Velasco urges Senate: Prioritize bill creating Dep’t of Disaster Resilience

Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco. (FILE) Photo from the Office of Cong. Velasco

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco urged the Senate on Monday to prioritize the passage of the bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) in the wake of Typhoon Quinta.

Velasco said the creation of the DDR will immensely help the country in mitigating the devastating effects of natural disasters.

“We earnestly urge our counterparts in the Senate to pass their own version so we can subsequently work on the enrolled bill to be sent to President Duterte’s desk for his signature,” Velasco said in a statement.

“The Philippines is frequented by typhoons and our country is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, making us vulnerable to earthquakes. A Department that deals specifically with disaster response and management is urgently needed,” he added.

The House of Representatives has already passed the measure on final reading last September, with Velasco as one of its authors and sponsors.

“The creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience allows us to be constantly prepared and well-equipped when natural disasters occur. This will enable other Departments to put all their focus and efforts in helping the country recover from COVID-19,” Velasco said.

The Speaker made the call as Typhoon Quinta continues to batter parts of the country.

The Speaker has given instructions to his staff to coordinate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) so that assistance and immediate relief operations may be extended to other areas hit by the typhoon.

In his SONA in July, Duterte called on Congress to pass DDR to ensure the safety of Filipinos during disasters.

JPV