As the country faces looming threats of natural disasters
ANGARA PUSHES FOR A DISASTER-PREPARED AND BETTER EQUIPPED RP

After this year's devastation by super typhoons "Frank", "Ondoy" and "Pepeng", Senator Edgardo J. Angara emphasized the need for a better and quicker response to avoid further damage and more importantly loss of lives, instituting concrete measures such as emergency medicine, disaster science research, and the provision of more rescue equipment.

Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, is pushing for the creation of disaster training center and emergency medicine in RP. In the ratified 2010 budget, an additional P200M was allotted to purchase rubber boats in order to rescue quickly and save more Filipinos from floods.

"What we ought to learn from the Frank, Ondoy and Pepeng experience is that we need to put in place a better disaster prediction and response system," said Angara who concurrently chairs COMSTE and the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

He added, "We could have saved more lives if there were proper and enough equipment to rescue speedily. We must work towards creating a mature emergency system that can administer effective emergency response."

Angara stressed that the country must make strides in developing a high overall level of preparedness against disaster. He said this requires the help and coordination of all gov't agencies who can develop partnerships with local governments and providing necessary training and planning for the administration of emergency responses.

"The prevention of any threat to the well-being of the public is a continuing challenge. As a nation, we need to be ready to respond immediately and swiftly if and when any individual's life is in danger," said Angara.