MANILA – The Department of National Defense (DND) stated on Friday that it sees no problem with the decision of National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 to transfer its duties to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
“Hindi naman magkakaroon mg malaking pagbabago kasi ang NDRRMC naman, ang mga members nun, ay members din ng NTF Covid-19. So ang mangyayari lang ay talagang magiging hands-on ang NDRRMC ngayon tungkol dito sa Covid-19 response (There will be no big changes because the NDRRMC is a member of NTF Covid-19 and its member agencies are also affiliated with NTF Covid-19. What will only happen is that the NDRRMC will take a more hands-on approach in Covid-19 response),” said DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong in a Laging Handa briefing.
Both agencies, according to Andolong, are used to coordinating with each other, noting that the NDRRMC’s takeover of the NTF Covid-19’s functions will not affect its disaster response mandate.
“Sa tingin naman ng DND, kasi just like any calamity, ganun din naman ang pagtrato ng NDRRMC sa Covid-19. Ang kaibahan lang nito ay ongoing, tuloy-tuloy siya at nang nagsimula eto, ay nagiging, ika nga eh, ‘new normal’. So ang mangyayari lang ay madagdagan ng isang contingency na kailangan i-handle ng NDRRMC (The DND thinks that the Covid-19 is just another calamity, that’s how the NDRRMC will treat its Covid-19 role. The only difference is that this is ongoing and since it started, it is now referred as the “new normal”, so what will only happen is that the NDRRMC just got another contingency to handle),” Andolong said.
DND Secretary and NDRRMC chairperson Delfin Lorenzana concurrently served as chair of the NTF-Covid-19 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Andolong also believes that this change is for the better as the government’s disaster response efforts will be under one organization.
The NTF Covid-19 announced on Wednesday that it will be passing its functions to the NDRRMC as part of government efforts to streamline pandemic response.
It noted that all questions regarding NTF should be directed to the NDRRMC, while questions regarding the vaccination program should be addressed to the Department of Health.
