Noy signs EO setting up crisis management body

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino signed an executive order that activates the practical guide to organized government response during emergencies for both national and local crisis management committees.

Under Executive Order 82, Aquino authorized the release of P25 million from the Presidential Contingency Fund to cover financial requirements of the office of National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, which serves as the secretariat for disaster response.

The new order activates the guide for crisis managers and establishes the national and local crisis management organizations.

This was an offshoot of the bungled hostage rescue in August 2010 at the Rizal Park in Manila where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed when a dismissed policeman went berserk and held hostage the passengers of a tourist bus to demand his reinstatement to the police force.

Aquino had directed Garcia to review the Crisis Management Manual to “harmonize and integrate all existing government crisis management manuals into the amended Crisis Management Manual.”

The new EO states “there is a need to establish and clearly delineate authority, responsibility and accountability of crisis management organizations and Incident Command Systems from the national to the local levels.”

An executive committee was formed to coordinate with Garcia and all concerned heads of agencies in times of national crisis, like terrorism.

It shall inform Aquino of the situation and initial actions of agencies and recommend responses.

This senior inter-agency/department body shall be composed of Aquino or Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. as chair, followed by Garcia, Secretaries Voltaire Gazmin (defense), Mar Roxas (interior and local government), and Leila de Lima (justice).

Secretaries Sonny Coloma and Ricky Carandang of the Prsidential Communications Group have also been included in the group.

Other Cabinet members who might be called upon as secondary members are Enrique Ona of Health, Cesar Purisima of Finance, Greg Domingo of Trade and Industry, Jose Rene Almendras of Energy and Corazon Soliman of Social Welfare and Development.

NDRRMC honors local groups

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) honored local government units and civilian groups that displayed heroism during emergencies.

Defense Secretary Gazmin led the awarding of the 2012 Gawad Kalasag, which recognizes the contributions of local units and private groups in mitigating the risks posed by disasters. –-Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) with Alexis Romero