BAGUIO CITY – Former Senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pushed late Tuesday for a streamlined disaster response mechanism, an updated Building Code, and a national hazard mapping program to help us cope with the effects of earthquakes, floods, cyclones and other disasters.
Lacson, who also served as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, proposed to transfer the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) directly under the Office of the President.
“We should transfer the OCD from the Department of National Defense to the Office of the President. This will eliminate the usual bureaucratic red tape,” he said in Filipino at the “Konsultahang Bayan: A Caucus for Good Governance Beyond Elections” held at the Citylight Hotel here.
The forum was attended by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong along with experts and representatives from various sectors seeking good governance.
Related: Ping Lacson, Isinulong ang Tatlong Pampalakas ng Disaster Response sa Pilipinas
Lacson said the OCD, once under the OP, would be in a better position to coordinate effectively with all departments and agencies since it is under the President’s direct control. “The President has a direct alter-ego in this setup,” he said.
Lacson recalled that when he served as PARR to coordinate post-Yolanda recovery efforts, he struggled with limited authority – similar to the OCD’s current plight of lacking sufficient authority and access to executive channels.
On the other hand, Lacson stressed the need for a revised National Building Code that will protect the public from the effects of natural and man-made disasters by setting standards for the safety of structures.
He noted he had filed Senate Bill 1239 in December 2019 seeking to update the 1977 National Building Code, but it did not get enough support in the Senate.
“The Building Code is important in disaster resilience. Without it, we do not have a ‘bible’ to follow in terms of safety standards,” he said.
Lacson said the building code could also extend to preserving Filipino architecture in selected areas like the Chinatown district and Vigan, Ilocos Sur, to name a few – similar to the way some European countries preserve the building’s facade while modernizing its internal structure.
Also, Lacson pushed for a national hazard mapping program to identify disaster-prone areas.
“This should be science-based so highly hazardous areas could be avoided for building structures or at least strengthen structure resilience to meet the standards under an updated building code,” he said.
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Ping Lacson, Isinulong ang Tatlong Pampalakas ng Disaster Response sa Pilipinas
BAGUIO CITY – Isinulong ni dating senador at 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes ang mas streamlined na disaster response mechanism, ang updated na Building Code, at ang pambansang hazard mapping program para makayanan natin ang mga lindol, bagyo, baha at ibang kalamidad.
Ani Lacson, na dati ring Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery, maaaring ilipat ang Office of Civil Defense (OCD) mula Department of National Defense at lagyan ito sa ilalim ng Office of the President.
“Ang OCD, dapat ilipat na natin from the DND papunta sa OP. Mae-eliminate ang usual bureaucratic red tape,” aniya sa “Konsultahang Bayan: A Caucus for Good Governance Beyond Elections” na ginanap sa Citylight Hotel dito.
Dumalo sa forum sina Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong at mga dalubhasa at kinatawan ng iba’t ibang sektor na nagsusulong ng good governance.
Paliwanag ni Lacson, kung nasa ilalim ng OP ang OCD, mas kakayanin nitong makipagugnayan sa mga ahensya dahil nasa direct control ito ng Pangulo. “Dito, may direct alter ego ng Presidente,” aniya.
Naalala ni Lacson na noong nagsilbi siya bilang PARR para sa post-Yolanda recovery efforts, nahirapan siya dahil limitado ang kanyang kapangyarihan – na hindi malayo sa sitwasyon ng OCD na kulang ng awtoridad at pag-access sa executive channels.
Samantala, iginiit ni Lacson na kailangan nang ma-update ang National Building Code para maprotektahan ang publiko sa natural at man-made disasters, dahil ito ang maglalatag ng pamantayan sa kaligtasan ng gusali.
Ihinain ni Lacson noong Disyembre 2019 ang Senate Bill 1239 para ma-update ang 1977 National Building Code, nguni’t hindi nito nakuha ang sapat na suporta sa Senado.
“Ang Building Code, importante sa resilience. Kung walang Building Code, wala tayong bible, wala tayong susundan,” ani Lacson.
Dagdag ni Lacson, makakatulong din ang building sa pagpapanatili ng ganda ng arkitekturang Pilipino lalo na sa ilang lugar tulad ng Chinatown at sa Vigan, Ilocos Sur – parang sa Europa kung saan napapanatili ang ganda ng harapan ng mga lumang gusali habang namo-modernize ang loob nito.
Iginiit din ni Lacson na kailangan ang isang national hazard mapping program para matukoy ang mga lugar na disaster-prone.
“This should be science-based so highly hazardous areas could be avoided for building structures or at least strengthen structure resilience to meet the standards under an updated building code,” aniya.
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