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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lawmakers: Typhoon-prone PH needs standby generators, underground power lines

Lawmakers: Typhoon-prone PH needs standby generators, underground power lines

Published Dec 23, 2021 03:40 pm

Lawmakers made several recommendations, including policy revisions, to various national government agencies on Thursday, Dec. 23, in a bid to ensure smooth and efficient government response to people in need during calamities.

During House Committee on Transportation hearing which came following the onslaught of Typhoon "Odette," Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Sarmiento said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of the Civil Defense must ensure that the disaster mitigation measures should adhere to the tropical cyclone bulletin issued by the country's weather agency.

Sarmiento, chairman of the committee, said they also want NDRRMC to dispatch rescue teams coming from areas that will not be affected by "fortuitous" events.

Meanwhile, in cases of power outage, lawmakers said generators must be on standby and available to run water supply to households and water refilling stations.

Gas stations should also have generator sets to run for at least two fuel dispensers.

For the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the committee suggested that the agency must "consider revising building standards" in the country.

According to Sarmiento, Congress must revisit the Building Code in relation to the initial requirement for buildings to withstand at least 250 kph (kilometer per hour) winds, because what happened during the destructive Typhoon "Yolanda" went far beyond the 300 kph winds.

"Major infrastructure buildings such as airports, seaports must adopt roofing designs such as hip or bonnet roofing," the committee stated.

The Department of Energy and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, on the other hand, should ensure uninterrupted supply of power and telecommunications services during calamities, said Sarmiento.

Lawmakers believed it can be done through installing underground cables, instead of putting up power lines above the ground, especially in areas frequented by typhoons.

Typhoon "Odette" left at least 258 people dead and hundreds of thousands homeless and without access to electricity, potable water and telecommunication services as it battered provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Related Tags

LAwmakers House of Representative Typhoon Odette committee on transportation odette
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