Romualdez pushes for disaster department

CEBU, Philippines – UNA senatorial candidate and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez is seeking to create a government agency that will immediately response to calamity victims.

“Everytime we are hit by a calamity, we still have to make supplemental budget. Ang nangyari tuloy late yung tulong,” said Romualdez.

Romualdez has filed House Bill 3486 that seeks to create the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management that would handle all disaster-related operations.

Romualdez said this department has to be institutionalized and should operate 24/7.

He said there is really a need for a separate government agency that has its own technical expertise and budget to handle disaster relief operations.

Currently, he said, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is just like a task force and that relief operations are being handled by Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Romualdez, whose province was badly devastated by super typhoon Yolanda two years ago, said while the NDRRMC prepares for the rehabilitation plan, calamity victims are left alone hungry.

“Kapag meron ng separate department, madali na nating matulongan ang ating mga kababayan na biktima ng mga kalamidad. It is during this time that they badly need help,” Romualdez said. 

Romualdez said the new department will coordinate with the local government units for a faster disaster response. —  /LPM (FREEMAN)