ONE ITEM in the recent State of the Nation Address of the President that Filipinos should look forward to is the creation of “a truly empowered department characterized by a unity of command, science-based approach and full-time focus on natural hazards and disasters, and the wherewithal to take charge of disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response.”
It is fervently hoped that Congress would pass a law creating the Department of Disaster Management. The Philippines is vulnerable to disasters, mainly natural. The national and local governments must be proactive in addressing this vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change.
Given our geographical location, the Philippines is normally visited by an average of 20 typhoons in a year. The extent of damage both in lives and properties by severe weather events is practically the same losses that we would suffer if we are waging a war.
With the frequency of natural hazards plaguing the country, our progress and development would not proceed smoothly and continuously as planned.
Natural hazards are inevitable, but our vulnerability from disasters can be mitigated. We can prevent the damaging effects of typhoons, flooding, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural hazards through the laws and mechanisms we already have such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management (Republic Act 9003). And a Department of Disaster Management can further ensure this.
If all communities implement environmental laws such as RA 9003, improper management of garbage and dirty waterways will be solved, and with this, problems with flood during the rainy season will also be addressed, if not totally prevented. Every citizen must take part in our fight to gain freedom from disaster vulnerability. We should all take action to protect the environment and build disaster-resilient communities for us to be able to respond to early disaster warnings and ensure the sustainability of our resources and livelihood.
Yes, we could not escape from natural hazards, but we can take measures to adapt instead.
