Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla (Senate PRIB)

Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla is pursuing improvements to the government’s information dissemination and aid distribution mechanisms in a bid to enhance preparations for El Niño, La Niña, and other "environmental shocks”.

Padilla has filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 1025, which directs the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation on the matter. He chairs the panel.

"Preparation through proper information dissemination and prompt distribution of government aid and support could spell out success in addressing our country's vulnerability to frequent environmental shocks," he said in a statement.

Under his resolution, the senator emphasized the need to create a "whole of society" approach in dealing with so-called “environmental shocks” such as El Niño and La Niña.

He pointed out that these climate phenomena often impair agricultural productivity.

Padilla noted that while the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has not been remiss in releasing forecasts—alongside President Marcos’ directive of a whole-of-government approach—he says there is a need to review historical data and identify policy gaps.

"Filipinos must be informed of up-to-date and necessary preparations and responses of the national and local government, as the public has, over the years, been taking the brunt of these environmental shocks," he said.

The actor-turned-lawmaker stressed that a comprehensive public information drive will also be vital to inform the affected population of the government’s programs to help them cope with the adverse effects of any crisis.

"A whole-of-society approach, with respect to information dissemination in all crisis-related concerns, must be adopted in order to facilitate societal inclusivity and to ensure the active participation of all sectors to better amplify government's response to ensure that information will be delivered promptly, and in a language well-understood by the population directly affected,” Padilla said.