Disaster response still lacking after Ondoy

MANILA, Philippines - Five years after Tropical Storm Ondoy dropped an unprecedented amount of rainfall and submerged Metro Manila and other provinces in Luzon, a consortium of international aid groups said disaster response in the country has improved but there are gaps still to be filled.

“While there has been improvement in the government’s response to disasters, significant gaps remain with regard to the implementation of mechanisms for disaster risk reduction and management,” said the SURGE consortium in a statement yesterday.

The consortium – funded by the European Union humanitarian aid and composed of Christian Aid, Handicap International, Oxfam and Plan International – urged the government to assess its policies and projects that address issues on disasters and climate change.

They said the assessment should be held in time with the scheduled sunset review of Republic Act 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act, by 2015.

The consortium also asked the government to approve the implementing rules and regulations of the People’s Survival Fund, a move that will make available a budget of P1 billion for climate change adaptation initiatives.

“The upcoming sunset review of RA 10121 is an opportunity to introduce changes in policies and practices towards inclusive community-based disaster risk reduction, where the marginalized and those who have been rendered vulnerable by disasters are able to participate meaningfully in the process of building back better,” said SURGE.

“It is an opportunity to make the most out of the collective experience and memory of both Ondoy and Yolanda,” it added.

The international aid groups noted that the government must take into account the vulnerabilities of individuals and communities in terms of poverty, gender, and age, among other demographics, as well as the aggravating impacts of disasters and conditions and how these can be addressed and eliminated.

“Moreover, the capacity of communities must be strengthened in preparing for and responding to disasters while increasing the coordination among communities, local government units and disaster risk reduction agencies,” read the statement.