Duterte nudges Congress to fast-track creation of Department of Disaster Resilience

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he intends to hasten the establishment of the government agency that would handle disaster issues in the country.

"Disasters are poverty creators that is why we have to hasten the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience so that this department focus on natural hazards and climate change," Duterte said during his fourth State of the Nation Address.

"I urge Congress to fast-track the passage of the administration version of this bill," he added.

The House of Representatives passed on third and final reading the bill seeking to establish this department during the 17th Congress.

The President also mentioned the efforts of the government to implement a two-pronged strategy on earthquake resilience and mitigation in light of the still hypothetical magnitude 7.2 "Big One."

Duterte likewise acknowledged the extent of damage in the agriculture sector due to the El Niño phenomenon. — RSJ, GMA News