Press Release
June 24, 2011

ANGARA CALLS FOR MORE LGU-BASED DISASTER
MANAGEMENT TRAINING

New York - Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the government to create the Philippine Disaster Science and Management Center (DSMC) to serve as a venue for cooperation and collaboration between scientists and local officials, in the light of the onslaught of tropical storm "Falcon" (international name: Maeri).

"Given our proximity to the Pacific, typhoons will continue to threaten our country. The government needs to be able to develop an advanced and real-time information dissemination strategy to help people better prepare natural disasters," said Angara, who is in the U.S. as part of the Department of Tourism's road show.

Noting that calamity response is largely undertaken at the local level, Angara said, "Through the DSMC, we can prepare local government units to better respond to numerous calamities that affect millions of Filipinos every year."

Falcon intensified during the rush hour on Thursday, causing heavy rain and flash floods all over Metro Manila. Thousands were stranded in the streets and traffic gridlock lasted for hours, reminiscent of scenes when Ondoy hit in 2009.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRMC) reported that 11 people were missing and 166,708 were people affected by the said floods and rains across Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Rizal, Albay.

Angara, said that the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), which he chairs, has been working with government and private sector entities to develop the DSMC.

A public-private partnership, the DSMC has garnered international support specifically from Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

The Australian government, through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), has also committed P720 million to assist the country's efforts of implementing a disaster risk management plan at the local level.

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