Disaster Resilience Department Urgently Needed, Says Tingog
The recent devastation caused by three consecutive cyclones and the southwest monsoon underscores the urgent need for a Department of Disaster Resilience. Tingog party-list emphasized this on Friday, highlighting how these recurring disasters have become a grim norm across the Philippines.
Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Crising, Tropical Storm Dante, and Typhoon Emong struck Luzon within one week, creating widespread flooding and destruction. “The images we’ve seen over the past days are heartbreaking: flooded homes, stranded families, impassable roads, and devastated crops. But they are no longer new,” Tingog representatives said. “What used to be described as ‘once-in-a-decade storms’ now occur almost every year. They are stronger, deadlier, and more destructive.”
From Relief to Resilience: A Call for Structured Action
Tingog stressed that disaster response must go beyond providing relief goods or issuing reactive warnings. Instead, the country needs a structured, strategic approach with long-term systems in place. “We must act with structure, with strategy, and with long-term systems in place. This is why Tingog Party-list strongly supports the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience,” their statement added.
The group, founded in Eastern Visayas a year before Super Typhoon Yolanda struck, understands disaster response deeply. They have witnessed firsthand the lasting effects of one of the strongest storms recorded, which devastated Eastern Visayas in 2013.
Living with the Legacy of Super Typhoon Yolanda
“We come from communities that still bear the scars of Super Typhoon Yolanda, also known as Haiyan,” Tingog said. “We have witnessed what it means to lose everything in just a few hours. We know the pain of mass displacement, the loss of lives and livelihoods, and the experience of children growing up without homes, schools, or any sense of stability.”
Yet, their experience also highlights resilience: “We also carry with us the memory of solidarity, courage, and the determination to rise again. That shared experience compels us to call for urgent and decisive action. We must not only respond to disasters, but also prevent them, prepare for them, and rebuild in ways that are stronger and more sustainable.”
Legislative Efforts for a Disaster Resilience Department
Several bills have been proposed in Congress to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience. Notably, Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez filed a bill in 2022 aiming to enhance disaster risk reduction and response nationwide. Although the bill did not pass the third reading before the 19th Congress adjourned, discussions continue.
Romualdez, who served as House Speaker during the 19th Congress, recently supported setting up more disaster response hubs across the country. He reiterated the need for legislation that institutionalizes the Philippines’ disaster resilience efforts.
The increasing frequency and intensity of storms highlight the urgent need to shift from reactive measures to proactive, coordinated disaster management. Establishing a dedicated Department of Disaster Resilience could unify and strengthen efforts nationwide.
For more news and updates on disaster resilience, visit Filipinokami.com.
