MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry that will review the impact and effectiveness of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act 10121).

He said 10 years had lapsed since the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 was enacted into law.

However, he cited the need to focus on  so many things that needed to be addressed in the system.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that as of January 20, a total of 53,716 families in the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, Laguna, and Cavite have been affected by Taal’s eruption. Almost thirty thousand of them are now in evacuation centers.

Approximately 21,000 children remain in the 14-kilometer danger zone, according to the organization ‘Save the Children’. 

The NDRRMC also reported that agriculture damage already reached more than P3.2 billion.

“We want to conduct a hearing to pinpoint those who committed lapses in dealing with the Taal volcano eruption and the previous disasters,” Gatchalian said.

He said the hearing intends how to boost our system in responding in times of calamities. (Stacy Ang/IA)