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NAT’L EMERGENCY RECOVERY BILL GETS HOUSE OK

The House Committee on Disaster Resilience, chaired by Leyte 4th District Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez, approved House Bill 8076, which would provide for a National Emergency Recovery Program.

San Jose Del Monte City Lone District Representative Rida Robes who authored the bill said the measure seeks to grant the President the power to extend the validity of appropriations of projects earmarked to respond to national emergencies.

The extension would be within the period of not more than two years as well as subject to the implementing rules and regulations.

“This will provide necessary, stable, and continuous appropriations to cover programs urgently needed to win the battle against the adverse impacts of any national emergency.”

“This will provide necessary, stable, and continuous appropriations to cover programs urgently needed to win the battle against the adverse impacts of any national emergency. And consequently, move the country forward towards recovery,” said Robes.

The panel also thumbed up the consolidation of HB 7174 authored by Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva and CIBAC Partylist Representative Domingo Rivera as well as HB 7412 by Quezon City 5th District Representative Alfred Vargas. Both bills are prohibiting the active use and display of commercial billboards during typhoons.

“The measure requires all printed billboards to be rolled up and electronic billboards to be turned off within 12 hours after the PAGASA announces a Signal No. 1 typhoon or any weather disturbance.” 

Rivera, in sponsoring the bill, said the measure would require all printed billboards to be rolled up and electronic billboards to be turned off within 12 hours after the PAGASA announces a Signal No. 1 typhoon or any weather disturbance.

Violators of the proposed law would be penalized with a fine of not less than P300,000 or an imprisonment of six months to one year.

Meanwhile, the committee members created a technical working group, to be chaired by MAGDALO Partylist Representative Manuel Cabochan III, to consolidate HB 938 or the proposed “Disaster Service Volunteer Leave Act” by Cabochan; HB 5042 or the “Magna Carta of Rescue Workers” by Manila 3rd District Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto; and HB 7921 or the proposed “Volunteer Allowance Act” by Paranaque City 2nd District Representative Joy Myra Tambunting.

Office of the Civil Defense Director Tecson John Lim recommended that the measures include all disaster risk reduction and management volunteers, not just rescue workers.

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