MANILA, Philippines – Recent calamities that hit the country have prompted the National Disaster Coordinating Council to admit that it has “organizational shortcomings” when responding to these disasters.

Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres Jr., NDCC spokesman, told the weekly Fernandina Forum on Wednesday that the organization and its regional and provincial satellites were merely “ad hoc councils” that convened only when there was an impending disaster.

“The NDCC needs to be strengthened,” Torres admitted. “The need is for a committee that will continuously address disaster preparedness in the country.”

The NDCC is also relying on help from other government agencies like the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Public Works and Highways, among others.

The NDCC estimated that more than four million people were affected by tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.” More than P10 billion worth of infrastructure and agriculture were also damaged because of the calamities.

The agency was criticized in responding to the disaster caused by “Ondoy,” particularly in rescuing trapped residents from floods.

To date, there are still some 335,000 people residing in 505 evacuation centers because of “Ondoy.”

Torres said the agency was now in the process of procuring 40 more rubber boats for use during disasters.

He added that local government units (LGUs) have “bigger roles to play” when it comes to disaster preparedness because “they can make a more accurate assessment on the needs of their areas.”

“[The NDCC] is also dependent on the continuous efforts of the LGUs,” Torres said.

Torres said that because of this, the agency was pushing for the immediate passage of the Disaster Risk Management Act of 2008, which allows for the creation of a government body “that will have more teeth” in responding to disasters.