By Lilybeth G. Ison, PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Following the latest disaster that hit parts of the Visayas Region, lawmakers on Monday renewed calls for the strengthening of coordination among various government agencies involved in disaster response and risk reduction efforts.

Cebu Rep. Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing said he had filed House Resolution no. 563 asking the House committee on national defense and security to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the implementation of Republic Act No. 9729, entitled “The Climate Change Act of 2009.”

The inquiry is to strengthen the provisions of the law to enable the government to effectively address disaster risk reduction and management problems aggravated by climate change with a particular focus on the need to have a predictable, united and continuous financing for climate change related disaster risk reduction and management initiatives.

The government agencies involved in disaster preparedness, response and risk reduction include the Department of National Defense (DND), National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and other concerned agencies such as local government units.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake jolted the Negros and Cebu provinces in the Visayas Region at 11:49 a.m. Monday. As such, Phivolcs raised a tsunami alert level 2, as a precautionary measure to urge people to stay 20 meters away from the shoreline in affected coastal areas.

Quisumbing said people from Cebu City panicked after receiving spurious text messages and social media alerts that a tsunami had already hit, causing such concern that people were running in the streets and traffic was jammed.

Two hours after raising such alert, however, Philvolcs lifted the tsunami alert level 2.

“Our government agencies, especially the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council should be ready to respond and be well-equipped to implement disaster risk reduction and management measures,” the Cebu solon said.

San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito proposed that the NDRRMC should conduct a national summit for calamity preparedness in order to train Filipinos on the necessary safety precautions every time a disaster hits the country.

“Disasters have battered us for a decade now, and yet we still lack a firm program that clearly informs and guides our people of safety precautions and for emergency preparedness. That’s why whenever disaster strikes, like in the case of Ondoy, Pedring, and even Sendong, we were left unaware of what to do,” he said.

Ejercito said it is high time for NDRRMC to live up to its full mandate, and set the motion needed by the country in terms of progress in disaster awareness, preparedness, and prevention, and not only act during times of catastrophe.

The national government, legislators, and local government officials should lead the implementation of the summit, and members of the media and civil society as well ought to cooperate for its promotion.

Ejercito said that a national summit could at least jumpstart the public to be resilient in case of future flashflood, earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis.

House committee on national defense and security chairman and Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon has already scheduled its deliberation on the bills and resolutions concerning disaster risk reduction and management on Wednesday (Feb. 8).

“Congress needs to establish a long-term, predictable, community-based fund for disaster risk reduction and management. Vulnerable Filipino communities deserve no less. This is already a matter of survival for our constituencies and the government should be able to defend its people. It is my commitment to continue our advocacy for disaster risk reduction and management and push for full the implementation of RA 9729,” said Quisumbing.