The House of Representatives has opened plenary debates on the Palace’s backed consolidated bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience that would exclusively focus on disaster response to drastically reduce the country’s vulnerability to natural hazards.
“We appeal to our colleagues to pass the measure with urgency,” said Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, chairman of the House committee on government reorganization in his sponsorship speech. “When there is an imminent calamity or during an actual calamity, the DDR may exercise command and control over other relevant government agencies.”
The House government reorganization committee and the national defense committee approved the consolidated DDR bill while the House appropriations committee gave the green light for the funding requirement of the measure.
Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez, one of the bill’s principal authors, said precious lives and properties are better protected from natural hazards and disasters with the passage of DDR, saying “we need to be better prepared because nature’s wrath is inevitable.”
“It is high time that we create a Department of Disaster Resilience that will effectively reduce our vulnerability to natural hazards and bolster our resilience to the impact of national disasters and climate change,” said Romualdez, chairman of the House accounts committee and whose district, especially Tacloban City, was one of the hardest hit areas by Super Typhoon ‘‘Yolanda’’ dubbed as ground zero.
“It is crucial to highlight that the struggle of my people during their five-hour with Haiyan [Yolanda]. It continued even weeks after the typhoon has long left our region. Deadlock and delays caused by bureaucratic paralysis and poor coordination by different agencies rendered Tacloban City and most of the first district of Leyte completely helpless,” Romualdez said.
“Our experience with Haiyan is a clarion call for a stronger and a more robust response to disasters,” she added.
Other authors of the measure, including Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, also delivered their sponsorship speeches.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, another principal author of the measure, said the proposed DDR would oversee all programs and activities to reduce the country’s vulnerability to natural calamities and climate change.
“The government cannot achieve high and inclusive growth without making our country climate resilient. With the unfortunate distinction of being ground zero for climate disaster, the Philippines’ losses during the typhoon season amounts to around two percent of our GDP (gross domestic product), while reconstruction efforts after disasters costs another 2 percent of our GDP based on our estimates,” said Villafuerte.
Romualdez, meanwhile, thanked Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her commitment to pass the consolidated DDR measure.
“We thank Speaker Arroyo for her strong commitment to pass the DDR. With her competence and outstanding credentials as experienced leader, we can be assured that this proposal will be approved this Congress,” said Romualdez. “Speaker Arroyo has a clear vision for the country and has a great ability to get the job done.
Romualdez’s House Bill (HB) 7968 was a revised version of her original HB 344 that she earlier filed following President Duterte’s renewed call during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) for Congress to expedite the passage of proposed law seeking to create a new department to be headed by a secretary that would exclusively manage disasters and calamities in the country.
Romualdez, vice chairperson of the House committee on government enterprises and privatization, said her proposal “aims to drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate, the bureaucratic red tape which has caused many delays in the delivery of immediate assistance needed by the victims.”
To ensure DDR’s unity of command as President Duterte pointed out, the Romualdez bill will abolish the Climate Change Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The bill guarantees fast and responsive procurement process to ensure the swift delivery of assistance.