RescYouth

Senate Bill No. 686: Youth Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act

Our beloved country is one of the most vulnerable nations to the threat of climate change.

In the past years, the Philippines has experienced a consistent battery of alarming natural calamities. In 2013, Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan, the deadliest typhoon in our history, affected over 14 million people and took over 6,000 lives.

While the Philippines has been on the receiving end of countless disasters, our resilience and spirit of volunteerism has become a source of comfort and inspiration.

In trying times, the youth sector serves as a beacon of hope and catalyst of action. Schools become depositories of donations and efficient centers for packing and deployment of relief goods, never running out of willing volunteers.

Others are volunteer firefighters, first responders and peacekeepers in their respective localities, like the Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail‘(RAPID) of Cebu City and the Ormoc City-based Hayag Youth Organization.

RAPID has vast experience in relief and rescue operation. They were one of the first responders in Tacloban City after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda. They also helped rescue passengers of a passenger vessel that collided with a cargo ship in Cebu in August 2013.

Hayag, for its part, has been teaching swimming, disaster preparedness, first aid and open water safety training to youth. They have successfully taught their members when no one among them had a major accident when Typhoon Yolanda hit Ormoc City.

With impending disasters in the country’s future, it is important to move from post-disaster relief to proactive disaster preparedness. And as the nation moves in this direction, it is important to include young Filipinos in this evolving discussion.

The Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centric Youth (RESCYouth) Act proposes to include the Filipino youth in the nation’s disaster risk reduction policy body to recognize their role in DRRM and empower them with information and skills to help communities in times of crisis.

The measure seeks to have the National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairman be included in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to voice out the concerns and proposals of the Filipino youth on disaster prevention, promotion, education, rescue, and rehabilitation, among others.

There is nothing to lose, but so much to gain from engaging the youth in our quest to build a Philippines that is capable of efficiently responding to natural calamities and able to reduce its negative impact on society.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

 

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BIDA KA!: Kabataan kontra kalamidad

Sa 2013 Climate Risk Index, una ang Pilipinas sa pinakama­tin­ding naapektuhan ng kalami­dad kasunod ng pagtama ng bagyong Yolanda na pumatay nang mahigit 6,000 katao at sumira ng ari-ariang aabot sa $18 billion.

Maliban pa sa bagyo, nakaamba rin ang banta ng malakas na lindol sa bansa. Kamakailan lang, inilabas ng Philippine Ins­titute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) ang Valley Fault Atlas na naglalaman ng mapa kung saan dumadaan ang West Valley Fault sa Greater Metro Manila Area.

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Sa gitna ng mga nagdaang trahedya at kalamidad sa ating bansa, nakita natin ang ambag ng kabataang Pinoy tuwing may kalamidad.

Mula sa rescue operation, pamamahagi ng relief goods hanggang sa pagbibigay ng iba’t ibang uri ng tulong sa mga biktima ng sakuna at kalamidad, nagbubuhos sila ng oras at lakas para makatulong sa mga kababayan.

Sa Cauayan City, Isabela, ang Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team ay nakagawa ng Disaster Management eco-rafts mula sa recycled plastic bottles na kanilang ipinamahagi sa mga nakatira sa malapit sa ilog at mga lugar na madalas bahain.

Tuwing may bagyo at umaakyat ang tubig, ginagamit ang mga eco-raft na ito ng mga pamilya roon upang makaligtas sa anumang sakuna.

Mahalaga na may alam at kasanayan ang ating mga kababayan sa basic life support, first-aid training at rescue ope­rations lalo na sa panahon ng sakuna. Naranasan ito mismo ng Hayag Youth Organization ng Ormoc, Leyte.

Isinagawa nila ang “Langoy Para sa Kaluwasan” program na isa nilang advocacy sa disaster preparedness. Noong tamaan ng bagyong Yolanda ang Ormoc, lahat ng miyembro ng Hayag na tinuruang lumangoy ay naligtas sa delubyo.

Ang Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail o RAPID ay malaki rin ang naitulong kung saan itinuturo nila ang emergency response, first aid, bandaging, evacuation at iba pang kaalaman at kasanayan na kakailanganin tuwing may sakuna.

Ang mga nagtapos sa RAPID ang mga ilan sa first res­onders noong bagyong Yolanda, lindol sa Bohol at pati sa lumubog na barko sa Cebu kung saan isinigawa ng mga trai­nees ang kanilang natutunan na cardiopulmonary resuscitation o CPR na natutunan upang mailigtas ang sanggol na walong buwan pa lamang!

Napakarami na ngayong mga youth group na nagtuturo ng mga kasanayang ito at kumukuha ng mga volunteer para mas maparami ang may kaalaman sa disaster response and rescue — mula sa Hayag Youth Organization sa Ormoc, Leyte, sa Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID) sa Cebu hanggang sa Muntinlupa Junior Rescue Team at The Responders sa South Central Mindanao.

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Ngayong higit kailanman, kailangan natin ang tulong ng sektor ng kabataan — mula sa edukasyon, rescue, response, relief at rehabilitasyon — sa posibleng pagtama ng kalamidad.

Dahil subok nang kasama ang mga kabataan sa panahon ng kalamidad, oras na para kilalanin at pagtibayin ang kanilang mahalagang papel pagdating sa disaster risk reduction and management.

Ito’y sa pamamagitan ng inihain kong RESC­Youth Act of 2015, na la­yong palakasin pa ang antas ng partisipasyon ng kabataan at isama sila sa pagpaplano at pagha­handa para sa pagdating ng anumang kalamidad.

Layon ng panukala na isama ang National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman sa National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Kasabay nito, isasama rin ang kinatawan ng mga kabataan sa Regio­nal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).

Umani ng suporta ang panukalang ito mula sa Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units (LGUs), NDRRMC at NYC.

Ayon sa kanila, mahalaga na isama ang mga kabataan mula sa pagpaplano hanggang sa pagsasakatuparan nito.

Sa tulong ng kabataang Pinoy, mas magiging handa tayo sa anumang kalamidad na tatama sa bansa!

 

First Published on Abante Online

Youth to the Rescue

In this day and age, natural calamities are a sad reality for any country, more so for the Philippines.

In the past few years, we have been on the receiving end of vicious typhoons, brutal storm surges, earthquakes, and other adverse calamities.

In 2013, typhoon Yolanda, the deadliest typhoon in our history, affected millions of people and took thousands of lives in Eastern Visayas. This super–typhoon earned us the top rank in the 2013 Climate Risk Index (CRI), which ranks countries affected by extreme weather events .

In addition, the Long–Term Climate Risk Index (CRI) ranked the Philippines fifth most affected country in the world, driving us to continue our efforts in disaster risk mitigation, preparedness, and recovery.

And though these indicators are definitely troubling, the good news is that hope and inspiration flow from the many stories of young Filipinos who are working to help mitigate disaster. They volunteer for, even spearhead programs on disaster risk reduction and we need not look further than this year’s Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Award winners for examples.

In Cauayan City, Isabela, the Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team builds eco-rafts out of recycled plastic bottles for communities prone to flooding, keeping families afloat and ushering them to safety.

In the Visayas, the Hayag Youth Organization based in Ormoc, Leyte organizes “Swim for Safety” or “Langoy Para saKaluwasan” programs teaching the youth in disaster-prone communities how to swim – a life-saving skill many Filipinos still do not possess.

Young Filipinos are also on the frontlines of disaster response. When a ship sank off the coast of Cebu, it was the children from the coastal communities that served as first responders, even performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to save an 8-month old baby.

These heroes learned emergency response, first aid, evacuation, and other disaster-related skills from a 56-hour training program organized by the Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID), a youth group based in Cebu City.

These are only three of many more initiatives lead by young Filipinos. The Filipino youth, without a doubt, have made tangible contributions in the field of disaster risk reduction and management – and they will continue to do so with their ideas, innovations, and passionate hearts.

Thus, it came as no surprise that many supported the Responsive, Empowered, Service-Centric or RESCYouth Act of 2015, a legislation that requires youth involvement in disaster risk management in the national and local levels.

This act institutionalizes the participation of the youth in the planning, strategizing, organizing, and execution of our national disaster plan and ensures thata youth representative be part of the disaster coordinating councils in every region, province, city, municipality, and barangay.

Time and time again, the youth sector has proven that, given the opportunity and the right tools, they are able to contribute in nation building.

The RESCYouth Act of 2015 embodies this ideology, enlisting our bright, impassioned, determined, resourceful, and brave young Filipinos in the development of a Philippines that is well informed, incredibly prepared, and exceptionally resilient to disaster.

 

First Published on Manila Bulletin

BIDA KA!: RescYouth

Pagkatapos tumama ng bagyong Yolanda, ilang oras din tayong na­ging bulag sa tunay na kondisyon sa ground zero.

Maliban kasi sa putol ang linya ng mga kuryente at telepono, nasira rin ang lahat ng uri ng komunikasyon kaya walang makalabas na anumang impormasyon.

Galit ang aking naramdaman dahil gusto ko mang magpahatid ng agarang tulong, wala tayong ideya sa tunay na sitwasyon sa mga nasabing lugar.

Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag makalipas ang ilang araw nang makatanggap tayo ng impormasyon mula mismo sa ating mga kaibigan sa mga nasabing lugar.

Kaya hindi na tayo nag-aksaya ng panahon. Agad nakipag-ugnayan ang ating tanggapan sa mga kaibigan, shipping companies at Department of Social Welfare and Development para mabilis na makapaghatid ng tulong.

Sa karanasang ito, doon ko nakita na kahit ano pa ang pangyayari – maging ito man ay gawa ng kalikasan, Act of God o likha ng tao – kayang malampasan kung magtutulung-tulong ang lahat.

Mas mabilis ang paghahatid ng tulong at mas madali ang pagbangon kung tayo’y magsasama-sama at kikilos sa isang direksyon.

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Ito ang ideya sa disaster risk reduction (DRR) consultation at workshop na ginawa ng aking tanggapan kamakailan sa Balamban, Cebu.

Tinaguriang ‘RESCYouth: Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centric Youth,’ ang dalawang araw na workshop ay ginawa sa RAFI Kool Adventure Camp at nilahukan ng humigit-kumulang 100 kabataan mula sa iba’t ibang organisasyon sa buong bansa.

Sa nasabing workshop, nagtipon ang iba’t ibang grupo ng mga kabataan na bihasa sa DRR at nagkaroon ng palitan ng ideya at mungkahi ukol sa mga makabagong sistema at mga programa tuwing may kalamidad.

Sa workshop ding ito, nabigyan ng sapat na kaalaman ang mga kalahok na puwede nilang ibahagi sa kani-kanilang komu­nidad upang magamit nila sa paghahanda at habang may kalamidad o anumang pinsala.

Nagbahagi si Mang Tani Cruz, ang meteorologist ng GMA News, kung paano nila kinukuwento ang mga isyu ng climate change sa taumbayan at ang mga epekto nito.

Tinalakay naman ni Mayor Sandy Javier kung ano ang mga ginawa nilang hakbang para mapaghandaan ang Bagyong Yolanda sa Javier, Leyte, kabilang ang forced evacuation para mailigtas ang lahat ng tao sa kanilang komunidad.

Ikinuwento ni Mark Lawrence Cruz ng Gawad Kalinga ang pagtitipon ng mga miyembro ng komunidad para sa kanilang relief operations at nang masiguradong lahat ay mabigyan nang aga­rang tulong.

Naging mabunga ang nasabing workshop dahil mula sa palitan ng ideya at mungkahi, ang mga kalahok ng mga programang makatutulong para mapaganda pa ang kasalukuyang sistema pagdating sa DRR.

Nangako naman ang mga kalahok na dadalhin ang mga programang ito sa kani-kanilang organisasyon at mga komunidad para maipakalat sa mas marami pang tao.

Maliban pa rito, nagkaroon din ng mas matibay na ugnayan ang mga organisasyon, lalo na sa palitan ng kaalaman at impormasyon pagdating sa DRR.

Ang mga nasabing grupo ang gagamiting sentro ng suporta ng aming tanggapan tuwing may kalamidad.

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Kabilang sa mga lumahok sa workshop ay ilang grupo na ma­laki ang ginampanang papel sa rescue at relief operations noong Bagyong Yolanda.

Kabilang dito ang Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail o RAPID, na naging first responders sa Tacloban City.

Malawak na ang karanasan ng RAPID pagdating sa rescue at relief operations. Isa sila sa mga grupong tumulong nang magbanggaan ang dalawang barko sa Cebu noong 2013.

Tuwing may sunog, inaasahan din ang mabilis na pagresponde at paghahatid ng tulong ng RAPID.

Susi sa mabilis na pagtugon ng RAPID ang pagkakaroon nila ng ugnayan sa Philippine National Police (PNP).

Dumalo rin sa workshop ang Hayag Youth Organization na na­kabase sa Ormoc City.

Mula nang itatag noong 1985, naging mis­yon na ng grupo ang magturo ng swimming, disaster preparedness, first aid at maging open water safety training sa mga kabataan sa lungsod.

Kaya nang tumama ang Bagyong Yolanda, walang naitalang namatay sa hanay ng mga kabataan sa Ormoc City na lumahok sa programa ng Hayag.

Dahil sa programa ng Hayag na ‘Langoy sa Kaluwasan’, kinilala sila bilang isa sa Ten Outstanding Youth Organizations (TAYO) noong nakaraang taon.

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Naniniwala ako na kapag tayo’y nagsama-sama, matatalo natin ang pinakamalalaking problema sa ating bayan, ma­ging ito man ay kalamidad o sakuna.

Kapag natugunan na natin ang problema sa kalamidad, maaari na tayong kumilos para solusyunan ang iba pang suliranin tulad ng gutom, kawalan ng edukasyon at kahirapan.

First Published on Abante Online

Bam on his Year 2 Accomplishments (Transcript of Interview)

Well, ito pong mga batas po naming ito, alam ninyo po, dalawa po itong committee po natin.  Ang una sa Youth, tsaka iyong Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.  Kaya kung napapansin po natin, lagi po ang ating usapin ay usaping pang-kabataan at usaping pang-negosyo. 

Kaya gusto ko po sanang ireport na hindi po nasayang ngayon sa pangalawang taon ko po dito sa Senado.

Responsive, Empowered Service-Centric Youth Act of 2015

Meron po tayong dalawang napakagandang batas na umuusad. Iyong isa po riyan, yung tinatawag nating RESCYouth.

Ito po iyong batas at napasa na po on third reading. So actually hinihintay na lang po natin iyong counterpart sa Kongreso.  Ang nakalagay po rito, na sa ating NDRRMC, iyong ating National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, kinakailangang may kinatawan ang mga kabataan.

Nakita po kasi namin na, sa bawat delubyong nangyayari ay mga kabataan iyong mga kauna-unahang volunteer, eh ‘di ba kabataan.  Sino ba iyong nagpupuno roon sa mga repacking stations natin, ‘di ba iyong mga kabataan?

Nakita rin naming na marami ring mga youth groups na nagbibigay ng first aid, sumasama sa red cross, nagtuturo ng mga CPR, iyong paglangoy, so marami po talagang kabataan ang involved, pero hindi sila involved sa pagpaplano ng disaster risk management.

Lahat po ng ating Disaster Management Councils, magkakaroon po ng youth representative.

Iyong kaalaman, experiences, pwedeng maibahagi ng kabataan, mapapasama na po sa National Councils, sa NDDRMC, Provincial Councils, City Councils, Municipal Councils, kahit Baranggay Councils kasi mayroon na dapat po tayong mga konseho pagdating sa pagmanage ng mga delubyo sa ating bansa.

Youth Entrepreneurship Act

Itong pangalawa po, ratified na, pirma na lang po ng presidente natin ang kailangan. So we’re hoping, bago po mag SONA, pirmado na po ito.

Ito po iyong Youth Entrepreneurship Act.  Ang kapartner po namin dito ay si Br. Armin Luistro at Deptartment of Education.

Napapansin po kasi namin na, pagdating po sa mga kabataan, mahalaga po talaga, iyong financial literacy o kaalaman sa paghawak ng pera at mga kaalaman sa pagnenegosyo.

Sa ngayon, sama-sama po iyan sa financial literacy, savings, investments, kaalaman sa pagtatayo ng sariling negosyo.  Maituturo na po finally sa ating educational system kasi po ‘di ba laging batikos sa ating educational system ay tinuturuan ka naman maging empleyado, kumbaga hindi tinuturuan para magtayo ng negosyo.

Maisasama na po iyan sa K to 12 at kadikit po niyan, magkakaroon po tayo ng fund para yung mga gustong magnegosyo na mga kabataan especially yung nasa K to 12 pwede pong mabigyan ng DepEd nang kaunting start up capital.  Hindi teorya lang yung kanilang pagtuto tapos magkakaroon pa po sila ng praktikal na kaalaman sa pagtatayo ng negosyo.

   

Sa mga Umuutang

Sanay na tayo na “ay umuutang lang iyan,” kahit iyong mga pinakamalalaking kumpanya umuutang, kahit po itong bansa natin, umuutang rin yan. Hindi po masama ang umutang, ang masama po ang umuutang ka ng hindi mo kayang bayaran.

O masama iyong umutang ka, na hindi mo naaral yung mga terms o laki ng interest.  Kahit 5-6, pero kung umuutang ka sa maayos na institusyon, hindi ho masama iyon, so iyong mga kaalaman ay mahalagang malaman ng ating mga kabataan.

We’re hoping na makatulong ito para bumaba ang bilang ng mga kabataang walang trabaho.

Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act

Mayroon po tayong batas noon na nagsasaad na kapag ikaw ay isang foreign ship, hindi ka puwedeng dumaong sa lahat ng ports ng Pilipinas.

Noon po, pag foreign vessel ka, mayroon kang i-import. Usually pipili ka lang ng isang puwedeng pagdaungan, usually Metro Manila iyan. Although international ang Davao at Cagayan de Oro, pero usually dito lang po iyan sa Metro Manila.

Kaya karamihan ng ships nasa Metro Manila kaya noon nagkaroon ng port congestion kung saan nagtaasan ang presyo ng bilihin dahil sobrang inefficient ng ating sistema.

Ngayon po, puwede nang dumaong ang ships sa multiple ports basta’t hindi siya kumukuha ng domestic goods. Kumbaga po, meron kang imported na goods, kunwari mayroon kang imported na mani, puwede kang mag-drop off sa Manila, puwede kang mag-drop off sa Cebu at sa Cagayan de Oro, hindi na lang sa iisa.

Kung kukuha ka naman, kailangang i-export mo ito patungong foreign port. Hindi ka puwedeng kumuha ng produkto sa Cagayan de Oro patungong Maynila. Para mabago po iyan, kailangang mabago ang Constitution dahil mayroon po tayong proteksiyon.

Pero pagdating sa importation at pag-e-export, puwede na po kayong kumuha kung foreign vessel ka.

Magmumura iyong cost natin ng pag-import at pag-export kasi hindi ka na kailangang mag-drop-off. Wala nang double handling. Now, bababa po niyan ang cost ng ating logistics.

Now, kahit naman po iyong local products natin, may mga imported raw materials iyan so makikita natin may mga porsiyento diyan dapat bumaba ang presyo at magsimula ang pagbaba ng presyo ng bilihin o di kaya’y makakatulong po iyan sa para hindi tumaas ang presyo ng bilihin.

To quote Venus Raj, “Major! Major!” po ang batas na ito kasi matagal na po itong gustong itulak pero hindi maipasa-pasa. Naipasa po namin lahat ng cargo lahat ng foreign ships.

Isipin niyo po, nag-e-export po tayo. We try to be competitive pero iyong cost ng pagdala ng produkto palabas, napakamahal. At the end of the day, iyon po ang hinahabol natin dito, ang magmura ang bilihin.

Philippine Competition Act

Eto po, for the second year ko po makakaa-apat po tayo. Ito po ang pangako natin na ito pong Philippine Competition Act, masabi ko na isa ito sa major, kung hindi man pinaka-major sa 16th Congress.

24 years na po ito sa Kamara, 24 years na hindi maipasa-pasa and dapat po 80 years na noong nakapasa tayo ng Philippine Competition Act.

Iyong mga ibang bansa po, marami po sa kanila, after World War 2 nagkaroon ng competition.  Ang Japan after World War II, devastated sila, doon nila binuo ang competition act para maging patas-patas ang pag-angat ng mga negosyo sa kanilang bansa.

Ito pong Philippine Competition Act, nakalagay po na walang anti-competitive agreements o agreements between companies na makakasama sa kompetisyon sa ating merkado o iipitin ang ibang players, especially ang maliliit.

Iyong pagiging monopolyo mismo, hindi po iyan pinagbabawal. Ang bawal ay naging monopolyo ka dahil nang-aabuso ka. Mahalaga po na mayroon po ang batas na ito.

Isa pang nilalabanan nito ang cartel. Halimbawa, negosyante ng garlic mag-uusap-usap na huwag munang maglabas ng produkto. Hintayin natin itong tumaas ang presyo, doon natin banatan ang merkado.

Ang tawag po diyan, price fixing. Iyan po very clear na pinagbabawal ng batas na ito. Pag ginagawa mo iyan, hindi iyan fair sa consumers. Hindi rin fair sa ibang traders o ibang businesses na nasa merkado mo.

Bawal na po ang cartel, iyong competitive agreement, ang pang-aabuso ng malalaking kompanya o abuse of dominant.

Bubuo tayo ng Philippine Competition Commission na quasi-judicial. Ibig sabihin po may mga kaso na puwedeng ilapit sa komisyon na iyon, at sasabihin nila, may bawal dito, puwede mong multahan iyong mga kompanya.

Puwede mong multahan kung kriminal na iyan. Kung cartel, puwede mong ilapit sa DOJ, may prison time na iyan. Ito’y karaniwan sa iba’t ibang bansa mundo.

Kakaunti na lang po ang walang competition law. Ito po’y hindi bago sa mundo pero bago po sa ating bansa, na ngayon lang tayo nagkaroon ng batas tungkol dito.

Ano po ang analogy natin dito? Kasi usong-uso ang NBA Finals, kumbaga po noon, sa barangay covered courts lang tayo naglalaro.

Kasi ang ekonomiya natin simple lang noon kaya pambarangay lang tayo. E ngayon po, gumaganda na ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, nag-PBA at NBA level na tayo.

Pag sa barangay lang naglalaro, walang referee, kayo-kayo lang iyon. Hindi malinaw ang rules, kanya-kanya kayo.

Pero kung gumaganda na ang ekonomiya niyo, kung nasa PBA ka na, o nasa NBA ka na, kailangan na ng referee.

Ang referee po dito, ang Philippine Competition Commission. Hindi po siya nandiyan para ipitin ang mga naglalaro. Nandiyan siya para masiguro na maayos ang pakikitungo ng bawat grupo at patas ang laban.

Kunwari, isa kang Cleveland Cavaliers at mayroon kang LeBron James ay sobrang galing mo. Hindi ka puwedeng mambalya, hindi ka puwedeng maniko, tatawagan ka ng foul. Ooppss bawal iyan. Puwede kayong mag-compete pero sa tamang patakaran.

Usually po ang bicam dalawang oras, ito po apat na araw, 30 hours ang bicam pero alam niyo po, I’m proud of this bill.

Nagtulungan po diyan ang Congress, ang Senate, DTI, DOJ at NEDA. Tulung-tulong po kami para maipasa ang batas na ito. Ito po ang handog namin sa maliliit na negosyante.

Our small players na usually binu-bully ng mga malalaking kompanya, iyong ating consumers na kapag may cartel, usually mataas ang bilihin. Ito po iyong handog namin sa inyo na magkaroon ng patas-patas na presyo ng bilihin, patas-patas na rules at hindi ho tayo namamanipula ng ilang grupo sa binabayaran nating produkto.

Sen. Bam’s Sponsorship on RESCYouth Act of 2015

Good afternoon, Mr. President and to my distinguished colleagues.  Mga kaibigan, mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat!

 It is my great privilege to stand before you today in support of the institutionalization of youth participation in the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council or NDRRMC, as I sponsor the Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centric Youth or RESCYouth Act of 2015, or Senate Bill No. 2789, under Committee Report No. 161, entitled An Act Including The National Youth Commission Chairperson As A Member Of The National Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Council, Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 10121, Otherwise Known As The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction And Management Act Of 2010.

Our beloved country is one of the most vulnerable nations to the threat of climate change.

According to the Long Term Climate Risk Index (CRI), which ranks countries affected by extreme weather events, the Philippines ranked fifth in the world. And in the 2013 Climate Risk Index (CRI), our country is ranked the number one most affected with over 24 billion US Dollars in losses that year.

As we all know, in 2013, Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan, the deadliest typhoon in our history, affected over 14 million people and took over 6,000 lives in Eastern Visayas. To this day, we are still trying to recover from the tragedy.

 Mr. President, as we are in the receiving end of vicious typhoons, brutal storm surges, earthquakes, and other adverse calamities, we have taken steps and have made leaps in preparing for such occasions.

We have the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) project led by our very own world-renowned scientist Dr. Mahar Lagmay.

Just last week, the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) released the Valley Fault Atlas containing large scale maps of the areas traversed by the West Valley Fault – a starting point in preparing for a potential earthquake in Metro Manila.

The NDRRMC has also released the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) for 2011 to 2028, which identifies the capacities we need to develop and the roadmap to follow in order to become truly resilient in the face of catastrophe. This plan not only focuses on preparedness and response, but also on prevention and rehabilitation before and after a crisis.

Moreover, we are seeing movements on the ground.  National agencies, local government units and the private sectors have constantly coordinated to be better prepared for disasters by educating our fellow Filipinos, acquiring more equipment for rescue and first aid, and institutionalizing relief operations and quick response teams, among other efforts.

Not surprisingly, the youth is playing a vital role in our pursuit for overall disaster resilience.  They have served as a beacon of hope and catalyst of action. 

Student councils lead schools to become depositories of donations and efficient centers for packing and deployment of relief goods, never running out of willing volunteers.

 In addition, social media turns from a platform of selfies into a nerve center for information, tips and news monitoring during typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic movements.

Mr. President, our youth organizations have also created innovative solutions to help their communities become more resilient, adaptive to the changing climate.

 Sa Cauayan City, Isabela, ang ating Ten Accomplished Youth Organization Awardee na Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team ay nakalikha ng Disaster Management Eco-rafts mula sa recycled plastic bottles para sa mga nakatira sa malapit sa ilog at mga lugar kung saan madalas na binabaha.  

Tuwing may bagyo at umaakyat ang tubig, ginagamit ang mga eco-raft na ito ng mga pamilya roon upang makaligtas sa sakuna.

Mahalaga na may alam at kasanayan ang ating mga kababayan sa basic life support, first-aid training at rescue operations lalo na sa panahon ng kapahamakan. Naranasan ito mismo ng Hayag Youth Organization ng Ormoc, Leyte.

Isang araw, habang sila ay nasa isang mangrove planting activity, biglang tumaob ang kanilang bangka. Nalaman nilang wala sa kanila ang marunong lumangoy! Buti na lang, hindi lampas-tao ang tubig na kanilang nahulugan.

Dahil sa karanasang ito, isinagawa nila ang “Swim for Safety” o “Langoy Para sa Kaluwasan” na isa nilang advocacy sa disaster preparedness.

Mr. President, noong 1991, nagkaroon ng isang matinding flash flood sa Ormoc at libo-libo po ang namatay. Noong tamaan ng bagyong Yolanda ang Ormoc, lahat ng miyembro ng Hayag na tinuruang lumangoy ay naligtas sa delubyo.

Ang Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail o RAPID ay malaki rin ang naitulong at marami na ang nailigtas sa kanilang 56-hour training program kung saan itinuturo ang emergency response, first aid, bandaging, evacuation at iba pang kaalaman at kasanayan na kakailanganin tuwing may sakuna.

Ang mga nagtapos sa training program ng RAPID ang mga ilan sa first responders noong typhoon Yolanda, lindol sa Bohol, at pati sa lumubog na barko ng 2Go kung saan isinigawa ng mga trainees ang kanilang natutunan na cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR upang mailigtas ang sanggol na 8-months old pa lamang!

Napakarami na ngayong mga youth groups na nagtuturo ng mga kasanayang ito at kumukuha ng mga volunteers para mas maparami ang may kaalaman sa disaster response and rescue – mula sa Hayag Youth Organization sa Ormoc, Leyte, sa Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID) sa Cebu, hanggang sa Muntinlupa Junior Rescue Team at The Responders sa South Central Mindanao.

Mr. President and esteemed colleagues, all over the country, young Filipinos are dedicating their time, energy, and skills to build a strong and resilient Philippines ready to take on overwhelming tragedies.  

They are involved in the whole process of disaster reduction and mitigation efforts – from education and prevention, to rescue and first response, to relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The Filipino youth has proven to be key partners in nation building. Let us empower them further by institutionalizing youth involvement in disaster risk reduction and management.

Right now, local government units are already working with the youth, usually as volunteers. The RESCYouth Act of 2015 raises this level of participation and includes the youth in the planning process, identifying strategic efforts, mobilizing communities, and making risk preparedness and disaster resiliency as part of Filipino culture.

This Act includes the National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairman in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and subsequently, involves youth representatives in the local levels by their inclusion in the Regional, Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay Disaster Coordinating Councils.

Mr. President, sa RESCYouth Act of 2015, mapakikinggan na sa bawat komunidad – barangay man, lungsod, o probinsya – ang mahalagang boses ng kabataan upang mapabuti ang ating paghahanda para sa kalamidad.

We have received tremendous support for this legislation – from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) to the NDRRMC and the National Youth Commission.

Our stakeholders acknowledge the value of involving the youth in disaster risk reduction from the planning stage down to execution.

The NDRRMC, government agencies and local government units, schools, disaster management units, scientists and members of the academe, local businesses and the private sector, youth volunteers and youth groups – all of us, together, can make significant progress in our country’s ability to face calamity head on.

It is in trusting each other’s abilities and uniting all sectors, including the youth, that we can develop a Philippines that is well informed, incredibly prepared, and exceptionally resilient to disaster.

Let’s formally enlist our bright, impassioned, determined, resourceful, and brave young Filipinos by passing the RESCYouth Act of 2015.

Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat, maraming maraming salamat at mabuhay ang kabataang Pilipino!

Bam on Grace Poe and RESCYouth Act (Interview after Hearing)

On Grace Poe as Possible 2016 LP candidate

 

Right now, dumadaan din sa proseso ang partido. The President has also said na very soon, the party will decide on who the standard bearer will be.

 

I think it’s just right na kausapin ang iba’t ibang tao. Kailangan lang sigurong antabayanan kung ano ang magiging desisyon.

 

As party member, of course, we look at the different processes na kailangan. Very soon. Sooner than you think, lalabas na rin ang final decision of the party.  Ang hanap natin ay iyong best for the country. Ang mahalaga riyan, kung sino ang magpapatuloy ng reporma.

 

Sisiguraduhin na hindi tayo babalik sa napakaraming corruption in the past. We just really need to look at the options and all the alternatives.  Very soon, once this is decided, we can really start moving forward already.

First of all, I think Secretary Mar Roxas is still the presumptive candidate of the party. But palagay ko mahalaga rin na i-explore ang lahat ng possibilities, kasi kung tutuusin may proseso naman iyan, and even sa senatorial slate, all the positions I think, will have to go through the process also.

Ngayon, it’s time to really go and ask all of these people who want to run kung ano ba talaga ang mga plano nila. What do they really want for the country?

 

I think we’re too focused sa personalities. I think ang mahalaga, alamin natin kung ano ba talaga ang mga plano nila para sa ating sa bansa.

 

I don’t think that we’re asking that question. Ano ba ang gusto nilang gawin para sa bansa? Ano ba ang reporma na gusto nilang itulak? Palagay ko, iyon ang kailangang malaman, hindi lang ng partido, ‘di lang ng presidente kundi pati ng taumbayan.

 

We’re less than a year from the elections, people aren’t even asking kung ano ba ang plataporma ng mga presidentiables na ito. Palagay ko mahalaga na malaman natin kung ano ba ang gusto nilang gawin sa bayan at doon tayo magdesisyon.

 

Q: Bakit presumptive candidate si Roxas?

 

The process is still ongoing. So that’s why it’s still presumptive at wala pang final decision ang partido. Of course, he’s someone who I think has been talked about for a long time, obviously, he’s part of that very short list.

 

Q: Hindi pa ba sapat na itapat siya ng partido kay Binay?

 

Palagay ko, ang sagot sa tanong na iyan, mare-resolve iyan in a couple of weeks. The party is still undergoing this process at kapag nakapagdesisyon na talaga ang partido, malalaman natin kung sino ba talaga ang lalaban sa kung kanino.

 

At this point, it’s all speculation. I think ang taumbayan natin, need to start asking the question, ano ba ang repormang gusto nating maitulak, ano ba ang gusto nating baguhin at sino ba ang magpapatupad noon?

 

We’re not asking those questions enough. Sayang naman ang pagkakataon natin  na tanungin iyong mga tanong na iyon.

 

Kasi kung puro Binay ba, si Grace Poe ba o si Mar Roxas ba, tanungin natin kung ano ba ang madadala nila sa ating bayan. Ano ba ang kaya nilang gawin para sa Pilipino?

 

If we start having that discussion, mas magiging mayaman ang diskusyon natin.  Iyon ang palagay ko na mas mahalagang tanong.

 

On inclusion of NYC Commissioner to the NDRRMC

 

We’re hoping na mapasa natin ang RESCYouth Act as soon as possible. Marami na ring activities ang mga kabataan pagdating sa disaster preparedness.

 

Palagay ko naman, there will be little or no opposition to this bill so we’re hoping that we can have this passed soon.

 

Tamang tama na malapit na rin ang rainy season, so palagay ko if we can get this bill passed, we can already include the youth sa planning processes natin sa mga iba’t ibang councils.

 

Kung mapapansin mo ang bill na isinusulong natin, we are adding a representative of the youth in every council sa national and local levels.

 

Ang mga kabataan, very active na sila. Sila rin iyong no. 1 volunteer, sila ang unang-unang pumupunta kapag may rescue, unang-unang kasama sa rehabilitation. Nakita naman natin na kahit sa disaster preparedness, kasama rin sila.

 

Kaya it’s really time na ilagay rin ang mga kabataan sa ranggo ng nagpaplano ng disaster management.

 

All of the resource speakers, I think, supported the bill, even DILG, the local governments that were here, ang Climate Change Commission and of course, the National Youth Commission.

 

I’m hoping that we can pass this bill as soon as possible and magawa na natin iyong probisyon na ang mga kabataan ay mayroong espasyo sa mga council natin na may kinalaman sa disaster management.

 

Sa national will be the chairman of the NYC. On the local level, it will be chosen by the local government units.

 

Right now, ang mga different LGUs natin, katrabaho nila ang mga kabataan but usually as volunteers. We want to raise that participation, gawin nating kasama sa planning process.

Senate Bill No. 2702: Youth Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act

Our beloved country is one of the most vulnerable nations to the threat of climate change.

In the past years, the Philippines has experienced a consistent battery of alarming natural calamities. In 2013, Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan, the deadliest typhoon in our history, affected over 14 million people2 and took over 6,000 lives3.

While the Philippines has been on the receiving end of countless disasters, our resilience and spirit of volunteerism has become a source of comfort and inspiration.

In trying times, the youth sector serves as a beacon of hope and catalyst of action. Schools become depositories of donations and efficient centers for packing and deployment of relief goods, never running out of willing volunteers.

Others are volunteer firefighters, first responders and peacekeepers in their respective localities, like the Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID) of Cebu City and the Ormoc City-based Hayag Youth Organization.

RAPID has vast experience in relief and rescue operation. They were one of the first responders in Tacloban City after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda. They also helped rescue passengers of a passenger vessel that collided with a cargo ship in Cebu last year.

Hayag, for its part, has been teaching swimming, disaster preparedness, first aid and open water safety training to youth. They have successfully taught their members when no one among them had a major accident when Typhoon Yalanda hit Ormoc City last year.

With impending disasters in the country’s future, it is important to move from post- disaster relief to proactive disaster preparedness. And as the nation moves in this direction, it is important to include young Filipinos in this evolving discussion.

The Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centric Youth (RESCYouthj Act proposes to include the Filipino youth in the nation’s disaster risk reduction policy body to recognize their role in DRRM and empower them with information and skills to help communities in times of crisis.

The measure seeks to have the National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairman be included in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to voice out the concerns and proposals of the Filipino youth on disaster prevention, promotion, education, rescue, and rehabilitation, among others.

There is nothing to lose, but so much to gain from engaging the youth in our quest to build a Philippines that is capable of efficiently responding to natural calamities and able to reduce its negative impact on society.

 

PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 2702

 

Youth Groups Converge to Create DRR National Network

Senator Bam Aquino aims to create a powerful network of young Filipinos who can provide dependable support during calamities and disasters and beef up the country’s disaster risk reduction (DRR) management program.

Aquino made this pronouncement after the successful staging of a two-day consultation and design thinking workshop, dubbed as “RESCYouth: Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centric Youth,” held at the RAFI Kool Adventure Camp in Balamban, Cebu.

Coming from different parts of the country, participants who attended the event are involved in the different facets of DRR, such as disaster preparation, rescue, relief and rehabilitation.

Others are volunteer firefighters, first responders and peacekeepers in their respective localities, like the Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail (RAPID) of Cebu City and the Ormoc City-based Hayag Youth Organization.

RAPID has vast experience in relief and rescue operation. They were one of the first responders in Tacloban City after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda.  They also helped rescue passengers of a passenger vessel that collided with a cargo ship in Cebu last year.

Hayag, for its part, has been teaching swimming, disaster preparedness, first aid and open water safety training to youth.  They have successfully taught their members when no one among them had a major accident when Typhoon Yalanda hit Ormoc City last year.

“We can make this network a powerful network of young Filipinos who can make a difference,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth.

“May disaster man o wala, naririyan tayo para magtulungan at magsama-sama upang matalo natin iyong pinakamamalaking problema sa ating bayan,” he added.

After calamities and disasters, Aquino hopes the network could address other problems hounding the society, such as hunger, lack of education and poverty.

During the event, about 100 youth participants were able to formulate ways and programs that can help improve the country’s present DRR management schemes.

“We expect participants to help this program expand to their respective organizations and communities so many people will benefit from it,” Aquino said.

Participants also committed to closely coordinate with other organizations to expand their network and widen their knowledge about DRR management.

“We will have these organizations as our focal point of support during disasters,” Aquino said.

During the workshop, several personalities shared their experiences and knowledge in DRR management, including Mayor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier of Javier, Leyte, Gawad Kalinga’s Mark Lawrence Cruz and Mario Urrutia III of Reporter’s Notebook.

GMA-7’s resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz, Hapinoy Executive Director TJ Agulto and Voltaire Tupaz of Rappler also imparted their knowledge to the participants.

RESCYouth to Boost DRR Knowledge Among Youth

In an effort to educate and equip the youth with the proper knowledge in disaster risk reduction (DRR), the Office of Senator Bam Aquino has organized a consultation and design thinking workshop that will be held in Balamban, Cebu from Nov. 6-7.

Dubbed as “RESCYouth: Responsive, Empowered and Service-Centered Youth,” the two-day workshop will be held at the RAFI Kool Adventure Camp.

“As observed in the past, the youth sector is always at the forefront of relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation during disasters such as the Cebu earthquake and typhoon Yolanda,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth.

“The manpower and innovative ideas they share with communities help contribute to the fast and efficient emergency relief operations, making them a key partner in disaster management,” the senator added.

Around 100 youth organizations from different parts of the country and have existing DRR programs and projects are expected to attend the workshop.

During the workshop, youth organizations will have an active exchange of ideas regarding best DRR practices, leading to the creation of new schemes that will enhance present DRR management program in different areas of the country.

“As we remember the victims and survivors of Yolanda this week, we need to equip our young people with tool and skills to better prepare and respond for disasters,” Aquino added.

The workshop is also aimed at equipping participants with DRR knowledge and information that they can share to their respective communities.

Aside from Senator Aquino, other speakers during the workshop are Mayor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier of Javier, Leyte, Gawad Kalinga’s Mark Lawrence Cruz and Mario Urrutia III of Reporter’s Notebook, GMA7.

GMA-7’s resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz, Hapinoy Executive Director TJ Agulto and Zak Yuson of Rappler’s MovePH are also expected to impart their knowledge and experience during the workshop.

The speakers will discuss different topics, ranging from best practices of local government units (LGUs) during disasters, tapping the spirit of volunteerism during relief and rescue operations and the role of media as information dissemination arm.

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