Disaster Preparedness in the Philippines

SRN-1354: Earthquake and Disaster Preparedness in Metro Manila

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE EARTHQUAKE AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN GREATER METRO MANILA IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND DISASTER RESILIENCE OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010”, provides for the development of a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Framework to guide the development of a NDRRM Plan. To this end, there is a need for a comprehensive, all-hazards, multi-sectoral, inter-agency and community-based approach to disaster risk reduction and management;

WHEREAS, the 2014 World Risk Report of the UN University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) ranked the Philippines as second to the highest in terms of risk of exposure to natural hazards among 171 countries. Another study published by risk analysis firm Verisk Maplecroft in March 2015 ranked the nation’s capital, Metro Manila, as fourth in terms of risk exposure among 1,300 cities worldwide;

WHEREAS, the Greater Metro Manila Area (GMMA) is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because of the presence of a Valley Fault System composed of a 10-kilometer East Valley Fault in Rizal and a 100-kilometer West Valley Fault that runs through different cities and municipalities of Bulacan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna;

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study was undertaken in 2004 to develop a master plan and strategies to minimize the impact of an earthquake in Metro Manila. According to the MMEIRS findings, a potential rupture of the 90-kilometer West Valley Fault would lead to heavy or partial damage to 40% of all residential buildings, 34,000 deaths, and 114,000 injuries. Fire caused by the earthquake would cause an additional 18,000 deaths. Among public buildings, schools will suffer the most damage, followed by hospitals and fire stations;

WHEREAS, the West Valley Fault has moved four times in the past 1,400 years at an interval of 400 to 600 years. The last big earthquake took place 357 years ago, in 1658. While the exact timing cannot be predicted, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recently issued statements warning against the possibility of another earthquake should the West Valley Fault move;

WHEREAS, reports regarding the devastating effects of the 7.8 and 7.3 magnitude earthquakes that recently struck Nepal. highlight the urgency for the Philippines to assess its own readiness to face earthquakes and other major disasters. More than 7,000 persons died and at least 14,000 others were injured as a result of the Nepal earthquakes, according to the country’s National Emergency Operation Centre. The research consultancy, IHS, estimated the cost of reconstruction at US$6 Billion, equivalent to 30% of Nepal’s annual economic output;

WHEREAS, a significant factor in ensuring earthquake safety is ensuring the ability of houses, buildings and all public infrastructure to withstand earthquakes even with magnitudes of 8 to 10. There is a need to audit the safety of existing and future construction projects to ensure their strict adherence to relevant and appropriate regulations, standards and guidelines, including those provided by the National Building Code, and the safety of their locations in accordance with the FVS Atlas recently published by PHIVOLCS;

WHEREAS, another important factor in earthquake and disaster preparedness is promoting public awareness regarding disaster risks and involving all citizens and communities in disaster risk reduction and preparedness efforts. Realizing the vulnerabilities of the country to natural disasters, the government should prioritize the institutionalization of systems, plans, programs and approaches at both the national and local levels to build the disaster resilience of local communities, especially in vulnerable areas in the GMMA;

WHEREAS, there is a need to assess and strengthen the capacities and preparedness of the concerned national government agencies, local government units, and partner stakeholders to mitigate and prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impact of a massive earthquake. The government, together with the private sector and non-government organizations, should be able to build the safety and disaster resilience of local communities, especially in the most vulnerable areas;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the earthquake and disaster preparedness in Greater Metro Manila in order to ensure the safety and disaster resilience of local communities.

 

 

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Sen. Bam Eyes Best Practices to Prepare for Calamities, Disasters

With the improved performance of government, private sector and non-government organizations in preparation for super typhoon Ruby, a lawmaker wants to institutionalize best practices and effective tools to ensure readiness for future calamities and disasters.

“We should be learning not only from our mistakes but also from a job well done. We must do it by institutionalizing the best practices and tools implemented by government, LGUs and private sector to prepare for future disasters,” Aquino said.

A lawmaker is calling for an inquiry to assess the impact of government’s action to determine best practices and effective tools used in mitigating the effects of super typhoon Ruby to ensure readiness for future calamities and disasters.

In his Senate Resolution 1063, Senator Bam Aquino stressed the need to assess the impact of government’s actions to determine best practices and effective tools used in the disaster risk and reduction programs of local government units (LGUs).

“The country’s experience with typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) has become key opportunities for learning and for improving disaster preparedness coordination, strategies and practices,” Aquino explained.

“Despite the Filipinos’ vulnerability to typhoons, these experiences demonstrate how the government together with the private sector and the communities stricken by calamities can effectively prepare for and mitigate the adverse effects of disasters,” the senator added.

The inquiry will look into the enhanced inter-agency coordination mechanisms of the national government and the pro-active response of LGUs and private sector on disaster preparedness and mitigation in the country.

“The national government should also be able to identify the appropriate and useful strategies for inter-agency coordination in building community awareness, disaster preparedness planning, and ensuring quick response to help ensure readiness of communities for future disasters,” he added.

Aquino noted that proper coordination among national government agencies, LGUs and private sector contributed to the notable decrease in the number of casualties and loss of property compared to last year’s typhoon Yolanda.

As of latest count, Typhoon Ruby claimed 19 lives and damaged more than P3 billion worth of properties. Typhoon Yolanda, for its part, killed 6,092 people and damaged P36.62 billion worth of properties.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNIDSDR) was impressed with the Philippines’ preparations for typhoon Ruby, which involved the pre-emptive evacuation of at least one million Filipinos in the typhoon’s path.

In addition, the ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh commended the country “for its early warning efforts and disaster preparedness plans, which mitigated losses and damages.”

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