DENR establishes regional hubs for typhoon-hit areas

TO fast track the government’s recovery and rehabilitation programs in typhoonravaged areas, Task Force (TF) Build Back Better (BBB) Chief Roy A. Cimatu has ordered the creation of regional BBB TFS (RTFBBBS), which will be chaired by the 16 regional executive directors of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) within their respective jurisdictions.

The TF BBB was created through Executive Order 120 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on November 18, 2020. The TF aims to expedite and lead the preparation, implementation and monitoring of post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery program for typhoonravaged areas.

“The creation of RTFBBBS is in response to the intention of EO 120 for government entities to work with a clear unity of command and in a sustained and cohesive form in relation to current and future post-typhoon recovery and rehabilitation efforts,” Cimatu, who also heads the DENR, was quoted in a statement as saying.

The DENR chief said he made his plans known during the DENR Expanded Executive Committee Conference held last January 18.

The national TFBBB is co-chaired by the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways with 26 national government agencies as its members tasked to assist the task force. The DENR heads the Intensified Environment and Natural Resources Management, which is one of the six key result areas (KRAS) of the TF BBB.

KRAS

OTHER TF BBB KRAS include the following: “better and resilient infrastructure” under the DPWH; “stronger shelter and resilient settlement” given to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development; “improved systems and essential services” through the Department of National Defense-office of Civil Defense; “restored sustainable livelihood” under the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry; and, “strengthened governance through broad-based citizen” through the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Last January 17, Cimatu issued DENR Special Order (SO) 2022-32 to provide the mechanism by which the RTFBBBS will “organize and convene” in coordination with the Rtfbbb-member line government agencies “as may be applicable.”

Cimatu said the creation of RTFBBBS draws inspiration and lessons learned from the success made in the first three focus areas of TF BBB in rehabilitating the Marikina, Cagayan and Bicol river basins after they were ravaged by typhoons Rolly and Ulysses in 2020.

Some of the RTFBBB’S tasks are to identify rehabilitation and recovery measures in typhoon-affected areas and formulation of the KRA implementation plans, budgetary requirements and funding proposal for the areas in their respective regions.

Priority

IDENTIFIED as a priority for the implementation of the order are areas that bore the brunt of Typhoon Odette in December 2021.

Beginning with those hardesthit by Typhoon Odette, the DENR regional executive directors for Caraga, Regions 6, 7, 8, 10 and Mimaropa as chairpersons of the Regional TFBBB in their respective regions shall, in coordination with the concerned regional line agencies and local government units, conduct damage assessment and identify appropriate interventions for recovery and rehabilitation.

Cimatu’s order underscores the urgency for a clear mechanism on how to have a “total response” at the regional level based on the mandate of EO 120, including the need to strengthen the link between the national and local levels to efficiently respond to the demands and realities in typhoon’s post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation phase as shown in Odette’s aftermath, according to DENR Undersecretary and TFBBB Secretariat head Analiza Rebuelta-teh.

With the mechanisms in place, RTFBBB can link directly with concerned TFBBB member national agencies “in case their regional members are not responsive” through the concerned DENR undersecretaries and assistant secretaries who have been designated as focal persons responsible for coordination with the concerned agencies as head of each of the six TFBBB KRAS concerned lead as per DENR SO 2020-470, Teh added.