Some RP provinces too poor to prepare for disasters
By Jesus F. Llanto
Newsbreak, Researcher
Tuesday, 08 July 2008–Eight of the country’s poorest provinces are exposed to multiple natural hazards, but they, like most localities in the Philippines, lack the capability to prepare for disasters.
Vinod Thomas, director-general of the World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group, today said that lack of resources is a major constraint to the ability of local government units (LGUs) to perform its role in minimizing the damages of disasters to lives, properties, and the economy.
Outdated policy frameworks, and the mismatch between planning and budgeting, also prevent LGUs, even the national government, from having responsive and effective disaster risk management (DRM) plans, Thomas said at a seminar on natural disasters and environmental protection held Monday in Pasig City.
He identified the eight of the poorest provinces that are hazard-prone: Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Maguindanao, Surigao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Northern Samar, Masbate, and Misamis Occidental.
