POE WANTS COMPLIANCE REPORTS ON FREE DISASTER ALERTS

Sen. Grace Poe is calling for a stronger implementation of the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act to prevent and reduce risks of calamities and save lives.

"This is a concrete, crucial way of bringing to safety our countrymen who are in danger of the wrath of calamities," Poe stressed, "Time and concern are certainly of the essence."

The senator, main author of Republic Act 10639, or the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act which requires mobile service providers to send alerts in preparation for disasters, urged the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), National Telecommunications Commission, concerned agencies and telecommunications companies to strengthen collaboration and innovation in pursuit of such mandate.

The senator cited that the alerts, which are free of cost, shall contain up-to-date information from the NDRRMC and other relevant agencies along with the contact details of local government agencies and the location of evacuation sites, as necessary.

Meanwhile, the senator has also filed Senate Resolution No. 100 which calls for a review on the need to expand the country's national disaster preparedness by forming a department that is focused on risk management and emergency response. The new department, an expansion of the NDRRMC, shall attend to all kinds of disaster-related emergencies.

"Gawin natin ang lahat para mailigtas ang ating mga kababayan sa banta ng kalamidad sapagkat napakahirap bumangon at magsimulang muli sa hagupit nito," Poe said.

Under the Free Mobile Disaster Alerts Act, any telecommunications company that fails to observe the law will be fined P1 million to P10 million and/or face suspension or revocation of its legislative franchise. Spreading of false or misleading information will be met with either imprisonment of not more than six months and a fine ranging from P1,000 to P10,000

Poe is also seeking for a compliance report on the implementation of the law since the implementing rules and regulations has been approved on July 21, 2015.

She said the law, signed on June 20, 2014, will help Filipinos prepare for the constant barrage of disasters in the Philippines. At least 20 tropical cyclones enter the country every year.