
The Legislative Assembly voted (59 votes in favor) to amend Article 8, Paragraph 2 of the Civil Protection, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Law, which has been in effect since 2005. The amendment aims to strengthen coordination among the institutions responsible for preventing risks and responding to emergencies or disasters within the national territory.
The reform was debated during the 129th plenary session and will allow for the expansion of the Protección Civil, Prevención y Mitigación de Desastres. According to the lawmakers, the change seeks to modernize the body’s operations to improve the assistance provided to the public during emergency situations.
Currently, the commission is composed of the Minister of Governance, who also serves as its president, and the Director General of Civil Protection, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. With this amendment, representatives from nine public institutions will be added to the body.
The institutions joining the commission are the Relaciones Exteriores, Vivienda, Salud, Agricultura y Ganadería; Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales; Obras Públicas y Transporte; Defensa Nacional; Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología, as well as la Policía Nacional Civil (PNC).
This inclusion will enable these institutions to participate in coordinating actions related to emergency prevention and response, covering areas such as health, infrastructure, security, housing, education, agriculture, and the environment.
The reform also provides for private sector participation. The commission will include two representatives from the Asociación Nacional de la Empresa Privada (ANEP), to be selected by the President of the Republic from two shortlists proposed by the association.
Additionally, three associations or foundations linked to civil protection and disaster prevention and mitigation will be incorporated, ensuring representation from the country’s western, central, and eastern regions. With these changes, the National Civil Protection Commission will see broader participation from public institutions, the private sector, and organizations involved in risk management. The reform aims to strengthen coordination to prevent emergency situations and ensure a coordinated response to disasters within the national territory.
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