Various groups, LGUs push for involvement of PWDs in DRRM law

CEBU, Philippines - Local government units and various organizations met to address the concern on having the ‘vulnerable sector,’ especially persons with disabilities, have a higher participation in disaster risk reduction and management efforts.

The meeting among civil society organizations, people’s organization, non-government organizations and the LGUs called for the amendment of Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Law.

A systematic evaluation for remedial legislation was conducted and it was found out that RA 10121 was not able to cover other vulnerable sectors such as the PWDs.

According to Aidee Panganiban, the advocacy officer of Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE NGO), there is a need for PO representatives in DRRM councils, especially that POs know more of the needs of the affected individuals and the easier way to deliver assistance to calamity victims.

Panganiban also indicated that CSOs have no clear responsibilities in DRRM councils, and that CSO participation guidelines in the councils are not also known by the organizations themselves.

On procurement of funds, most of the money allocated is for acquiring equipment, yet strengthening the capacity of communities to prepare them against disasters is not given higher priority.

The transparency and accountability in the use of DRRM fund are also a problem in the implementation of RA 10121, said Panganiban.

Further, fourth class to sixth class municipalities, which are said to be “much more vulnerable,” are often given less funding for DRRM.

Panganiban also said that the organizations’ conduct of own assessment after the disaster caused “assessment fatigue” to the members of the affected community, thereby causing trauma towards these efforts.

Also, the assessment revealed that government units make “copy-pasted” DRRM plans just to get the fund allocated for disasters and calamities.

The provision

House Bill 6183 or Enhancing the Inclusiveness of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System Act of 2016 authored by Representatives Kit Belmonte of the 6th District of Quezon City, Kaka Bag-ao of the Lone District of Dinagat Islands, and Isidro Ungab of the 2nd District of Davao City aims to amend RA 10121.

The provision includes strengthening the CSO constituency and accountability mechanisms and the role of CSO representatives in DRRM councils, at the same time.

It also aims to make DRRM efforts in developing plans, programs and budget a mainstream, with emphasis on local participatory risk assessment.

Further, it aims to add the DRRM funding of fourth to sixth class municipalities and geographically isolated communities, which are said to be highly vulnerable areas.

Efforts

Alternatives to Development (A2D), an NGO composed of university professors and researchers  working towards improving lives through “evidence-informed development practice,” has conducted an ongoing project on disability-inclusive community based DRRM in Tabogon, northern Cebu in partnership with the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, a Dutch group of Disaster Risk volunteers.

“Kinahanglan diay kita mo-re-examine on our practices,” said Aloysius Cañete, the executive director of A2D project, upon sharing his experience when his group conducted relief operations after typhoon Yolanda devastated northern Cebu.

According to Cañete, their way of assessing the needs of the victim is through Information Action Model, which includes accessibility to the information and action towards the information.

A2D’s main objective is to promote disability-inclusive DRRM through Purok Systems.  (FREEMAN)