Aside from improving safety protocols, the government is also targeting to boost economic activity outside of the National Capital Region (NCR) as a way of minimizing casualties due to natural disasters in Metro Manila.
During a Cabinet meeting on Monday, officials pitched the idea of reducing disaster risks in the NCR by drawing people away from a region that houses a number of business districts, such as Makati City.
Providing incentives to improve economic activities outside of the NCR was proposed by Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction Chairman and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu and National Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana.
Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said the proposal was approved by most members of the Cabinet.
“We approved the motion for that suggestion,” Panelo said.
To further improve development outside of NCR, Panelo said Cabinet officials are now considering the recommendation of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon to formalize the designation of the Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security through an executive order.
The administration is currently bracing for the so-called “Big One” or the anticipated movement in West Valley Fault in the NCR, which is expected to cause a 7.2-magnitude earthquake.
Based on government projections, fatalities from the incident could reach 31,000.
Panelo said Cimatu and Lorenzana have suggested legislation that will create the Department of Resiliency to operationalize government efforts aimed at making the country an “earthquake-resilient archipelago.”
Until the creation of the new department, Panelo said they required all government agencies to come out with their public-service continuity plans in case the Big One happens.