News Release October 28, 2011 Ref: Media Relations Service, PRIB Tel: 931-6177 Website: www.congress.gov.

ph Creation of National Dam Safety and Review Board pushed A lawmaker today urged Congress to fast track the passage of a bill creating the proposed National Dam Safety and Review Board (NDSRB) to mitigate the damages brought about by natural calamities and disasters. Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing (6th District, Cebu), author of House Bill 5385, said the proposed NDSRB seeks to establish an effective safety program to reduce the adverse affects of releasing water from dams or reservoirs especially during heavy rains and typhoons. At present, the government is planning to review the protocols and standards on dam water releases. In view of the changing weather conditions brought about by climate change and the resulting floods in different areas of the country, there is a need for additional measures to mitigate the damages brought by these disasters, Quisumbing said. Quisumbing said in the aftermath of recent typhoons Pedring and Quiel, Northern and Central Luzon suffered heavy damage to life and property due to unprecedented flooding. The proposed NDSRB shall oversee, monitor and inspect the conditions of all dams in the country Quisumbing said. The measure seeks to provide compensation for the loss of life and property of people adversely affected by the release of water from dams or reservoirs. Under the measure to be known as The National Dam Safety Act of 2011, the NDSRB shall establish and maintain effective dam safety programs, policies and guidelines for the protection of human life and property. The Board shall issue notices, when appropriate to require management of dams or reservoirs; perform necessary maintenance or remedial work and revise operating procedures or take other actions, including breaching dams, when necessary. Quisumbing said the Board shall require or perform the inspection, at least once every five years, of all dams and reservoirs that would

pose a significant threat to human life and property in case of failure, to determine the continued safety of the dams and reservoirs.

The NDSRB shall also identify each dam and prepare a system of emergency procedures to be used if a dam fails or if the failure of a dam is imminent based on dam failure, which could reasonably expected to endanger human life, maximum area that could be flooded if the dam fails and the necessary public facilities that would be affected by the flooding. Likewise, the Board shall compensate and provide immediate relief to individuals who suffered loss of life or damage to property and livelihood in the event of any dam failure resulting from the negligence of dam owners and government agencies. The bill mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. (30) lvc