FORMER senator and 2025 senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday proposed to streamline the country’s disaster response structure by transferring the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) directly under the Office of the President.
Lacson made this proposal speaking at the “Konsultahang Bayan: A Caucus for Good Governance Beyond Elections” held at Citylight Hotel in Baguio City.
By placing the OCD under the Office of the President, Lacson said the office would be able to coordinate effectively with all departments and agencies at the proper level of authority.
The former Senator said the OCD, if under the President’s direct control, would eliminate bureaucratic delays, particularly in the approval of rehabilitation plans and the release of funds.
“’Yung OCD dapat ilipat na from DND papuntang Office of the President. Dito, may direct alter ego ng Presidente. May presidential intervention,” Lacson told participants of the policy forum, which gathered local leaders, legal experts, and governance advocates.
Lacson’s proposal entails detaching the OCD from the Department of National Defense (DND)—where it is currently attached—and reattaching it to the Office of the President.
Having served as Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery from 2013 to 2015, Lacson drew from his experience in post-Yolanda recovery efforts.
Lacson lamented that the current setup places a heavy burden on the OCD, which is expected to lead disaster response operations but lacks sufficient authority and access to executive channels.
The forum in Baguio City also highlighted collaborative discussions with local and national stakeholders on institutional reforms aimed at improving public service delivery beyond elections.
