A COALITION of survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on Monday, August 27, called on President Rodrigo Duterte to include them in the crafting of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) agenda.
“Our lessons from Yolanda rehabilitation should contribute to the legislation process,” said Vincent Basiano of G-Watch (Government Watch), an independent research organization which works closely with the Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP).
House Bill 7968, titled Disaster Resilience Act of 2018, was filed by Leyte First District Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez
In a press conference, the coalition welcomed Duterte’s decision to prioritize the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience.
However, the group stressed the need for a “people-centered approach.”
“Way back in 2016, we at the CYSP proposed the creation of a similar body, given the increasing vulnerability of our nation to the extreme weather changes caused by climate change. However, the House Bill still needs to be reviewed as the basic principle should be the inclusion of the affected population in all stages,” said Joli Torella of the Urban Poor Associates.
Torella said they would only give their full support to the plan if the Yolanda survivors are part of it.
CYSP leaders hoped they could sit down and share insights with Romualdez.
“There is so much to be learned from Yolanda, and the good congresswoman knows it too well, having come from the region that was devastated by Yolanda. We also hope that the Senate would champion this bill that should put the people in the center of the law and disaster response,” Torella said.
According to Torella, the “bottom-to-top approach” in disaster management through the participation of peoples’ organizations is important to ensure the sustainability of the government’s rehabilitation program.