During the turnover of a P32 million regional evacuation center in Zarraga, Iloilo yesterday, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed talks surrounding the creation of a Department of Disaster Management.
“We will push for it this time,” he affirmed. “If this will be approved, or passed into law, we can have one department that will take care of this kind of job.”
Currently, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, a collection of various government and non-governmental entities, oversees matters pertaining to disasters. The council operates under DND through the Office of Civil Defense.
Meanwhile, Lorenzana cited a 2017 Harvard University study that found the Western Visayas to be the most disaster-resilient region of the country.
“Other region can learn [the] best practices of the Western Visayas,” he pointed out./WDJ