Representatives from provinces devastated by recent natural calamities held a face-to-face meeting with the heads of agencies tasked on disaster response during a recent House Committee on Disaster Resilience hearing.
According to Dinagat Rep. Alan Ecleo, the meeting was meant to increase their capacity to respond to disasters and calamities.
“The priority of this Committee shall be to come up with comprehensive solutions informed by our experiences as provinces devastated by disasters, including our firsthand encounters with the lapses of some agencies in their response,” Ecleo, who chairs the House committee, said.
The province of Dinagat Islands was one on the areas worst-hit by Typhoon “Odette” in December 2021.
Over 14,000 houses were damaged by the severe tropical storm, which also battered Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, and Palawan.
“Mukhang nakasanayan na ng mga Pilipino na kapag may nangyayari ay madaling makalimot (It seems the Filipinos are getting used of being forgetful of what happened),” Ecleo added.
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During their meeting, officers from the Office Of Civil Defense (OCD), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported on their response to recent disasters.
The House panel is notably composed of representatives from Caraga provinces which were likewise struck by the Category 5 typhoon.
These are Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte, represented by congressmen Dale Corvera and Bingo Matugas, respectively.
Other committee members also include Lanao del Sur Reps. Zia Adiong and Yasser Balindong, Apayao Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang and Mandaue Lone District Rep. Lolypop Ouano-Dizon.
Matugas lamented the apparent lack of a clear process of funding the repair of damaged infrastructure, including seawalls and buildings.
He also noted the insufficient budget of P400 million allocated for its rehabilitation.
“Saan po napunta ang P400 million? Dahil sa Siargao wala akong nakita (Where did the P400 million go? Because I’ve not seen it in Siargao),” Matugas said.
The OCD submitted its proposal to create a Department of Disaster Resilience to streamline the process of rehabilitation to the House committee.