Following the recent battering of Tropical Storms Emong and Dante, Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre has renewed the push for the creation of a dedicated Department of Disaster Resilience.
In a statement on Friday, Acidre stressed the urgency of institutionalizing a body focused solely on climate-related emergencies, especially as the storms—intensified by the southwest monsoon—left widespread damage across affected communities.
“We must act, not only by distributing relief goods after the floods have passed, not only through social media posts offering thoughts and prayers, and not only by setting up makeshift evacuation centers or issuing reactive measures,” he said.
Acidre emphasized the need for a long-term and strategic approach to disasters, one that encompasses risk reduction, swift response, recovery efforts, and proactive planning. He said disaster preparedness must be viewed as a national governance priority, not just a local or military task.
“Disaster preparedness is not just the responsibility of local governments or the military. It goes beyond weather forecasts or preemptive evacuations. It requires a fundamental shift in how we govern, how we build, and how we prioritize the safety of our people,” he added.
This renewed call comes on the heels of a similar legislative effort by FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe, who earlier this month filed a bill proposing the creation of the said department. A consolidated version of the measure was already approved by a joint House panel in the 19th Congress.
