Call for a New Disaster Body Gains Ground

A petition initiated by a group of NGOs involved in disaster response has gathered thousands of signatures supporting the call to create a disaster management agency separate from the defense-led National Disaster Coordinating Council.

By Alexander Martin Remollino
Bulatlat.com

Thousands of Filipinos are calling for the creation of a disaster response agency separate from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).

This was gathered over the weekend from Rosalinda Tablang, deputy executive director of the Citizens’ Disaster Response Center (CDRC), who also said that the call was signified in a petition circulated by various non-government organizations (NGOs) involved in disaster relief under the umbrella Task Force: Community-Based Disaster Management (TF: CBDM).

The petition has gathered thousands of signatures as of Nov. 28, Tablang said. Signatories included members of disaster response NGOs as well as students, teachers, health professionals, Church lay leaders and residents of various communities around the country.

Noting that the Philippines in 2001 ranked as the eighth most disaster-prone country in the world (fifth in Asia), the petition—addressed to members of the House of Representatives—calls for the enactment of a “comprehensive and pro-people Disaster Management Bill,” one that tackles the root s of the people’s vulnerability to disaster and integrates disaster management with the social development program.

The proposal also seeks to develop the people’s capacity to attain disaster resiliency through community-based disaster management approach, formulate a comprehensive disaster management program which focuses not only on the emergency and relief stages but also on the pre-calamity and post-calamity stages of a disaster.

It also gives special attention to disaster management by removing the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) from the Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense and creating a separate and special government agency under the Office of the President for the task.

The statement was initiated by Nonna Melendres and Tablang,  CDRC; Dr. Eleanor Jara of the Council for Health and Development; Minnie Anne Calub of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines; Prof. Monico Atienza of the University of the Philippines (UP); Prof. Mel Luna of the Philippine Disaster Management Forum and UP; Julie Monsale and Cely Bassig of the Jose Abad Santos Memorial School; and Albert Oasan of San Beda College.

House forum

The petition was presented to members of the House during a forum last Nov. 18 sponsored by TF: CBDM; Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo,, Joel Virador, and Siegfred Deduro; and Batanes Rep. Butch Abad. About 300 persons from various NGOs and schools attended the forum, which dwelt on the theme “Why There is a Need to Create a Special Government Body for Disaster Management.”

Tablang, who spoke at the forum, voiced concerns on the government’s present disaster management system. “Disasters are almost normal occurrences in the country, yet what the government has is still the knee-jerk approach whenever disaster strikes,” she said. “It is high time that something serious such as formulating a comprehensive disaster management and creating a special government body be done.”

Members of TF: CBDM, mostly residents of disaster-prone communities in Tatalon and Payatas (both in Quezon City) and Marikina City stressed that more than the limited relief assistance, they need a disaster management program that builds their capacity to face and cope with the effects of disasters.

Rodolfo Perez, head of operations of HALAD-Davao, gave special emphasis to the Mindanao situation, saying that the military operations in the island have been very disastrous for its residents. “The people of Mindanao view the massive internal displacement of civilians brought about by the continued military operations in the many regions of the island as the top single disaster they have been experiencing for many years now,” he said. “Forced evacuations, food blockades and checkpoints, economic losses, hunger and deaths are the devastating effects of this man-made disaster. With these, disaster management organizations in Mindanao also believe that it is about time that a civilian-led disaster management government body be created.”

In the forum, Bayan Muna Rep. Ocampo expressed support for the petitioners’ demands, saying that House Bill 6376, which he sponsored, intends to create a separate disaster management body and enhances community participation in disaster work.

Western Samar Rep. Reynaldo Uy and Marikina City Rep. Del de Guzman also supported HB 6376 and volunteered to co-author the bill.

Clarifications

Meanwhile, in a letter sent to Bulatlat.com last Nov. 28, TF: CBDM clarified that although it found some questionable provisions with HB 221, a bill filed last year by Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, it is not opposing it. HB 221 aims to form a National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) led by the DND and placing under it the various NGOs involved in disaster response.

TF:CBDM also quoted Rep. Ocampo as saying they (Bayan Muna representatives) did not file HB 6376 to oppose HB 221 but to address what HB 221 might have missed, which is the creation of a separate government body for disaster management.

In a previous story, Bulatlat.com reported about some Php370 million in unaccounted funds of the NDCC, based on audit reports by the Commission on Audit. The TF:CBDM’s letter said that while the story tends to affirm the need for a disaster management body that is not under the DND, “the Task Force has not come up with a position demanding that the NDCC explain where the millions were spent,” contrary to what was previously reported. Bulatlat.com

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