The Institution Building Staff Mr. Jose Abraham Ongkiko and Mr. Rojo Guerrero Padilla attended the Round Table Discussion for the NDRP on May 19, 2023. The discussion was led by Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) Director Michael Christopher Mathay. He opened with the following project background: (1) Assess the implementation of the NDRPs, (2) Review and document international and local good practices and innovations and how new developments in disaster preparedness and response, 3) Review the enabling environment for disaster response, (4) Explore opportunities for the use of digital technology
The discussion revolved around streamlining the response to disasters. A significant amount of time was devoted in discussing the following questions: Do the key results of the survey resonate with your assessment of the current scope and coverage of the NDRP? Who should be the user/s of the NDRPs? Can the LGUs modify the NDRP to tailor-fit their needs?
Adding to the discussions are the points about other emergencies like cyber-security scenarios and whether this falls under the said disaster plan. It was also reiterated that new threats such as cyber-security, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Threat. Food Security was also discussed and it was mentioned that this should The Big One was also mentioned as part of the hazards that should be included. While expanding the scope of NDRP was imminent in the discussion, opposition was held on the basis that there are other institutions who are on-point in dealing with specialized threats hence there should be no need to further expand the scope of the NRDP. Terrorism was also brought on the table which in turn made the centralization of the NDRP command anything but streamlined. Enhancement and Streamlining of Disaster Communication was also brought to the discussion emphasizing on the effectiveness of communication before, during, and after disaster. Government and private institutions should also be included. There is an emerging trend that private individuals and entities are now equipped with training and logistics and are professionally able to assist, either as first responders or as force multipliers, when there is an emergency situation.
The discussion was further deepened as the concept of turfing in provincial areas was brought to the table. It was mentioned that this is a problem including the ability to determine the needs of the community during disasters. This most of the time hinders swift and needs-basis response actions during emergencies. Furthermore, it was argued that criteria has to be placed as to when the National Government should come in and when to let the local executives execute their own response plans. The modification of NDRP by local executives or in most cases the creation of their own local disaster responses made the NDRP not so much of use at the local level.
In the discussions, the notion of turfing and local leadership and command in contrast to that of the National was given much emphasis. As such, the question of who shall be the end users of the NDRP was not answered because discussants who have experience in local level response and on being local executives and leaders have further reiterated that the NDRP is mainly a guide and that the NDRP is only useful at the National Level. It was further reiterated that there should be criteria to determine when and whether the LGUs can use the NDRP as a guide and when it is mandatory. There should also be criteria as to when the National Government can come into the areas of the local executives and execute the NDRP.
During the course of the meeting, high consideration was given to the NDRP under the Executive Order 24 of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. The task was to streamline the efforts of all concerned government agencies in preparing and responding to emergencies and disasters. However, several factors such as the vertical and horizontal interoperability of the NDRP, the criteria for activation, the extent of activation in the LGU level, and the inclusion of non-traditional forms of hazards or hybrid-hazards that may lead to disasters have yet to be unified into one coherent plan These hybrid-hazards should be included in the NDRP. Furthermore, while the discussion was centered on the suitability of the NDRP, it should be emphasized that the central players are the people. Hence, it is recommended that the council should also include in the NDRP the plan on how to promote a Culture of Being Prepared among the populace. By doing so, the NDRP will be encompassing. If the NDRP is better understood by people across all levels of society, it can be argued that it will be more effective.
Noting the fact that the Philippine governance is decentralized, every LGUs have their own way of solving their predicaments. A large factor of such is the environment where their areas are. Given these circumstances, the NDRP should be representative-driven and should include representation from the local executive level as well as the private individuals who are on the ground.
The RTD on the NDRP Crafting was concluded temporarily and the Chairman assured that all the points discussed will be considered greatly in the succeeding RTDs of the Enhanced NDRP.
By Jose Abraham C. Ongkiko and Rojo Padilla (May 23, 2023)
