MANILA, Philippines- Isinusulong ng Office of Civil Defense (OCD) ang pag-amyenda sa batas na lilikha sa National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at palakasin ang’ 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,” ayon kay OCD administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno.
Sa kasalukuyan kasi, kailangan nila ang ‘full council’ para gumawa ng ‘major decisions.’
Ang NDRRMC ay kinabibilangan ng 41 government agencies at limang kinatawan mula sa pribadong sektor.
“We believe that we would be able to do more if the law (is) modified,” aniya pa rin sabay sabing mahalaga ang oras lalo na sa panahon ng kalamidad.
Handa naman ng OCD na gawing mahusay ang ‘early warning system’ ng bansa para paigtingin ang 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,” ang sinabi ni Nepomuceno.
Aniya pa, mahalaga rin itong kasangkapan upang magawa ang maagang pagkilos at protektahan ang buhay, pangkabuhayan at ari-arian.
Tinukoy naman ng OCD bilang perpektong halimbawa ang nationwide warning system ng Thailand, mayroong mahigit sa 600 towers na may sirena o wang-wang.
Maliban sa sirena, ang Thailand ay mayrong public address system na nagsasabi sa mga tao kung ano ang aasahan sa bawat 10 hanggang 15 minuto.
Ani Nepomuceno, ang OCD, sa tulong ng media, planong simulan ang educational campaign ukol sa disaster resilience, partikular na ang targetin ang mga kabataan, local government units (LGUs) at 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,” ang litaniya ni Nepomuceno. Kris Jose
