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NATIONAL AND local government partnerships, combined with civil society participation, will ensure an effective disaster risk reduction management approach, according to a global study presented yesterday.
The Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction, presented in a forum at the Senate, stated that “without innovative local partnerships between civil society, local and central government and other stakeholders, instruments such as public investment planning or conditional cash transfers are unlikely to be effective.”
The partnership, it noted, is crucial to establish land use management policies and building regulations to reduce disaster risks, given badly planned and managed urban and regional development, environmental degradation and poverty.
The study recommended the adoption of building codes to develop fast-track and one-step processes that are simple to follow.
According to the study, the Philippines is one of the countries engaged in the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) which includes strengthening disaster management through institutional and legislative arrangements.
The Web site of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction described HFA as a “10-year plan to make the world safer from natural hazards.”
The agreement was adopted by 168 member states in 2005 at the World Disaster Reduction Conference, which took place shortly after the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Included in HFA is Albay province in the Bicol Region. The study assessed the province’s progress at 4.6 (1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest) as the province has set aside 4.5% of its budget to risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
The province also has a local government unit for disaster risk reduction, permanent emergency research and disaster specialists, and an early warning system.
The study also cited the Philippines’ Strategic National Action Plan and the Local Government Code as policies that decentralized disaster risk management functions.
On Monday, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said in his statement at the opening of the second session of the 15th Congress that the People’s Survival Fund Bill should be passed to help local communities cope with climate change.
The bill is expected to complement the Climate Change Act and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
Local units
Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reminded local government units to each establish a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO) before 2013.
Francisco C. Jose, DILG regional director, said only 70% of LGUs in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) have established the office, a requirement of the law.
“Many provinces, cities and towns with LDRRMO have no ideal facilities but we are pleased to see their efforts,” said Mr. Jose in an interview.
He said it is a challenge to create a new office in Eastern Visayas towns considering that 67% of the municipalities in the region are classified as 4th to 6th class municipalities.
“The salary for personnel of a new office is a problem but we will encourage them to tap existing personnel to man the LDRRMO,” he added.
Under the law, the DILG, which was designated as vice-chairman for disaster preparedness, is tasked to monitor the establishment of the said office.
The local disaster management office serves as the secretariat and executive arm of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils.
Aside from carrying out recovery activities during calamities and distribution of relief goods, the local disaster management office is also expected to identify, evaluate and manage the hazards, vulnerabilities and risks that may occur in their locality.
In a related development, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Eastern Visayas is soliciting public participation on disaster preparedness as the country marks the National Disaster Consciousness Month. — RRD and Sarwell Q. Meniano
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Source: Business World, July 27, 2011
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