Pinirmahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. kamakailan ang Republic Act (RA) No. 12287 o ang “Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act.”
Ibinahagi ng Presidential Communications Office (PCO) nitong Huwebes, Setyembre 18, ang mga probisyong nakapaloob sa bagong lagdang batas ng Pangulo.
“Under Republic Act No. 12287, the government will establish a mechanism for declaring a State of Imminent Disaster and providing the criteria for its declaration and lifting, as well as necessary appropriations,” ani PCO.
“R.A. No. 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act signed by President Marcos on September 12, authorizes the Chief Executive to declare a State of Imminent Disaster over a cluster of barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC),” dagdag pa nila.
Sa batas na ito, binibigyang-kapangyarihan din ang mga local chief executives na magdeklara ng State of Imminent Disaster, sa bisa ng isang executive order na nakapaloob sa kanilang jurisdiction, ngunit ito dapat ay may rekomendasyon mula sa Council ng Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM).
Inaatasan din ang NDRRMC o ang DRRM councils na magsagawa ng pre-disaster risk assessment upang ma-anticipate ang ilang highly probable disasters na may projected impacts sa komunidad, na magsisilbing basehan ng deklarasyon.
“These include disseminating public information advisories on recommended actions to relevant sectors; mobilizing and prepositioning inter-agency response teams; initiating pre-emptive or forced evacuation; mobilizing duly accredited and trained volunteers; and procuring, mobilizing, prepositioning, and distributing food and non-food items to forecasted affected population,” ani PCO.
“Other measures include implementing a social amelioration program for the indigent and most vulnerable population; carrying out contingency plans to mitigate damage to agricultural products and food supply; and providing technical and advisory assistance to ensure public health and safety,” dagdag pa nila.
May kapangyarihan din ang National o Regional DRRM councils na itaas ang deklarasyon kung makikita sa pre-disaster risk assessment na ang projected impacts ay hindi naman maaabot, sa rekomendasyon ng local chief executive o ni PBBM.
Vincent Gutierrez/BALITA
