Drafting of nat'l disaster manual pushed

MANILA, Philippines - The National Government, through the disaster risk reduction and management agencies on the national and provincial level, is being urged to formulate a national disaster manual.

 “An essential part of this is a long hard look at the expected effects of extreme weather conditions that climate change will visit upon the country in the coming three, six, and twelve months,” said Kasangga Partylist Rep. Ted Haresco.

Haresco, who is a member of the joint oversight committee on national disaster risk reduction and management, said “the manual must consider calamities other than typhoons and floods. No one yet is talking about severe drought, the damage to crops, and potential loss of food security.”

He said among the key elements that must be considered was the rapid ramp-up of infrastructure in the rural areas, adding that preference should be given for “tropicalized” technology, or systems that are resilient and adaptable to the weather conditions in the Philippines.

“Linkages are essential in ensuring that municipalities and barangays are kept from becoming isolated, and that disaster relief efforts can reach areas that are worst hit,” he said, adding that “besides bridges and roads, RoRo (Roll On - Roll Off) ports would also be of strategic importance in the quick and low cost bulk delivery of essential supplies and manpower.”

According to the lawmaker, one of the initial and most immediate needs would always be the availability of clean water. Sourced from nearby provinces, Roro vessels could deliver the bulk quantities required by victims and rescue efforts alike, he said.

The lawmaker also recommended that for areas under a state of calamity, private sector should aid relief efforts by immediately instituting a “price freeze” for basic food products and utilities. He said that this will help in lowering the financial cost of relief to the national and local governments, who must rely on very limited calamity funds. “This will also prevent hoarding and profiteering,” he said.

Haresco has committed part of his Priority Development Assistance Fund to help in the relief and rehabilitation efforts of Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City. He proposed further that the National Government immediately tap overseas development assistance (ODA) funds to bolster funding for its relief efforts, citing that these concessional funds are the “cheapest and longest term alternatives.” 

“Government resources are severely limited,” he said. “With just the damage of ‘Sendong,’ one can already see how overstretched government agencies are. ODA funding would help operationalize relief efforts without creating a heavy financial burden. And many countries would be willing to help.”

Haresco said parallel efforts by other agencies, such as infrastructure programs by the DPWH and DOTC would help disaster risk and reduction. “This is another unquantifiable social benefit to infrastructure, aside from improving the local economy. For as long as these projects are corruption free, the government should fast-track these programs, because no one can tell when and what the next calamity will bring,” he said. “We should already know the lesson by heart. More calamities will be coming, that certain. The best we can do is project, anticipate, and prepare.”