Council insists country prepared for disasters

MANILA, Philippines – The government has improved its disaster preparedness program in the face of the recent report of a multinational risk consultancy firm that claimed the country’s preparedness measures remained deficient.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Benito Ramos said the country has learned its lesson in disaster preparedness after the spate of typhoons and other disasters that struck the country in recent months.

“Without batting an eyelash, I can say that we are better prepared for disasters,” Ramos declared.

Ramos downplayed the report made by the US firm Pacific Strategies & Assessments (PSA) saying the Philippine government remains ill-equipped and ill-prepared to address a majority of disaster or crisis situations.

The PSA described the country’s disaster preparedness program as “more through words than action.”

“We have improved. We have measures for mitigation, preparation and response. The awareness of the people and the government has been raised. We have learned our lessons,” Ramos said.

The PSA said the Philippines’ gains in disaster preparedness are “misleading.”

“The reality remains that, despite the government pretentiousness, the country remains ill-prepared and ill-equipped to deal with the majority of disaster or crisis situations,” PSA said.

PSA claimed the Philippines made no significant headway in complying with the recommendations of groups that conducted a post-disaster assessment on the impact of previous typhoons.

The report cited a post-disaster needs assessment of the World Bank (WB) and other groups that recommended the giving of significant attention to land use planning, housing, water management, and environmental protection.

Ramos believes the PSA may be suggesting that the country borrow funds from multilateral lenders like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to fund disaster response efforts.

“They are suggesting that we tap loans. That is my personal opinion,” he said. “If you would ask me, I think there is no need to borrow for now because we already have a huge debt.”

Climate Change Commission (CCC) chairman Heherson Alvarez also slammed the PSA report, describing it as “grossly inaccurate and misleading.”

Alvarez said the PSA is suggesting that the Philippines should obtain international funding for climate change programs.

On the other hand, PSA managing director Scott Harrison denied insinuations that their report is suggesting the Philippines government borrow money to fund its disaster preparedness programs.

“PSA works with a vast number of multinational clients including investment and development banks. Multilateral development and lending institutions and organizations are there to help the Philippines, and not to hinder. PSA certainly does not work against these interests,” Harrison said. –-Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) with Rhodina Villanueva