Manila: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is pushing for amendments to the law creating the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as well as enhancement of the early warning system. “Foremost of our plans is to have amendments to the law that created the NDRRMC. One of the amendments we are requesting is to allow us to create an executive committee that will be in charge of making major decisions,” OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a news release over the weekend.
According to Philippines News Agency, Nepomuceno added that at present, they need to have the full council to make major decisions. The NDRRMC is composed of 41 government agencies and five private sector representatives. “We believe that we would be able to do more if the law is modified,” he said, noting that time is of the essence, particularly during disasters.
The OCD chief also seeks to improve the Philippines’ early warning system to heighten disaster mitigation efforts. “With the help of the DENR (Department of the Environment and Natural Resources) and the DOST (Department of Science and Technology), we want to be more creative and more comprehensive in our warning system,” Nepomuceno said. He added that it is an essential tool to enable early action and protect lives, livelihoods, and properties.
The OCD chief cited as an example the nationwide warning system of Thailand, which has over 600 towers with sirens. Apart from the sirens, Thailand has a public address system that informs the people what to expect every 10 to 15 minutes. Nepomuceno said the OCD, with the help of the media, plans to embark on an educational campaign on disaster resilience, particularly targeting the youth, the local government units (LGUs), and disaster responders.
“Being the first responders, we want our LGUs to be empowered and accountable for their own localities. Some LGUs are still dependent on the national government. But it takes a while for us to arrive in their areas during disasters. They should accept the responsibility and take the necessary actions, such as investing in rubber boats for rescue operations,” he said.