Better coordination among 'disaster' agencies sought

CEBU, Philippines - Sixth District Representative Gabriel “Luigi” Quisumbing renewed calls for the strengthening of coordination among concerned agencies involved in disaster risk reduction.

Quisumbing is referring to the Department of National Defense (DND), National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA).

He said coordination for the immediate release of equipment that can help prevent heavy damage during calamities such as the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that the Visayas area at 11:49 am the other day.

Quisumbing said he has spoken with Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the House Committee on National Defense and Security immediately after the earthquake and asked that the committee initiate means to improve the nation’s disaster management protocols.

The House Committee on National Defense has scheduled its deliberation on the bills and resolutions concerning disaster risk reduction and management tomorrow, February 8.

Quisumbing who sits as vice chairman of the House Committee on National Defense earlier filed House Resolution 563 seeking for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the implementation of Republic Act No. 9729 or the “The Climate Change Act of 2009.”

The inquiry aims to strengthen the provisions of the law to enable the government to effectively address disaster risk reduction and management problems aggravated by Climate Change with a particular focus on the need to have a predictable, united and continuous financing for climate change related disaster risk reduction and management initiatives. - THE FREEMAN