Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has called for year-round disaster preparedness as Typhoon Inday threatens parts of the country, saying communities must be ready before calamities strike.
Cayetano made the appeal during a Facebook livestream on Thursday, July 9, as Taguig City officials met to coordinate possible response measures.
“Ito ay emergency meeting para sa preparation sa landfall. But the message is not that we’re preparing, but that we’re prepared,” he said. “Iba ang paghahanda, iba ang handa na.”
He said disaster readiness should include the regular clearing of waterways, inspection of roofs, strict enforcement of building and land-use rules, and action against illegal electrical connections that could cause fires.
Cayetano also stressed that effective disaster response requires public cooperation.
“I want to thank ‘yung constituents natin kasi kahit anong galing ng leader, kung ‘yung constituents, kung ‘yung mga taumbayan hindi nagko-cooperate, wala rin mangyayari,” he said.
The senator has filed Senate Bill No. 105, or the proposed Emergency Response Department Act, which seeks to create a dedicated agency for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
He first introduced a similar proposal in 2013 following Super Typhoon Yolanda and has since refiled the measure.
“Kailangan pagdating sa pagmi-mitigate ng mga disasters at saka pagdating sa rehabilitation, may isang natuturo, may isang accountable, at isang nakatutok talaga diyan,” Cayetano earlier said.
He also recognized the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and emergency responders in Taguig and other areas for their continuing preparations.
“Let me honor not only the NDRRMC, but every single group that has been meeting, not only today, but others over the weekend, depending on the area, especially in the north,” he said.
Cayetano urged the public to pray for families in vulnerable communities and for responders who could also face danger during emergencies.
“Pray for safety for everyone. Pati po ‘yung mga emergency responders, barangay, konsehal nawawalan din ng bahay. Ang hirap mag-respond kung ‘yung mismong nag-respond ay problemado din,” he said.
He also said flooding is worsened by poor urban planning, environmental degradation and corruption in flood-control projects.
“Kung ano ang itatanim, ‘yan din ang aanihin. So kung may massive urbanization, kung saan-saan nagtatambak, reclamation, mga estero, mga riverbeds, tapos mayroon pang graft and corruption sa ghost flood projects, [babaha talaga],” Cayetano said.
“Pray that there’s a real change, repentance, renewal, reformation in our country,” he added.