Marcos wants ‘disaster-proof’ communities

MANILA, Philippines — Building “disaster-proof” communities is what President Marcos wants for the country after witnessing the devastation left by last Wednesday’s magnitude-7.0 earthquake in Northern Luzon.

Marcos made the remark in his latest vlog posted on YouTube last Saturday, lamenting the destruction caused by the powerful tremor in Abra and Ilocos Sur that also killed at least six people.a­­

The President stressed the need to make the country more resilient to natural disasters, given its geographical location, to prevent loss of life and reduce damage to properties.

“The damaged (structures) need to be restored immediately,” he said partly in Filipino.

“That’s why we need to make our planning disaster-proof, from streets, buildings, as well as heritage sites, schools, hospitals, and homes,” he added.

Several cultural and heritage sites in Abra and Ilocos Sur incurred severe damage from the tremor, including centuries-old churches such as the Tayum Church, Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church, Vigan Cathedral, Bantay Bell Tower and the iconic Calle Crisologo in Vigan City.

Based on the latest report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 302 houses were totally damaged by the tremor in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Regions as well as in Metro Manila.

Another 21,588 houses were partially damaged.

In terms of infrastructure, the total damage estimated by the NDRRMC has reached P414.2 million.

Meanwhile, Marcos assured the public that national and local government agencies are providing all the needs of quake victims.

He also thanked the private sector for immediately responding to the needs of residents displaced by the quake by sending food, water and generators.

The President earlier expressed support for a proposal of his sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, to create a new disaster response body instead of a new department.

ROTC for disaster response’

In the same vlog, the Chief Executive also renewed his call for the return of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in the country’s education system.

He underscored that re-establishing the ROTC in senior high schools has become more relevant in light of last week’s devastating earthquake as it would bolster the civilian population’s capability in dealing with disasters.

“We can also prepare more civilians for such disaster response through the ROTC program because they are taught not only national defense, but also disaster preparedness and capacity-building for these so-called risk-related situations,” he said in Filipino.

Marcos also deemed it important for Filipinos, especially those who respond to calamities, to be properly trained and equipped with knowledge and skills in disaster response, given that the Philippines is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and the so-called typhoon belt, making the country highly vulnerable to disasters.

The mandatory ROTC was one of the priority measures that he asked Congress to pass during his first State of the Nation Address last July 25.

“The aim is to motivate, train, organize and mobilize the students for national defense preparedness, including disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situations,” Marcos said in his SONA. – Paolo Romero