By Raymund Antonio

A congressional investigation on the lack of warnings to the public of the Taal Volcano eruption could be considered necessary, but there should be no finger-pointing, Vice President Leni Robredo said.

“Sa akin, okay naman na magkaroon ng mga pagsusuri, basta iyong pagsusuri, ang dahilan hindi pag-fingerpoint, pero ang dahilan paghanap ng ways to improve how we are responding to disasters,” Robredo, a lawyer, said.

(For me, it is okay to make scrutiny as long as the reason behind it is not finger-pointing, but to find ways to improve how we are responding to disasters.)

Robredo said that lawmakers should look into how to capacitate concerned agencies so they would be able to render efficient service to people in times of calamities should they call for a probe.

“Puwede tayong magsimula sa tingnan ulit iyong budget, kasi tinapyasan nang tinapyasan iyong budget para sa disaster. (We can start with looking into the budget again, because the budget for disasters was slashed),” she noted.

Robredo made the remarks after Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. called for a House investigation on the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on why it failed to inform the public ahead of the volcanic eruption.

The Lower House is set to hold its plenary session on Wednesday at the Batangas City Convention Center to tackle disaster-related bills, including the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).

Under the proposed DDR, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Philvolcs will be attached to the agency.

The vice president, however, expressed her reservations about the creation of the new department, saying it is easier said than done.

“Kasi baka hindi naman bagong departamento ang kailangan; kailangan ng mas malaking support para sa mga existing na mga agencies na may direct na responsibility sa disaster relief and rehabilitation,” she said.

(Maybe a new department is not needed; we need a much bigger support for existing agencies that have direct responsibility on disaster relief and rehabilitation.)

“Kung ako, i-evaluate muna natin iyong present set-up—ano ba iyong pagkukulang ng present set-up—kasi baka okay naman iyong set-up, kulang lang ng financial support,” Robredo added.

(For me, let us evaluate the present set-up—what are those lacking in the present set-up—because the set-up could be okay, it only lacks financial support.)

Both Batangas and Cavite are under a state of calamity, with more than 30,000 people fled their homes due to the Taal Volcano eruption.