Ni CHARISSA M. LUCI-ATIENZA
Hinikayat kahapon ni Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez si Pangulong Rodrigo R. Duterte na ikonsidera ang pag-eendorso sa kanyang panukalang paglikha ng Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (DDPEM) at sertipikahang urgent ang pagpasa sa panukalang batas sa ikalawa nitong State of the Nation Address (SONA) sa Hulyo 24.
Sa kanyang liham sa Punong Ehekutibo na may petsang Hulyo 10, binanggit niya ang pangangailangang pagtibayin bilang batas ang House Bill 344 upang matiyak ang kahandaan sa sakuna at epektibong emergency response protocol upang matulungan ang mga biktima ng kalamidad.
“Natural disasters of increasing magnitude and frequency have continued to affect our country since then causing loss of lives, livelihood and property. In fact last week, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Leyte. This “new normal” requires a more focused and in-depth attention in the way we understand, prepare and respond to natural disasters. Even man-made calamities and acts of terrorism, such as recents in Marawi and Metro Manila, have underscored the need for more advanced and effective strategies of emergency management,” nakasaad sa kanyang liham kay Pangulong Duterte.
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Sa ilalim ng HB 344, ang DDPEM ay pamumunuan ng kalihim ng Department of National Defense (DND). Hinihiling ng panukalang batas na lusawin ang National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) at iba pang mga kaugnay na opisina at ilipat ang kanilang mga kapangyarihan, trabaho, at lahat ng pondo, record, at ari-arian sa DDPEM.
“Finally, it is our hope that you will consider endorsing House Bill 344 in your second State of the Nation Address on July 24,2017 and certify as urgent the passage of the said proposed legislation,” sumamo ni Romualdez, miyembro ng House Committee on Climate Change, sa Pangulo.
Una siyang umapela kay Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez na isama ang kanyang panukalang batas sa priority list ng Kamara, dahil hindi sapat ang NDRRMC para tugunan ang iba’t ibang pangangailangan sa panahon ng mga kalamidad.
