MANILA — Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered for the creation of a disaster management committee at the House of Representatives.
Arroyo bared the plan on Monday during a briefing of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) with lawmakers to discuss the effects of the recent typhoons in Luzon provinces.
“I have asked my colleagues in the majority… if they would agree to organize a new committee called the disaster management committee,” Arroyo said.
Currently, there are 72 regular and special committees in the lower chamber.
During the briefing, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said the total cost of damages to infrastructure and agriculture amounted to PHP3.6 billion in seven regions due to the recent weather events, including tropical storms Henry, Inday and Josie.
From June 29, 2018 to July 30, 2018, Jalad said 454,594 families, or an estimate of two million persons, were affected. A total of 13 casualties, one missing, and two injured were also reported.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte urged Congress to pass a measure seeking the creation of a disaster management department during his third State of the Nation Address.
The House committees on government and national defense and security have jointly approved a substitute bill, creating the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).
Under the bill, the DDR will be the national government agency primarily responsible for disaster preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response, recovery, and rehabilitation. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
