Senator Joel Villanueva called on government agencies to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure that assistance reaches affected communities promptly as the typhoon season begins.
Villanueva said agencies must be ready before disasters strike by prepositioning relief supplies, preparing evacuation centers, and improving coordination with local government units and other emergency response bodies.
“As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, we must prioritize preparedness, swift response, and coordinated action to safeguard our people and build more resilient communities,” Villanueva said.
In 2024, the senator pushed for funding for mobile command centers to enhance the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s disaster-response capabilities.
Through Villanueva’s initiative, the DSWD also procured mobile kitchen units the following year to provide hot, home-cooked meals to families displaced by typhoons and other disasters.
Villanueva also authored Senate Bill No. 551, or the Hazard Mapping Act, last year to establish a comprehensive list of low-lying areas vulnerable to rising sea levels due to climate change, as well as communities at high risk of natural disasters.
The proposed measure requires the relevant agencies to produce high-resolution hazard maps that are accurate, regularly updated, and publicly accessible.
“The absence of reliable risk information weakens the ability of communities and local governments to properly prepare for and respond to disasters, plan safe settlements and enforce zoning laws,” Villanueva said.
He also urged government agencies to regularly review their contingency plans, strengthen early warning and communication systems, and ensure that adequate resources are available for emergency operations.
“With the increasing risks brought by extreme weather events, we must remain ready and responsive,” Villanueva said.