Labor groups lauded the approval of the proposed Expanded Maternity Leave law by Congress’ bicameral conference committee.
The Partido ng Manggagawa and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the Expanded Maternity Law would give working mothers more time to take care of their newly born child and rest before going back to work.
“It’s really the fruit of collective efforts. It became possible when women workers, trade unions and allies in Congress work hand in hand and doing campaigns in many forms just to make things done for the sake of women, their children and their families,” PM secretary-general Judy Miranda said.
The PM is part of Workers for EML, a coalition of women groups in the trade union movement which pushed for the passage of EML in both houses of Congress.
The Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, on the other hand, likewise welcomed the development and considered it as “a sweet victory for Filipino women workers.”
“The Expanded Maternity Leave measure is the country’s non-cash investment in producing a healthy, intelligent and well-developed future breed of Filipino workers without losing the wages and benefits of nursing moms during maternity period and without sacrificing their health and well-being,” ALU-TUCP vice president and Women’s Committee head Eva B. Arcos said.
Once signed into law by the President, the current 60-day maternity leave benefits will be increased to 105 days. This is one week higher than the ILO standard of 98 but it falls short of the 120 days approved by the Senate.
The leave benefit is transferable. It also increases the paternity leave by 100 percent and gives additional 15 days for solo parent. It likewise provides for benefit is 60-day leave benefits for cases of miscarriage or termination of pregnancy.
Over at the Senate, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan noted that longer maternity leaves will be better for moms, babies and families.
“We laud Congress for standing up for the cause of women and families with the passage of the Expanded Maternity Leave measure,” he said.
As one of its authors, Pangilinan said they are elated that soon, the country will soon have a law that will promote better health for both mothers and babies, and one that supports responsible parenthood.
He said this is also a meaningful investment on child development and families as a whole as it helps pave the path for the growth of healthy persons.
“We thank Sen. Risa Hontiveros for her unwavering effort to see the bill through,” said the oppositin leader.
“We hope that when it becomes a law, employers would cooperate and abide by the law, keeping in mind that their employees’ general welfare will redound to workplace excellence and competitiveness,” he added.
For her part, Senator Nancy Binay expressed hope that the expanded maternity leave bill would be signed into law this October as an early Christmas gift to working mothers.
“I pray and hope that the expanded maternity leave bill becomes a law this month. If the President gets to sign it soon, then it will be an early Christmas gift to working mothers who carry the next generation of Filipinos,” she said.
According to Binay, mothers working in the public and private sectors can avail of 105 days of paid maternity leave under the proposed law. The cap of four pregnancies is also removed by the measure, as all pregnancies will be covered.
“The 105-day maternity leave is a big step in giving particular attention to motherhood premiums.
Binay said that companies and other institutions should not perceive the proposed law as a bane to productivity that would lead to more discrimination in the workplace.
In the Philippines, women have reached a high level of labor force participation but working mothers silently receive motherhood penalties and passed over for promotions and other career advancements because of motherhood duties.
“It pains me to see a mother cutting short the time to bond with her child and go back to work, especially during the crucial period of the infant’s development. The State has a responsibility to provide a positive complement for women in the labor sector, and be mindful of their indespensable roles in society,” Binay said.
Under existing laws, 60 days of maternity leave is granted for normal deliveries, while 90 days is given for caesarean births.
The 60-day provision does not necessarily allow sufficient time for a mother to truly bond and nurture her child after giving birth.
The bicameral version of the of the expanded maternity leave grants single mothers another 15 days of leave, while those who have miscarried will be granted 60 days leave.
An option for additional 30 days of unpaid leave is also provided under the bill.
Binay added that the passage of the law would guarantee the country’s adherence to the International Labor Organization (ILO) standard of 98 days of maternity leaves.
“Some countries in Europe have recognized that mother and child bonding deserve a longer time, and allowed a year with pay for them. We will be at par with the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) standard of 98 days or the ASEAN coverage of 93 days,” Binay said.
Binay said that with the proposed law, the mother and child can have a longer time of mother and child bonding, which have long term effects on the child’s development and health.
Meanwhile, the state-run Social Security System (SSS) also welcomed the swift passage of the proposed expanded maternity benefit for female workers with identified source of funding during the bicameral conference committee held at the lower house yesterday.
The proposed law or the “105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2018”, a consolidation of Senate Bill 1305 and House Bill 4113, has identified that the amount necessary to implement the Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
“We are very thankful to the bicameral committee as they have seen the need to identify enough funding mechanism to fully implement the proposed law. We, at SSS, recognize their advocacy to provide better social security protection to female workers especially when they put their own life in danger during and after pregnancy,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said.
“We have yet to compute the numbers for the said measure. We only have actuarial studies for the 100-day and 120-day proposals. In the actuarial study for the 100-day proposal, the maternity benefit disbursement will increase by about P3.6 billion in the initial year of implementation. But that study does not include the unlimited number of covered pregnancies, as well as the additional benefit for solo parents, so we also have to look into that. We’ll present the numbers from our actuarial study soon,” Dooc said.
Earlier, SSS actuarial studies showed that an additional 0.3 percent in monthly contribution is needed if the 100-day expanded maternity bill will be passed into law. So from the current 11 percent monthly contribution capped at monthly salary credit, it would have to increase to 11.3 percent. That would cover for the additional benefit disbursements to be brought about by increasing the maternity benefit payment period to 100 days.
The additional 0.3 percent in monthly contribution would mean an additional P30 for members whose monthly salary credit stands at P10,000. Qualified members whose MSC stood at this level currently receives an average maternity benefit ofP20,400.
If the proposed 100-day maternity leave is granted, the maternity benefit would increase toP31,000 or a 52 percent jump from the current benefit.
“We are not against any proposal that would give additional benefit to our members. We are sensitive to the needs of the members who have clamored over the years for higher SSS benefits. However, we cannot afford to lose the pension fund in the future if no sustainable source of funding is identified to fund the additional benefit payments,” Dooc said.
At present, the contribution rate for maternity benefit still remains at 0.4 percent of the monthly salary credit of a qualified member or around P64 for every P1760 monthly contribution.
SSS has so far disbursed more than P3 billion worth of maternity benefits to over 157,000 qualified female members from January to June 2018. Maternity benefit disbursements jumped by 12 percent to P3.37 billion during the first half of 2018 from the P3.01 billion disbursements on the same six-month period last year.
http://manilastandard.net/news/national/277005/passage-of-expanded-maternity-leave-bill-lauded.html
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
‘Itogon, Naga disasters could’ve been mitigated’
If the Department of Disaster Resilience had been in place, the massive devastation caused by Typhoon “Ompong” in the northern Philippines would have been mitigated, the principal author of the bill in Congress that would create the agency said.
While noting that the House of Representatives has now passed House Bill 8165 that seeks to create the DDR, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said if the agency was in place, tragedies caused by Ompong and other natural and man-made disasters and calamities that frequently hit the country would have been avoided.
HB 8165 was approved Sept. 18, three days after Ompong triggered lethal landslides that claimed at least 78 lives in the mining town of Itogon, Benguet, with close to 30 missing.
Five days after the Itogon tragedy, about 70 people were buried in a similar landslide triggered by heavy rains in another mining community—Naga City in Cebu, where 30 persons were reported missing.
Salceda noted that the Naga tragedy and the succeeding investigation, which resulted in the suspension of at least three Mines and Geosciences Bureau officials, is an example of a disaster which should have been mitigated, had the disaster risk reduction aspect been given more weight and priority.
The DDR, he said, would directly address these disasters and help ensure the country’s inclusive economic growth.
Under his proposal, the MGB of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, particularly its Geohazard Unit, will be transferred to the DDR, “which should insulate it from mining interests and focus on the DRR aspects of its mandate,” Salceda said.
The DDR will be “an agency mandated to carry out a consistent and fortified calamity defense program to ensure the country’s sustainable development and inclusive growth through strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention and mitigation,” he added.
Once enacted into law, the DDR will integrate warning agencies with risk reduction and response structures and functions that will facilitate decisive contingency planning and warning communications, Salceda said.
It will also provide a shift in strategy from “deterministic to probabilistic approach to risk assessment” while retaining the “Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation” approach, the solon added.
President Rodrigo Duterte had urged Congress to create a disaster management agency in his 2017 and 2018 State of the Nation Addresses. Following the 2017 SONA, Salceda filed his DDR bill version. The 2018 SONA helped expedite House passage of the bill.
Salceda, who also chairs the House Climate Change Committee, said the bill envisions the DDR to be the primary state agency that will lead and manage national efforts to mitigate and address disaster risks.
The department would take under its wings the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology from the Department of Science and Technology, and the Bureau of Fire Protection from the Department of Interior and Local Government, among other agencies.
Both government and private sectors have publicly acclaimed and widely supported the proposed DDR. Voicing their support for the measure are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and former Metro Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino, the President’s focal person on disasters.
Salceda has thanked House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for ensuring the plenary approval of the Official Joint Committee Report as drafted by the Technical Working Group, which he chairs, and endorsed by committees on Government Reorganization, National Defense, and Appropriations.
http://manilastandard.net/lgu/luzon/276983/-itogon-naga-disasters-could-ve-been-mitigated-.html
While noting that the House of Representatives has now passed House Bill 8165 that seeks to create the DDR, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said if the agency was in place, tragedies caused by Ompong and other natural and man-made disasters and calamities that frequently hit the country would have been avoided.
HB 8165 was approved Sept. 18, three days after Ompong triggered lethal landslides that claimed at least 78 lives in the mining town of Itogon, Benguet, with close to 30 missing.
Five days after the Itogon tragedy, about 70 people were buried in a similar landslide triggered by heavy rains in another mining community—Naga City in Cebu, where 30 persons were reported missing.
Salceda noted that the Naga tragedy and the succeeding investigation, which resulted in the suspension of at least three Mines and Geosciences Bureau officials, is an example of a disaster which should have been mitigated, had the disaster risk reduction aspect been given more weight and priority.
The DDR, he said, would directly address these disasters and help ensure the country’s inclusive economic growth.
Under his proposal, the MGB of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, particularly its Geohazard Unit, will be transferred to the DDR, “which should insulate it from mining interests and focus on the DRR aspects of its mandate,” Salceda said.
The DDR will be “an agency mandated to carry out a consistent and fortified calamity defense program to ensure the country’s sustainable development and inclusive growth through strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention and mitigation,” he added.
Once enacted into law, the DDR will integrate warning agencies with risk reduction and response structures and functions that will facilitate decisive contingency planning and warning communications, Salceda said.
It will also provide a shift in strategy from “deterministic to probabilistic approach to risk assessment” while retaining the “Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation” approach, the solon added.
President Rodrigo Duterte had urged Congress to create a disaster management agency in his 2017 and 2018 State of the Nation Addresses. Following the 2017 SONA, Salceda filed his DDR bill version. The 2018 SONA helped expedite House passage of the bill.
Salceda, who also chairs the House Climate Change Committee, said the bill envisions the DDR to be the primary state agency that will lead and manage national efforts to mitigate and address disaster risks.
The department would take under its wings the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology from the Department of Science and Technology, and the Bureau of Fire Protection from the Department of Interior and Local Government, among other agencies.
Both government and private sectors have publicly acclaimed and widely supported the proposed DDR. Voicing their support for the measure are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana as chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and former Metro Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino, the President’s focal person on disasters.
Salceda has thanked House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for ensuring the plenary approval of the Official Joint Committee Report as drafted by the Technical Working Group, which he chairs, and endorsed by committees on Government Reorganization, National Defense, and Appropriations.
http://manilastandard.net/lgu/luzon/276983/-itogon-naga-disasters-could-ve-been-mitigated-.html
Congress renews PECO franchise
MERRY-GO-ROUND
By FLORO L. MERCENE
The House of Representatives needs to decide soon how to have a viable power distribution facility with the proper infrastructures like transmission lines, transformers, and power grid. Otherwise, Iloilo City and neighboring municipalities will go back to the Dark Ages for at least 10 years.
At stake is the renewal of the franchise of Panay Electric Co. Inc. (PECO), that is due to expire in January, 2019.
Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting filed House Bill 8132, at the instance of More Minerals Corporation, contesting PECO’s bid to renew its license.
House Bill 6023 filed by Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo is seeking to renew PECO’s franchise.
Since the New Year is just around the corner, I don’t see why our lawmakers would hedge on PECO’s petition.
The Lower House will have a lot of explaining if they disenfranchised PECO. It has been powering houses, commercial buildings, and industries in Iloilo City and surrounding communities for nearly a century now.
PECO has the track record, the technical expertise, adequate manpower, sufficient equipment, and stable infrastructure mustered through 98 years of quality service.
PECO is a homegrown utility whose sound management was passed on, from generation to generation of the Cacho clan into a multibillion-peso enterprise that it is today.
Allowing PECO’s uninterrupted operations would mean continuing power supply for Iloilo City and their franchise area. Disallowing it would mean blackouts for several years pending completion of an entirely new utility.
It would also threaten the jobs of tens of thousands of PECO field men and office workers, and economic dislocation for their families, if the company’s franchise is not renewed.
In a letter to Rep. Franz Josef Alvarez, chairman of the Committee on Legislative Franchises, they cited reasons why PECO’s franchise should be renewed. The workers invoked the “prior operator rule,” essentially protecting the interest of existing franchise holders.
“PECO as an operator under a prior license, who complies with its terms and conditions, and meets the reasonable demands of the public. It must be protected rather than be destroyed by the granting of the second license to another person,” the letter said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/10/02/congress-renews-peco-franchise/
By FLORO L. MERCENE
The House of Representatives needs to decide soon how to have a viable power distribution facility with the proper infrastructures like transmission lines, transformers, and power grid. Otherwise, Iloilo City and neighboring municipalities will go back to the Dark Ages for at least 10 years.
At stake is the renewal of the franchise of Panay Electric Co. Inc. (PECO), that is due to expire in January, 2019.
Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting filed House Bill 8132, at the instance of More Minerals Corporation, contesting PECO’s bid to renew its license.
House Bill 6023 filed by Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo is seeking to renew PECO’s franchise.
Since the New Year is just around the corner, I don’t see why our lawmakers would hedge on PECO’s petition.
The Lower House will have a lot of explaining if they disenfranchised PECO. It has been powering houses, commercial buildings, and industries in Iloilo City and surrounding communities for nearly a century now.
PECO has the track record, the technical expertise, adequate manpower, sufficient equipment, and stable infrastructure mustered through 98 years of quality service.
PECO is a homegrown utility whose sound management was passed on, from generation to generation of the Cacho clan into a multibillion-peso enterprise that it is today.
Allowing PECO’s uninterrupted operations would mean continuing power supply for Iloilo City and their franchise area. Disallowing it would mean blackouts for several years pending completion of an entirely new utility.
It would also threaten the jobs of tens of thousands of PECO field men and office workers, and economic dislocation for their families, if the company’s franchise is not renewed.
In a letter to Rep. Franz Josef Alvarez, chairman of the Committee on Legislative Franchises, they cited reasons why PECO’s franchise should be renewed. The workers invoked the “prior operator rule,” essentially protecting the interest of existing franchise holders.
“PECO as an operator under a prior license, who complies with its terms and conditions, and meets the reasonable demands of the public. It must be protected rather than be destroyed by the granting of the second license to another person,” the letter said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/10/02/congress-renews-peco-franchise/
Brillante’s ‘ALPHA, The Right to Kill,’ wins Special Jury Prize in San Sebastián
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| Award winning actor Allen Dizon with Brillante Mendoza at the 66th San Sebastian Film Festival |
Award winning director Brillante Mendoza’s film, “ALPHA, The Right to Kill” wins Special Jury Prize – the second most important award - at the recently concluded 66th San Sebastian International Film Festival (Festival de San Sebastián).
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| Brillante Mendoza 's ALPHA, The Right to Kill wins Special Jury Prize – the second most important award - at the recently concluded 66th San Sebastian International Film Festival. |
This is the first time that a Filipino film is selected as a Main Competition film in this prestigious festival. It is also a first time for Director Mendoza to participate in San Sebastian.
“We would like to extend our congratulations to team Alpha, specially to Director Brillante Mendoza who has always been bringing honor to our country through his films. We won in San Sebastian Film Festival and I am excited for our Filipino films as they compete in international film festivals. FDCP is here to support Filipino films and filmmakers. Lets continue to be bold and share our stories to the world,” said Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra.
Last year, the Philippine entry in the New Directors Section, “Pailalim” directed by Daniel Palacio won Special Mention Fedeora Award in San Sebastián.
“ALPHA, The Right To Kill” is also included in the special screening at the 23rd Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) this October in Busan, South Korea.
• • •
Happy birthday greetings today, Oct. 2, go to Rep. Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Atty. Arlene Lapuz-Ureta, Dame Montano, Fort Sarmiento, Precy Reyes, Caesar Yuipco, Frankie Ong Bata, Atty. Adel Tamano, Fr. Lorenzo Larry Miranda, Ma. Theresa “Maite” Defensor, Rose Hilario Libongco, Angie Favis, Terry Aldeguer, Graciebelle Banaria Espiritu, Edgardo Cepe, Almond Aguila, Zeny Yumol Sato, John Mark Puno, Sis. Maria Theresa Asencio, Ursula Stone, Manny Villanueva, Jasmine Batolanon, Aida Bastida Dela Cruz, Asha Bondoc, Sabrina Kaila de Vera, Aaliyah Zoe Geron, Arlyn Cudal, Daniel Golez, Ging-Ging Catan, Thine Juan Rubio Janaban, Michael Padilla, Janjan Romero, Mariena Frias Manalang, Bernard Liquido, Jopplin Cubilla, Edwin Legazpi, Lorna Ortonio, Edwin Royo, Nelson Sarigumba, Vyxl Aiu, Maeann Moran, Rasmia Ortega, Mark Raniel Dato, Eliza Redoblado and Chit Guerrero…Happy 26th sacerdotal anniversary to Fr. Leoben Peregrino.
GMA Network sustains TV ratings advantage in September
GMA Network maintained its lead in the nationwide television ratings competition based on the latest data from the industry's widely-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.
For the month of September (with September 23 to 30 based on overnight data), GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 41.1 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), beating ABS-CBN's 37.1 percent.
The Kapuso Network emerged as the viewers' top choice as it continued to lead across all day parts. In the morning block, GMA registered 38.2 percent people audience share versus ABS-CBN's 34.3 percent.
GMA remained undefeated in the afternoon block after tallying 41.2 percent while ABS-CBN only managed to get 37.1 percent.
Likewise in the evening block, GMA again led competition with 42.3 percent as against ABS-CBN's 38.3 percent.
The Kapuso Network also maintained its dominance in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.
GMA garnered an average total day people audience share of 46.7 percent in Urban Luzon versus ABS-CBN's 30.8 percent.
Similarly, in Mega Manila (with official data from September 1 to 22), the Network posted an average total day people audience share of 48.6 percent, which was largely ahead of ABS-CBN's 27.9 percent.
More GMA shows also made it to NUTAM's list of top-rating programs with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) still the most watched Kapuso program nationwide.
Following KMJS were The Clash, 24 Oras, Pepito Manaloto, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko,Magpakailanman, Onanay, Victor Magtanggol, and Amazing Earth.
Completing the Network's list of ratings drivers for September were Inday Will Always Love You, Bubble Gang, Saksi, Wowowin, 24 Oras Weekend, Imbestigador, My Special Tatay, The Stepdaughters, Contessa, Ika-5 Utos, Eat Bulaga, Kapuso Movie Night, and Tadhana.
Kapuso programs also dominated the list of top programs in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, respectively taking 21 and 24 spots out of the top 30.
Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.
In 2018, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement's client pool covers a total of 34 clients/subscribers consisting of 8 local TV networks including ABS-CBN, TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, and Viva Communications Inc., among others; 3 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; and 21 agencies (17 media agencies, 3 consulting agencies, 1 digital agency).
For the month of September (with September 23 to 30 based on overnight data), GMA posted an average total day people audience share of 41.1 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), beating ABS-CBN's 37.1 percent.
The Kapuso Network emerged as the viewers' top choice as it continued to lead across all day parts. In the morning block, GMA registered 38.2 percent people audience share versus ABS-CBN's 34.3 percent.
GMA remained undefeated in the afternoon block after tallying 41.2 percent while ABS-CBN only managed to get 37.1 percent.
Likewise in the evening block, GMA again led competition with 42.3 percent as against ABS-CBN's 38.3 percent.
The Kapuso Network also maintained its dominance in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.
GMA garnered an average total day people audience share of 46.7 percent in Urban Luzon versus ABS-CBN's 30.8 percent.
Similarly, in Mega Manila (with official data from September 1 to 22), the Network posted an average total day people audience share of 48.6 percent, which was largely ahead of ABS-CBN's 27.9 percent.
More GMA shows also made it to NUTAM's list of top-rating programs with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) still the most watched Kapuso program nationwide.
Following KMJS were The Clash, 24 Oras, Pepito Manaloto, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko,Magpakailanman, Onanay, Victor Magtanggol, and Amazing Earth.
Completing the Network's list of ratings drivers for September were Inday Will Always Love You, Bubble Gang, Saksi, Wowowin, 24 Oras Weekend, Imbestigador, My Special Tatay, The Stepdaughters, Contessa, Ika-5 Utos, Eat Bulaga, Kapuso Movie Night, and Tadhana.
Kapuso programs also dominated the list of top programs in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, respectively taking 21 and 24 spots out of the top 30.
Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.
In 2018, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement's client pool covers a total of 34 clients/subscribers consisting of 8 local TV networks including ABS-CBN, TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, and Viva Communications Inc., among others; 3 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; and 21 agencies (17 media agencies, 3 consulting agencies, 1 digital agency).
House OKs bill creating disaster resilience agency
THE House of Representatives (HOR) has approved on third reading a bill mandating the setting up of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), which is expected to improve the government’s capacity for disaster-risk reduction and management.
There were 181 congressmen who voted in favor of House Bill 8165, or the bill, titled “Creating the Department of Disaster Resilience, Defining Its Powers and Functions.” Only five congressmen voted against the bill and two abstained.
“I appeal to the Senate leadership to also fast-track the passage of the DDR bill as this would help drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate, the bureaucratic red tape that has caused many delays in the delivery of immediate assistance needed by disaster and calamity victims,” Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez said in a statement.
Romualdez said the DDR is dedicated to concerns on disaster mitigation and quick response which will help ensure fast procurement process and swift delivery of assistance in areas hit by calamities.
The DDR aims to promote better coordination among national and local government agencies and will focus on measures that will help communities cope with the ill-effects of various natural disasters.
Romualdez also said the DDR will focus on disasters through a science- and ICT-based approach and take charge of disaster-risk reduction; disaster preparedness and response; and recovery and rehabilitation.
“The DDR will effectively improve the institutional capacity of the government for disaster-risk reduction and management, reduce the vulnerabilities surrounding the affected local population, as well as build the resilience of local communities to calamities,” she said.
In June PIDS Senior Research Fellow Sonny N. Domingo said there is a need to create a separate department to handle Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) efforts.
Domingo said creating a separate department is the “best solution” to the country’s DRRM challenges. These challenges include governance and not only fiscal challenges.
The creation of a new department can streamline DRRM funds and help local government units (LGUs) make appropriate decisions in terms of where and how much to spend on their DRRM needs.
He added that the government also needs to properly augment processes and resources. The LGUs can use the Comprehensive Land Usage Plans and Comprehensive Development Plans for the local landscape.
There has been an increase in the acquired funds for disaster management, and while most are for the National Treasury, quick response funds are being directly downloaded to institutions involving disaster-risk management.
But despite the upward trend in fund allocation for disaster-risk reduction and management during the past seven years, some municipalities continue to get the short end of the stick.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/house-oks-bill-creating-disaster-resilience-agency/
There were 181 congressmen who voted in favor of House Bill 8165, or the bill, titled “Creating the Department of Disaster Resilience, Defining Its Powers and Functions.” Only five congressmen voted against the bill and two abstained.
“I appeal to the Senate leadership to also fast-track the passage of the DDR bill as this would help drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate, the bureaucratic red tape that has caused many delays in the delivery of immediate assistance needed by disaster and calamity victims,” Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez said in a statement.
Romualdez said the DDR is dedicated to concerns on disaster mitigation and quick response which will help ensure fast procurement process and swift delivery of assistance in areas hit by calamities.
The DDR aims to promote better coordination among national and local government agencies and will focus on measures that will help communities cope with the ill-effects of various natural disasters.
Romualdez also said the DDR will focus on disasters through a science- and ICT-based approach and take charge of disaster-risk reduction; disaster preparedness and response; and recovery and rehabilitation.
“The DDR will effectively improve the institutional capacity of the government for disaster-risk reduction and management, reduce the vulnerabilities surrounding the affected local population, as well as build the resilience of local communities to calamities,” she said.
In June PIDS Senior Research Fellow Sonny N. Domingo said there is a need to create a separate department to handle Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) efforts.
Domingo said creating a separate department is the “best solution” to the country’s DRRM challenges. These challenges include governance and not only fiscal challenges.
The creation of a new department can streamline DRRM funds and help local government units (LGUs) make appropriate decisions in terms of where and how much to spend on their DRRM needs.
He added that the government also needs to properly augment processes and resources. The LGUs can use the Comprehensive Land Usage Plans and Comprehensive Development Plans for the local landscape.
There has been an increase in the acquired funds for disaster management, and while most are for the National Treasury, quick response funds are being directly downloaded to institutions involving disaster-risk management.
But despite the upward trend in fund allocation for disaster-risk reduction and management during the past seven years, some municipalities continue to get the short end of the stick.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/house-oks-bill-creating-disaster-resilience-agency/
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