaster management agency with a more permanent institutional setup and a streamlined budget," Sen. Guingona said.

He added that in times of disasters, the government must be able to take swift and decisive action. Relying on ad hoc or temporary government bodies that require tedious coordination among many agencies can lead to indecision and paralysis.

"The recent super-typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) exposed the country's weakness in dealing with disasters mainly due to lack of centralized emergency operations plan especially at the local level," Sen. Guingona stressed.

Under SB No. 2417, Sen. Guingona proposes the establishment of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) which will serve as the primary arm of the national government on disaster risk reduction and management. It will also serve as the central coordinating mechanism for managing donations and ensuring that the records are complete and publicly available.

The proposed measure will give the NDRRMA the power to formulate and implement the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan (NDRRMP) that shall be integrated in the physical framework, social, economic and environmental plans of communities, cities, municipalities and provinces. The Plan shall be submitted to Congress for approval.

Another important function of the proposed NDRRMA is the mobilization of government, civil society organizations, and private sector partners for assistance, including the use of their facilities and resources for the protection and preservation of lives and property in case of emergencies.

The bill requires the NDRRMA to establish disaster risk reduction learning institutes to provide continuing training, education and research programs to upgrade professional knowledge and skills of key stakeholders.

Under the proposed measure, the agency will provide technical assistance and necessary resources to increase the overall capacity of local government units, especially for the low income and in high-risk areas.

Another important feature of the bill is that it requires local governments to integrate risk reduction measures into local development plans, programs, and budgets as a strategy in poverty reduction, environmental protection and sustainable development.