Amid worsening climate and ‘Big One’ scare, JV says creation of Dept. of Disater Resiliance ‘urgent’
July 2022
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday said the country needs a fully fledged department to respond to the looming threat of the “Big One” earthquake in Metro Manila, natural disasters caused by climate change, and other calamities.
This was in response to fears that a strong earthquake dubbed as the “Big One” will eventually hit the National Capital Region after a Magnitude 7 jolted the northern parts of Luzon early yesterday.
“Considering our geographic location, we are in the Pacific Ring of Fire, just like Japan. That’s why we are prone to earthquakes, prone to volcanic eruptions, prone to supertyphoons. Parang walang taon na lumilipas na wala tayong calamity na malaki,” he said in an interview.
The Luzon quake reportedly left five people dead and more than a hundred injuries and affected more than 20,000 people, according to authorities.
Heritage sites, commercial establishments, and residential buildings across the Ilocos region and nearby provinces were also heavily damaged.
Zeroing in on the worsening impact of climate change, Ejercito said it would be better for the country to have a Department of Disaster Resilience than be caught off guard in the face of a future calamity.
“Yung problema sa climate change, na dati di natin pinakikinggan masyado ang mga environmental issues, I think we really have to take it seriously this time. All these calamities are brought about by climate change and global warming,” he said.
“It’s better to prepare. It’s better to be equipped. Sabi nga nila, it’s better to have it and not need it than not to have it,” he added.
The Senator from San Juan recently filed Senate Bill No. 756, which seeks to create a Department of Disaster Resilience.
“This measure aims to strengthen the capacity of the national government and the local government units, together with development partner stakeholders, to build disaster resilient communities and institutionalize arrangements and measures to reduce disaster risks and projected climate risks and enhance disaster preparedness and response at all levels,” the explanatory note read.
“Through the creation of a single department in-charge of managing the effects of disasters and emergencies, as well as the preparation and mitigation phases, effective processes and policies shall be developed and sustainable resources and accountability are likewise established,” it added.
While critics have expressed concerns that creating a new department goes against the current administration’s rightsizing efforts, the lawmaker said there should be no compromise on measures that seek to “save lives and prevent casualties.”
“It’s the significance. I think it’s really needed at this time, I would say. Probably the other departments na may redundant na tasks siguro, those are subject to rightsizing. But I think disaster management would really save lives and prevent casualties. I think we cannot compromise,” Ejercito said.
Ejercito explained that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is only a coordinating council that merely “reacts” to ongoing or impending disasters.
“Although we have the NDRRMC as a coordinating council that acts as a superbody in case there are calamities, more of reaction ‘yon. Pag meron lang calamity or upcoming calamity, doon lang naghahanda,” he said.
“But I think because of the frequency of calamities that are visiting us right now, pati yung magnitude iba na, I think it has to be a fulltime and fledged department that would take care of it,” he added.