By Sen. Loren Legarda
In the face of stronger typhoons and active volcanic threats, disaster preparedness must be treated not as a seasonal response but as a permanent national priority. We must invest in systems, not just supplies.
The move to build modern evacuation centers outside of schools is long overdue. Our children must not have to choose between education and safety. The deployment of Mobile Command and Control Vehicles, doppler radars and early warning systems reflects the direction we must take — science-based, coordinated and community-driven.
But no equipment can replace preparedness at the barangay level. We must strengthen public drills, enforce discipline in risk zones and promote local action rooted in bayanihan and climate resilience.
Flood control
The billions spent on flood control could have addressed so many urgent needs — education, healthcare, clean water, decent housing. Yet despite these staggering allocations, the impact on the ground remains painfully unclear. If public funds are spent but do not protect lives or prevent suffering, then something is deeply broken.
We must demand stronger checks. Monitoring and evaluation must be embedded in every stage of project planning and funding. Audits must be swift, transparent and enforced. Ghost projects and substandard work must have consequences. The public has every right and every reason to hold implementers and all those involved accountable.
For this reason, I filed the Tapat na Paglilingkod Act — a bill that makes anti-corruption a built-in part of everyday government work. It requires agencies to identify corruption risks, report them transparently and embed safeguards into their planning, budgeting and operations. It’s a step toward making honesty the rule, not the exception.
