DND's Teodoro urges review of disaster risk reduction law

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday called on legislators to revisit the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 and assess the needed changes to ensure its timeliness in addressing current climate risks and calamities.

Teodoro delivered his speech during the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Pasay City.

"Senator (Loren) Legarda has underscored that our current disaster risk reduction law was enacted 15 years ago and it is time for a review," Teodoro said.

"Because of changing circumstances, because of experiences in the field, we have been able to identify some gaps that need to be filled, some streamlining that needs to be done," he added.

Teodoro also said the government should practice constant assessment to improve its efforts in addressing emerging issues, particularly in disaster risk reduction.

Under Section 4 of Republic Act 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, the law provides for the "development of policies and plans and the implementation of actions and measures pertaining to all aspects of disaster risk reduction and management, including good governance, risk assessment and early warning, knowledge building and awareness raising, reducing underlying risk factors, and preparedness for effective response and early recovery."

Resilient, inclusive

Meanwhile, Legarda said a resilient and inclusive disaster risk reduction system prioritizes vulnerable sectors.

"Leaving no one behind must drive the renovation of risk governance. Women, girls, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups must be at the heart of shaping the post-2030 disaster risk governance framework, ensuring their leadership in building truly resilient and inclusive systems," Legarda said.

"We have to understand that we have to take into account specific characteristics of local communities which differ, sometimes in one local government unit alone, there are several phenomena which affect these communities," Teodoro said.

He said the government opened the "El Niño portal", where local government units can use the data from the national government for their local disaster reduction planning.

"We were supposed to convert this into the La Nina portal. However, we have decided in the council to make this a full-time disaster risk reduction portal for a secure site where LGUs and other national agencies can exchange data feedback," Teodoro said.

The El Niño phenomenon in the Philippines ended in June while state weather bureau PAGASA has yet to announce the onset of the La Niña phenomenon. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/ VDV, GMA Integrated News