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Enhanced mechanisms to address imminent disasters: Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada presides over the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation hearing on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, on several measures which include the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster; Magna Carta for Public Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Workers; and provision of hazard pay and other benefits to community disaster personnel. Estrada noted that tropical cyclone Butchoy and tropical cyclone Carina, which later developed into a super typhoon, had affected 1.7 million families or 6.42 million individuals, leaving 48 dead, 16 injured, and five missing persons. The two typhoons also caused P2 billion in production losses and damage to agriculture. Butchoy and Carina also destroyed infrastructure amounting to P4.3 billion and placed a total of 163 cities and municipalities under a state of calamity. “These grim numbers underscore the need for enhanced mechanisms, deployment of highly equipped personnel, and altogether better systems in managing natural calamities,” Estrada said. The panel also looked into measures that deal with a man-made catastrophe caused by chemical weapons. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)