Urgency for Department of Disaster Resiliency

THE recent flood disaster in Cagayan and Isabela of catastrophic proportion this month, and in recent years in our own region, definitely and completely provide the urgency to create the Department of Disaster Resiliency and Emergency Management. Why it doesn’t seem so for our senators escapes us.

It’s the government agency that can fill in the blanks to help the country plan on establishing parameters and plans to avoid such calamitous situations year end, year out by natural (and man-made) causes that have resulted in billions in losses in agriculture, infrastructure and livelihood. It is the agency that can focus on mitigating factors and thereon establish policies whose impact will cut across towns, provinces and regions.

A case in point, close to home is the threat of severe flooding that central Pangasinan faces each time a typhoon enters our jurisdiction. We have the San Roque Dam that will have no recourse but to release excess water during extended periods, compounded by strong typhoon, is only but on factor. Others are flow of flood water from upstream, overflow of silted river in constricted areas, denuded mountains, etc.

These factors cut across local geographic and government jurisdiction. Since excess rainwater seeks its own level over natural terrains, no local government unit can plan on its own to protect itself without depending on other LGUs to help in the effort. The autonomy of each town, city and province prevent it from implementing a unified plan to avert natural disasters.

Only a DDR can help because as a national agency it will have the authority and resources to compel the implementation of policies that impact on disasters. Translation in real terms – the flooding in Dagupan can be can be helped because the factors are mostly outside its jurisdiction and the province. We need DDR.

Vaccine budget

AS per “vaccine czar” Carlito Galvez Jr., the virus vaccine will arrive in the country either in late 2021 or early 2022.  But as China (Sinovac), Russia (Sputnik) and the U.S. (Pfizer) try to outrace each other in discovering the vaccine, our officials remain sadly unresolved on the vaccine budget.  From the original P2.5 billion outlay, it was upped to P18B in the approved P4.5-trillion 2021 budget.  Alas, that is still a paltry sum according to Sen. Ralph Recto, who said at least P100B is needed to inoculate at least 54 million of our 107 million population—exempting young Filipinos deemed less vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.  Indeed, money is a key cog in fighting the virus that has killed nearly 8,000 Filipinos and infected over 400,000 already.  Health is wealth as we love to say and so, why scrimp on vaccination costs?  Always, life is precious, not money.

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