La THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020 = : = Disaster warning system THE eruption of Taal Voleano reminds Filipinos that there’s that urgent need to upgrade the disaster warn- ing and monitoring system of this impoverished but natural resources-rich Southeast Asian nation. ‘ But while millions wallow in grinding poverty due to the often occurrence of destructive natural disasters, like typhoons, floods and earthquakes, we are fortu- nate to have well-meaning public servants. These officials now want the government to fast track the acquisition of equipment needed to upgrade the Phil- ippines’ monitoring and warning program for volcanic eruption, earthquake and tsunami. This followed complaints of residents of five South- ern Luzon provinces on the lack of adequate warnings related to the impact of the phreatic explosion of Taal Volcano late Sunday afternoon. But House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said “we do not fault the Phivoles (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) for the lack of adequate warnings on the impact of the...explosion.” This is the reason why Congress included more than 221.48 million capital outlays in the P588.12 million total budget of Phivoles for 2020, said the United States- educated’House leader. _ a : It is really difficult to predict the occurrence of vol- seule crupdon and ened ee according to Ro- mualdez, a lawyer and husband of Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez of ee The lady solon, chair of the House committee on the welfare of children, said the Taal eruption underscores the need for Congress to hasten the passage of the bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). Like the articulate Yedda Romualdez, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Deputy Speaker and 1-Pacman party- list Rep. Mikee Romero and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda want the early approval of the bill setting up the DDR. In the view of many, upgrading Phivoles’ disaster warning system for voleanic eruption, earthquake and tsunami and establishing the proposed DDR deserve the all-out support of the Filipino people. Pag. yy