SEN. Joel Villanueva urged concerned government agencies to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure the timely delivery of assistance to affected communities as the typhoon season starts.
Villanueva said on Sunday the government should preposition relief goods, ensure the readiness of evacuation centers, and enhance coordination with local government units and other response agencies.
He also called on agencies to continuously review their contingency plans, improve early warning and communication systems, and ensure the availability of resources needed for emergency operations.
He said that in 2024, he pushed for the funding of mobile command centers to boost the capabilities of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to respond to disasters and calamities.
Through his initiative, Villanueva said the DSWD was able to procure mobile kitchen units the following year to serve hot, home-cooked meals to displaced families during typhoons and other disasters.
He filed in 2025 Senate Bill 551, or the proposed Hazard Mapping Act, that lists areas vulnerable to rising sea levels as a result of climate change and areas at high risk for natural disasters.
“The absence of reliable risk information weakens the ability of communities and local governments to properly prepare for and respond to disasters, plan safe settlements, and enforce zoning laws,” Villanueva said.
