NDRRMC studies 'one-stop-shop' for foreign donations

MANILA, Philippines - A permanent system would be drawn up to harmonize the way the government receives donations from abroad.

Benito Ramos, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director, called yesterday for an interagency meeting to study the legal basis of the one-stop shop for foreign donations.

“The review of the legal basis of the OSS (one-stop shop) is needed to strategize for mega-disasters in the future and provide a permanent facility for this purpose,” he said.

The one-stop shop adopted in the aftermath of tropical storm “Sendong” serves as a “transitory guide” to respond to the influx of donations, Ramos said.

NDRRMC and partner agencies will meet on Jan. 18 to discuss the development of the system, which is expected to unify all procedures on donations.

Representatives from the finance, social welfare, interior, science, foreign affairs, education, health and agriculture departments, the Presidential Management Staff, National Economic and Development Authority, Bureau of Customs, Coast Guard and Office of Civil Defense are expected to attend the meeting.

Sendong hit various parts of the country last month and left at least 1,257 people dead and 6,058 others injured.

More than 25,000 people or almost 6,000 families are in 53 evacuation centers.

The estimated cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture amounted to P1.42 billion.

A total of P158.27-million worth of relief assistance was provided from the combined resources of NDRRMC, other state agencies, local governments and non-government organizations.

Among the foreign donors that assisted the storm victims are Switzerland, Spain, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, Ireland, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Italy, international groups World Health Organization, European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, World Food Program, World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Korean International Cooperation Agency, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNHCR-Dubai, EU to the Philippines and the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.