Early recovery interventions for ‘Rolly’ victims underway: NDRRMC

This approach will support ongoing government relief operations for “Rolly”, he added. (File Photo: Civil Defense PH/Facebook)

MANILA – The government is now preparing its “early recovery interventions” for families severely affected by Super Typhoon Rolly.

In a Laging Handa briefing on Friday, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad said this would be the focus of their cluster meeting later in the day.

“Sa nangyayaring NDRRMC cluster meeting ngayong araw na ito, ito ay paguusapan, yung pag-allocate at pag-identify ng early recovery interventions ay inihahanda na (In the scheduled NDRRMC cluster meeting later today, allocating and identifying those being targeted for early recovery interventions are now being readied),” Jalad said.

This approach will support ongoing government relief operations for “Rolly”, he added.

Jalad also said early recovery interventions would be handled by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other government agencies involved in rehabilitation efforts.

This includes ongoing efforts to restore electricity, water, and communications systems in typhoon-battered areas, he added.

“Kinakailangan talaga gamitin ang lahat ng resources ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno – national, regional, at local upang paghandaan at respondehan nitong mga epekto ng Super Tyhoon Rolly (All resources from all branches of government – national, regional, and local – must be utilized in responding and mitigating the effects of Super Typhoon Rolly),” he added.

On Thursday, Budget and Management Secretary Wendel Avisado said local government units (LGUs) may request for disaster relief fund augmentation, but this needs to go through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Avisado said LGUs affected by “Rolly” may tap the quick response fund of several government agencies.

He said budget for the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management fund (NDRRM) currently stands at PHP3.6 billion.

Meanwhile, Jalad said the creation of the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) would better prepare the country for future calamities.

“Isang tinutugon o maaaring itutugon ng proposed Department of Disaster Resilience ay mas mabilis doon sa ilang functions na nandyan sa ilang ahensya ng gobyerno. Halimbawa, ito ay kukunin niya ng isang branch sa DSWD (for the distribution of relief goods). May malakas na power itong Department of Disaster Resilience in rank with the departments that it will mobilize, so in other words, (Cabinet rank) yung Secretary, na (makikipag-usap sa ibang) Cabinet Secretaries (One of the possible features is that some functions and efforts of other concerned government agencies would be fast-tracked. For example, it would get the branch of the DSWD in charge of distribution of relief goods. The power of the Department of Disaster Resilience will be at par with other departments in terms of rank. Its Secretary would be with Cabinet rank and will be able to talk to other concerned Cabinet Secretaries),” he said.

He added that it would also address other aspects of disaster response such as efforts on prevention and mitigation, response, rehabilitation, and recovery.

In its emergency session on Friday, the NDRRMC discussed the effects of Typhoon Quinta and Super Typhoon Rolly as well as government response activities and the placing of the affected regions under a state of calamity.

Jalad presented a summary of all government preparations and the ongoing response actions of the various agencies to address the impacts of the recent tropical cyclones.

Due to the widespread damages brought by the consecutive typhoons, a recommendation to place Bicol, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa under a state of calamity was made and was duly adopted by the council. The recommendation will then be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte for approval.

Another recommendation made was for the DSWD and National Housing Authority (NHA) to standardize the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) where beneficiaries would receive financial assistance for the repair of houses. The NHA was also advised to assist local government units (LGUs) in the relocation of the displaced coming from danger-zones and the building of temporary shelters.

In preparation for the possible influx of donations to assist the government response, the NDRRMC will expand the current Philippine Humanitarian Assistance Registry (PHAR) to record and monitor donations for other disasters.

The significance of emergency telecommunication was reiterated in the meeting and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) was advised to expand the current government emergency communications system (GECS).

LGUs were also advised to invest on satellite and high frequency (HF) radio communications. Sec Lorenzana also emphasized the effectiveness of prepositioning AFP communication teams nearby areas to be affected by a tropical cyclone.

On the matter of the depleted local disaster risk reduction and management fund (LDRRMF), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) was tasked to submit to the NDRRMC an update of the status of the LDRRMF of LGUs and recommend possible augmentation of their quick response funds.

Meanwhile, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) was tasked by the NDRRMC to look into improving the resilience of water systems in all LGUs. The NDRRMC Response Cluster’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) subcluster was also advised to invest in mobile water treatment facilities.

The rehabilitation and recovery of affected communities was discussed as well and the early conduct of a post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) was recommended, with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) leading the efforts.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III reported in the meeting that the governors of Catanduanes and Albay were already advised to start hiring 5,000 persons in each province for the cash for work program for the clean-up of affected communities.

Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña also reported the deployment of inspection teams from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to check the situation of Mayon Volcano following the lahar flow incient.

Phivolcs executive director Renato Solidum Jr, on the other hand, reported the roll-out of their situation data mapper or Damage Survey Tool that can be used for the crowdsourcing of information related to the damages incurred by communities from a disaster.

The emergency council meeting, held via Zoom, was attended by the heads and representatives of NDRRMC member agencies.