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The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure that seeks to strengthen the country's disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) system.
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The consolidated bill entitled “An Act Strengthening The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction And Management System" was approved by the chamber Tuesday night, a week before Congress goes into recess for the Christmas break. The Senate passed its version of the DRRM bill last September. Calls for the passage of the measure in the House intensified a few months ago following the onslaught of tropical storm "Ondoy" and typhoon "Pepeng," which wreaked havoc in large areas of Luzon. [See: Immediate passage of DRMM bill uncertain] “It is high time we institutionalize disaster preparedness. We are facing uncertain times ahead. We cannot always anticipate disasters but we can always be prepared for them. This is why the passage of this bill into law is very important," said Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, one of the bill's authors, in a statement on Wednesday. Under the bill, the policy-making functions of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) will be placed under a new agency. the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD), meanwhile, will be replaced by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, which will be under the Office of the President. The NDCC is currently attached to the Department of National Defense. Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon, the bill's primary author, said the new bodies will "come up with disaster preparedness standards, create disaster management plans and direct disaster management operations." Among the bill's salient points are the immediate release of calamity funds to local government units so they can prepare for disaster mitigation and not merely response, and the granting of no-interest loans by government financial institutions to the most affected sections of areas that have been placed under a state of calamity. Guingona said the bill, once signed into law, will pave the way for a "shift in the disaster paradigm from relief response to disaster risk reduction and management." Lawmakers from the House and the Senate will thresh out differing provisions of their own versions of the bill before it is signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Two months ago, Ondoy and Pepeng caused massive floods in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, leaving hundreds of people dead and more than P200 billion in damage to property. In the wake of the disasters, cause-oriented groups and lawmakers renewed pressure on Congress for the immediate passage of legislation that would enable the government to become more prepared and equipped to deal with natural calamities. [See: House urged to pass DRMM bill] - Johanna Camille Sisante/RSJ/YA, GMANews.TV
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