Red Cross chief opposes creation of disaster department

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Richard Gordon, who also chairs the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), opposes the proposal to create a Department of Disaster Management (DDM).

Gordon said the creation of the new department would require spending more taxpayers’ money.

“We keep on asking for new taxes. The people are getting angry why we keep on imposing new taxes,” Gordon told reporters at the first Kapihan Media Forum at the PRC yesterday morning.

He also said he did not agree with the focus on “disaster management.”

As one of the main authors of Republic Act (RA) 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act, along with former senator Rodolfo Biazon, their focus was on “disaster risk reduction” for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“Disaster management, that’s (reactionary),” Gordon pointed out.

He said RA 10121 addressed disaster preparedness, not just the reactionary “disaster management.”

NDRRMC is the overseeing body during times of emergency under the Department of National Defense (DND)’s Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Gordon said being under DND, OCD can always call on the vast human and logistical resources of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for disaster response or management.

A proposed DDM, Gordon claimed, could stop local government units from seizing the initiative on disaster risk reduction and management.

“The number one frontline agency should be the local government and then the military, (followed by) all the agencies of government,” Gordon said. 

“What is needed is leadership,” he added.

Meanwhile, if the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) were moved to DDM, the chief of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) would quit. 

“If PAGASA and Phivolcs will be transferred to DDM, we will abide by the law but I will resign from my post and be with my family,” DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said. 

PAGASA deputy administrator Landrico Dalida also opposed the proposed transfer.

“The modernization of PAGASA has been done under DOST. We can help and form part of DDM, but we don’t want to be under (it),” he said.

Presidential, legislative support

But Albay Rep. Joey Salceda yesterday chided De la Peña over his threat to quit if PAGASA and Phivolcs were transferred to the proposed DDM.

“Climate threat and disaster risks frighten the nation more than his personal threat. A secretary serves the people, not his office,” Salceda said.

Salceda said he was disappointed by De la Peña’s statement, since the bill creating the proposed DDM, which he authored, has been endorsed by three House of Representatives committees.

“We value his opinion but the climate threat has more force than his personal threat. Ultimately, it is the wisdom of the majority of Congress in the plenary that will decide this policy issue as to what structure promotes the general welfare through the ability of the state to reduce risks, protect the vulnerable, save lives and livelihood, confront climate threat and make the economy sustainable,” he said.

The House is expected to approve the Salceda bill on third and final reading soon. President Duterte endorsed the measure in his State of the Nation Address last July 23.

“Due to the inaccurate warning system of PAGASA during (tropical storm Juaning) in 2011, which was not attuned to local and actual conditions, my mother died,” Salceda said.

Salceda added that the lesson he learned when he was Albay governor was that if warning and communications are not integrated at disaster planning and response, there will be casualties. 

“If we separate PAGASA and Phivolcs from the DDM, we cannot achieve zero casualty,” Salceda said, adding that “climate risk and disaster risk are more frightening because they scare me more than statutory signs.”

Salceda was senior global champion for disaster risk reduction of the UN during the opening ceremony of the Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR in Incheon, South Korea last October 2010. – With Jess Diaz, Celso Amo