National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

Sen. Bam: More work needed to reduce casualties during earthquakes

Sen. Bam Aquino lauded the efforts of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to hold a nationwide earthquake drill to ensure readiness of Filipinos when a strong earthquake hits the country.

However, the senator stressed there’s more work to be done to ensure resiliency of different structures to avoid loss of lives when a Big One hits Metro Manila and different parts of the country.

“Earthquake drills help the community prepare for quakes but there is more we must do to reduce the loss of life. Dapat rin nating tingnan kung matibay at ligtas ba ang mga istruktura sa bansa,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

Sen. Bam recently conducted a hearing to look into whether the scientific data gathered by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) is effectively disseminated to allay fears and combat the prevalence of false information online. The probe was also aimed to prepare communities in the occurrence of destructive tremors.

During the hearing, several issues were raised, including the resiliency of structures against strong tremors and the congestion in the Metro Manila, which can contribute to the number of fatalities if not properly addressed.

PHIVOLCS Director Renato Solidum revealed that if the magnitude 6.7 earthquake that killed nine people in Surigao del Norte last February happened in Metro Manila, around 23,000 people will perish.

Sen. Bam emphasized that the high number of fatalities could be avoided if structures and residential houses comply with the Building Code, enabling them to withstand earthquakes of up to magnitude 8 to 9.

The senator is pushing for a periodic review on the resiliency of structures, especially houses, to “ensure that it can withstand strong tremors and avoid loss of lives”.

Sen. Bam also urged concerned government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to make sure that buildings, houses and other structures can withstand strong earthquakes.

The lawmaker also underscored the need for a periodic review of Republic Act 10121 or the Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System to make it attuned to present needs.

“We’ve already had 163 earthquakes this year. Buhay ang nakasalalay,” Sen. Bam stressed.

The magnitude 6.5 earthquake that rocked Leyte on Thursday brings the count up to 164 earthquakes for 2017.

“Kailangan nang tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng mga istruktura sa ating bansa upang maiwasan ang malawakang pinsala at kawalan ng buhay,” he added.

 

 

Edited: July 7, 2017

 

 

 

 

Bam wants to involve youth in government’s disaster preparedness efforts

A senator wants to tap the youth in disaster preparedness by giving them an active role in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
 
In his Senate Bill No. 686 or the Youth Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, Sen. Bam Aquino proposes to include the Filipino youth in the government’s disaster risk reduction body to recognize their role in DRRM.
 
The measure also seeks to empower the youth with information and skills to help communities in times of crisis.
 
“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,” said Sen. Bam.
 
In the measure, the National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman will be included in the 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 responding to natural calamities,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam recognized several youth organizations that have served as volunteer firefighters, first responders and peacekeepers in their respective localities.
 
The Cebu-based Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail or RAPID was the one of the first responders in Tacloban City after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda.
 
“The group also helped rescue passengers of a passenger vessel that collided with a cargo ship in Cebu last year,” Sen. Bam said.
 
The Ormoc City-based Hayag Youth Organization, for its part, has been teaching swimming, disaster preparedness, first aid and open water safety training to the youth.
 
Today (October 13), the country joins the international community in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

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.

***

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

Sen. Bam Aquino Pushes for 24-Hour Disaster Response

Senator Bam Aquino pushed for a maximum response time of 24 hours following natural calamities, saying that it “currently takes three to four days for the national government to respond [to disasters].”

He likewise called for a “higher level of preparedness… [from government],” as he spoke at the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, held at the Senate on Monday morning.

“What do we need to increase efficiency and capacity? Regional relief depots? Better search and rescue vehicles and equipment? Pre-positioned military and police? Disaster-proof evacuation centers? Given that climate change is upon us and disasters are sure to hit the country again next year, even our measures for assessing disaster preparedness need to change.”

“The best way to honor our countrymen who had passed away is to make sure that we are more responsive the next time disaster strikes,” Sen. Aquino stressed.

The senator also indicated his support for moves to create a department for disaster relief and rehabilitation, replacing the existing National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

He also emphasized that greater focus needs to be placed on ensuring tighter coordination between the national government and local government units.

“Miscommunication severely hampers our ability to respond quickly to crisis situations. If we work more closely together, we will be better able to respond to the needs on the ground,” Sen. Aquino pointed out.

SUPPORT FOR PRIVATE SECTOR REHABILITATION PUSHED

Sen. Aquino also pushed for greater support for rehabilitation efforts of the private sector, citing that “markets are alive [and] vibrant” even in disaster-stricken towns.

While on a ground assessment in Guiuan in Easter Samar and in Tacloban City, Palo, and Tanauan in Leyte on Sunday, the senator observed that most entrepreneurs have been relying on loan sharks—what is locally known as“five-six”—to finance their rehabilitation efforts.

“Equally important in rebuilding public infrastructure is seeing how we can rehabilitate the private sector. We all know that ‘five-six’ bears excessively high interest rates. We need to explore long-term loans, low-interest loans, microfinance loans to help micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs get back on their feet.”

He cited a positive observation by a representative from the international organization UNICEF, which said that it took the Philippines only “ten to fifteen days to begin rebuilding” after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, versus the eight weeks that it took markets to open in other countries that were severely hit by natural disasters.

“The Filipino spirit is indeed resilient. As government, we need to honor that spirit by providing more support to our countrymen.”

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