FORMER House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has renewed his call for the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).
He said the country needs a department that will focus on rehabilitation efforts and boost the national government’s rehabilitation capacity.
“Ang point ay hindi kaya ng present set-up natin na DOH (Department of Health), DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), at DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) ang sila ang tumutugon kapag mayroong kalamidad, kasi after ‘yung relief, wala ng effort sa rehabilitation,” Cayetano said in a press conference in Baguio City on July 2.
Cayetano made the statement as the country marked the National Disaster Resilience Month this July. He was in Baguio City for the latest edition of the Sampung Libong Pag-asa live virtual program where he and his allies were set to distribute 10K Ayuda to a total of 500 beneficiaries.
“If you go to Agoncillo, Laurel, and San Nicolas, Batangas, maraming ipinangako sa kanila January last year na hindi pa nabibigay hanggang ngayon. Hindi mo rin masasabing kasalanan ng DSWD, kasi buong Pilipinas inaalagaan plus a certain sector na vulnerable, tapos tuwing may bagyo, sila pa rin,” he added.
Cayetano noted that while the country has improved its relief efforts, much can be done on the rehabilitation side.
“Magaling na tayo sa relief. Halimbawa, sabihin mong may nasunugan. Lahat ‘yan – LGUs (local government units), ang congressman, ang mayor, at ang barangay captain – ay mabilis. Kung tatlo hanggang apat na bahay, I’m sure mabibigyan na ng pang-rehabilitation. But let’s say isang-daang bahay o pamilya ang tinamaan, napakahirap pa rin hanapin kung saan mo kukunin ang pondo – sa DSWD ba? Sa DOLE? O sa NHA (National Housing Authority)? So ‘yung rehabilitation natin napakahina, eh ‘yun ang kailangan ng pinoy,” Cayetano said.
“I’m sure no one means it that way. No congressman, mayor, or president will tell a Filipino, ‘Bahala ka na sa buhay mo (Fend for yourself).’ But actions speak louder than words, so we have to have programs na nakatutok (that are focused),” he added.
The DDR bill seeks to establish a focused and specialized single government agency that functions not only after the occurrence of disasters but works all year round to ensure effective mechanisms for disaster risk reduction are in place even before a disaster occurs.
The bill was passed on third and final reading in the House of Representatives on September 21, 2020. It is still pending in the Senate.
It was read on first reading on September 28 and referred to the Senate Committees on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation; Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation; Ways and Means; and Finance.
“So I think for a country that’s prone to storms, flooding, earthquakes – God forbid na may Yolanda or may Baguio earthquake na mangyari ulit – kailangan handa naman tayo. So, isa po ‘yan sa itinutulak talaga ng grupo,” Cayetano said.