The recent calamities that occurred in the country call for the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said.
In an interview during his distribution of aid for poor families in Payatas, Quezon City on Thursday, Go said the proposed DDR aims to centralize efforts, streamline coordination, and ensure more swift and effective response to emergencies.
He said the proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 188, is aimed at ensuring that coordination among the various government agencies and the local government units (LGUs) will be made even before a calamity hit.
“Pag-alis nung bagyo, restoration of normalcy at rehabilitation efforts. Huwag puro task force. Panibagong task force tuwing bagong administrasyon at panibago na naman ang kakausapin mo (When the typhoon leaves, there will be restoration of normalcy and rehabilitation efforts. Let us not keep on creating task forces which changes everytime a new administration comes in),” he said.
Go said his proposal, Senate Bill No. (SBN) 188, is currently under the hands of Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, which is chaired by Senator Jinggoy Estrada.
He also mentioned another proposed measure, SBN 193 which would require every LGU to establish its own evacuation center.
Go made the call more than an hour after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Calatagan town, Batangas province earlier in the day was felt in the entire Metro Manila. (PNA)