AMID floods and class cancellation caused by tropical cyclones, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday called for a shift in mindset on disaster preparedness, saying the country should always be ready for extreme and changing weather patterns brought about by climate change.
The President, in an interview after convening the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, said Filipinos should look at extreme weather events as the norm and come up with “semi-permanent” arrangements as extreme typhoons would occur repeatedly each year.
He said instead of focusing just on mitigation, the country should also shift to adaptation.
“Nagbago lahat. And we have to see that. Huwag na natin sasabihin ‘baka magkabagyo (sa halip), papaano na pagdating ng bagyo,’ dahil darating at darating ‘yan (Everything has changed. And we have to see that. Let’s not say there might be a storm (instead), what do we do when the storm comes,’ because it will come),” Marcos said.
The President said the government has set in place standard operating procedures — from rescue to relief – and these are already being implemented well by different concerned agencies.
However, he said, there should still be improvements including addressing new and emerging concerns such as ensuring continued education of students during class suspensions and adoption of alternative learning modes, and ensuring availability and access to competent and efficient medical staff and medicine in all evacuation centers.
EVACUATION CENTER VISITS
The President, who arrived from the United States late Wednesday, yesterday visited the Maly and Sta. Ana evacuation centers in San Mateo in Rizal, where he led the distribution of food and non-food relief items, with Secretaries Rex Gatchalian (Social Welfare), Francisco Tiu Laurel (Agriculture), and Manuel Bonoan (Public Works).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said there are 546 families (2,102 individuals) staying at the Malay Elementary School in Maly and 497 families (1,635 persons) at the Santa Ana covered court.
Marcos observed overcrowding and raised concerns about the risk of disease outbreaks. He ordered the deployment of medical teams from both national and local governments to all evacuation sites, equipped with sufficient supplies and medicines.
He also said he wants evacuation centers that can withstand repeated weather events.
The Department of Budget and Management assured the public that the government has sufficient funds for the disaster response, recovery efforts, and calamity fund needs in areas affected by the several weather disturbances.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said aside from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), government agencies have their own quick response funds that can be used for the relief and recovery efforts.
The DSWD said some P224.7 million in aid has been distributed to the affected communities.
MEDS PRICE FREEZE
The Department of Health imposed a price freeze covering almost 148 drugs and medicines, in areas under a state of calamity.
“We have a law or policy that when an area is under state of calamity, there is an automatic price freeze as pharmacies cannot increase the prices of the medicines listed,” said Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, adding the freeze will be in effect for 60 days, unless lifted earlier.
Medicines covered include anesthetics, analgesics, antiasthma, anticoagulants, antidiabetics, antidiarrheals, antidotes, antihistamines, antihypertensives, antimicrobials, antipsychotics, antiseptics, cardiac drugs, corticosteroids, diuretics, insulin preparations, antifungals, and vitamins and minerals.
The DOH reminded the public that doxycycline, “an antibiotic used to treat leptospirosis,” is a prescription drug.
“If taken incorrectly, it can lose its effectiveness against the bacteria, and make simple infections more difficult to treat,” it said.
Doxycycline is one of the medicines being provided by the DOH, aside from antibiotics, mefenamic acid, paracetamol, oresol, lagundi, and skin ointments. – With Gerard Naval
