Bill abolishing NDCC filed at House

MANILA, Philippines - The appropriations committee of the House of Representatives endorsed yesterday a bill that seeks to abolish the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and to replace it with a stronger organization.

The measure, which aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction and management, would replace NDCC with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council (NDRRC).

“The bill would create a stronger disaster and risk management organization that would be attached to the Office of the President,” Quirino Rep. Junie Cua, appropriations committee chairman, said.

The bill is a counterpart of a similar measure the Senate approved in September, entitled, “Disaster Risk Reduction, Management and Recovery Act of 2009.”

The Senate proposal calls for the formulation of a “national disaster risk reduction, management and recovery framework.”

Proponents of the envisioned NDRRC led by Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon claimed that NDCC is an ad hoc agency, while their proposed replacement would be a permanent organization.

They cited some alleged lapses of NDCC in the wake of typhoon Ondoy.

Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit, one of the co-authors, said there were breakdowns in communication between NDCC and the areas affected by Ondoy.

“There were difficulties in deploying assets. We saw a lot of time wasted just setting up the organizational structure because NDCC was an ad hoc agency,” he said.

A large part of Duavit’s district, including Cainta, was submerged in floodwaters.

Like the NDCC, the planned NDRRC would be headed by the secretary of national defense, with the heads of agencies involved in disaster management as members.

These include the secretaries of local government, health, public works and highways, social welfare and development, budget, and transportation and communications.