Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Sunday, October 30 expressed his support for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s (NDRRMC) call for a declaration of a state of calamity following the devastating onslaught of Tropical Storm Paeng in the country.
“I echo the call of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for the President to declare a national state of calamity in the wake of Tropical Storm Paeng,” Zubiri said in a statement.
“With over fifty deaths and counting, and massive infrastructural damage from Luzon to Mindanao, we will need to access calamity funds under the declaration of a state of calamity in order to even begin recovering from Paeng,” the Senate leader further said.
“I hope the NDRRMC can submit its resolution to the President as soon as possible, as I know that the President is already receptive to the recommendation, and is now only waiting to review the resolution before making his decision,” he said.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is said to be eyeing another yearlong state of national calamity due to the devastation wreaked by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.
‘Paeng’ left at least 45 people dead and dozens missing. The storm also inundated many parts of the country this weekend.
On the part of the Senate, Zubiri said senators are already organizing relief operations across the country.
“I will personally be making my way to Mindanao, where Paeng triggered fatal floods and landslides,” he said.
The Senate is also now reviewing the government’s disaster management funds for next year.
“Beyond relief operations, we are of course now reviewing and making adjustments to our disaster management funds for the 2023 national budget,” he said.
“With the recent earthquake in Abra, and now Paeng, our 2023 budget will definitely have to be reconsidered, reviewed, and adjusted—not only for the rehabilitation of affected communities, but also to strengthen the capacity of the NDRRMC and related agencies and local governments,” Zubiri said.
“We need to fix our fragmented disaster management efforts and adopt a whole-of-government approach going forward,” he stressed.