Senators push for disaster reforms, food banks, strict waste rules

Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, and Joel Villanueva are advocating for systemic reforms in disaster preparedness and response amid recurring natural calamities.

Estrada renewed his push by re-filing Senate Bill 791 to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) that would unify and strengthen disaster management efforts, providing clear operational frameworks and addressing fragmented institutional functions.

The bill also aims to create a nationwide network of food banks with sufficient supplies for rapid relief deployment during emergencies, including non-perishable food, potable water, medical supplies, and other items with a minimum shelf life of two years to support local populations for at least three weeks.

Legarda called on the public to strictly enforce Republic Act 7053 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, stressing that clogged waterways are largely responsible for urban flooding.

Villanueva emphasized the need for an integrated and coordinated national strategy involving various agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to address worsening flood problems.