NDRRMC wants new admin to create disaster resilience agency

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) wants the bill creating the Department on Disaster Resilience to be passed in the next administration, its spokesperson said on Friday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said the council is looking forward to the senators to provide new ideas to improve its legislation.

“Kasama na din yung ating paghihimok para doon sa disaster department law, yung Department of Disaster Resilience, na iminungkahi ng ating pangulo noong nakaraan niyang mga SONA,” he said.

(We would also like the next administration to continue the campaign for the disaster department law, the Department of Disaster Resilience, that was suggested by President Rodrigo Duterte in his previous SONAs.)

In January, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience is unlikely to be approved this 18th Congress citing intense interpellation.

Senators Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson earlier opposed the proposal to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience, citing impracticability and possible lack of funding.

The House of Representatives has already passed its version of the bill in 2020.

Aside from the creation of the disaster resilience department, Timbal said the NDRRMC wants the next administration to continue the construction of evacuation centers.

Timbal reminded local government units and disaster risk reduction offices to prepare as the rainy season starts in the country.

According to him, concerned local authorities should prepare evacuation centers, stockpiles of relief items, and for search and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Timbal said the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill set on June 9 will be conducted virtually in light of the threat of COVID-19. —LBG, GMA News