
The government continues to fortify communities against calamities through various initiatives such as flood mitigation projects and the establishment of evacuation and disaster response command centers, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured Friday.
“Kaugnay nito, tuloy-tuloy ang ating pagsulong ng mga hakbang upang mabawasan ang pinsalang bunsod ng mga kalamidad,” President Marcos said during the ceremonial turnover of Eight Completed Yolanda Permanent Housing Projects in Leyte, Samar, and Biliran.
“Mayroon pong flood mitigation project dito sa Leyte. Ito po ‘yung Leyte Tide Embankment Project na layong mabigyan ng proteksyon laban sa malalakas na alon ang mga komunidad na malapit sa dagat,” the President said.
“Lagpas sa kalahati na ang nagawa sa proyektong ito. Hangad ko sana na sa lalong madaling panahon ay matapos na rin ito ng DPWH o Department of Public Works and Highways,” he added.
The President also assured the government is putting premium on ensuring all flood control projects in the country follow the standard design to better handle frequent downpour and flooding.
According to the President, he met with DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan to ensure the conduct of agency budget review to smoothly implement critical calamity response projects according to the government plan.
The government has also intensified Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) workers’ preparedness — from information dissemination to responding to community sentiments and ensuring proper coordination among government agencies.
“Bilang pangunahing hakbang, nagtatayo tayo ng mga imprastruktura na magsisilbing proteksyon at sentro ng ating mga operasyon. Isa rito ang pagtatatag ng evacuation centers at Disaster Response Command Center na tatayong sentro ng ating paghahatid-tulong,” the President said.
President Marcos also mentioned the country’s inclusion last year to the Loss and Damage Fund Board which, he said, is a major opportunity for the country to ventilate its financial needs in implementing disaster-preparedness and disaster-mitigation projects. | PND