RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE IMPACT OF THE ENHANCED INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION MECHANISMS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PRO-ACTIVE RESPONSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MITIGATION IN THE COUNTRY

Whereas, laws have been enacted to strengthen disaster risk reduction and management in the country, such as the Philippine Risk Reduction and Management Act (Republic Act No. 10121) and the Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act (RA 10344). In response to the effects of climate change, the government recognized the need to adopt a disaster risk reduction and management approach that is holistic, comprehensive, integrated, and proactive in lessening the socio-economic and environmental impacts of disasters including climate change, and promote the involvement and participation of all sectors and all stakeholders concerned, at all levels, especially the local community;

Whereas, the Philippines is prone to natural calamities due to the country’s geographical and physical characteristics. The Philippines is known to be the world’s largest archipelago composed of more than 7,100 islands. Based on data, it lies along the Western Pacific Basin, the world’s busiest typhoon belt, with an average of twenty typhoons each year;

Whereas, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), typhoon Ruby affected 456,386 families or 2,086,562 people who sought shelter in evacuation centers. On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said that there were over 230,000 families or about one million individuals staying in the evacuation centers situated in the disaster-stricken areas. Through the help of the local government units, the communities were advised to preemptively evacuate before the typhoon. Further, a 24-hour operations center at the headquarters of the Philippine National Police was established in order to immediately respond to the needs of the affected provinces by determining the preliminary number of evacuees and the particular needs of each municipality;

Whereas, proper coordination among national government agencies, concerned local government units and the private sector in applying preparedness and mitigation measures significantly contributed to the notable decrease in the number of casualties and loss of property compared to last year’s aftermath of typhoon Yolanda. At that time, the death toll was as high as 6,092 and the damage cost rose to Php 36.62 Billion;

Whereas, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNIDSDR) said it is impressed with the Philippines’ preparations for typhoon Ruby, which involved the preemptive evacuation of at least one million Filipinos in the typhoon’s path. Moreover, in a letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary del Rosario, the ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh commended the country “for its early warning efforts and disaster preparedness plans, which mitigated losses and damages.”

Whereas, the country’s experiences with major natural calamities such as typhoons Yolanda (Haiyan) and Ruby (Hagupit) have become key opportunities for learning and for improving disaster preparedness coordination, strategies and practices. 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;

Whereas, in the aftermath of a disaster, there is a need to assess the impact of government’s actions in order to determine best practices and effective tools used in the disaster risk and reduction programs of local government units. 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;

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 impact of the enhanced inter-agency coordination mechanisms of the national government and the pro-active response of local government units and the private sector on disaster preparedness and mitigation in the country.

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