Sen. Grace Poe renewed her call to rationalize government structures and processes to pave the way for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience.

Poe issued the reminder as the typhoon season begins and Taal Volcano acts up amid the continuing threat of the pandemic.

“The situation of our vulnerable countrymen becomes more difficult in the face of calamities amid the pandemic. We must not lose time to efficiently plan and collaborate on disaster risk mitigation and management,” said Poe, who earlier filed Senate Bill 124 which seeks to create the Department of Disaster Resilience and Emergency Assistance and Management.

The bill envisions the said department to provide the necessary leadership with accountability, steering various stakeholders toward a disaster-resilient Philippines.

Some 20 typhoons pass through the country every year. The Philippines is also in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

“We should transcend post-calamity coordination and undertake inclusive whole-of-society planning to lessen the impact of disasters and build resilient communities,” Poe said.

“All sectors must take into account the effects of climate change in all their undertakings,” she added.

Last week, 15 business organizations consisting of eight Philippine business groups and seven members of the Joint Foreign Chambers wrote the government to advocate for priority reforms and the passage of 17 measures including the Department of Disaster Resilience.

“With one year left in the current Congress, we believe that the 17 measures are achievable reforms that will generate substantial impact in our shared vision of inclusive growth,” the groups said.