Lawmakers lauded Sunday the successful implementation by the government of pre-emptive evacuation in areas that were gravely jeopardized by the onslaught of typhoon “Pepeng” in several provinces in Luzon.

This developed as Speaker Prospero Nograles vowed to fast track the adoption of House Joint Resolution No. 47 that would enjoin government financial institutions to suspend for three months the payment of loans extended to both public and private employees.

Reps. Mitos Magsaysay (Lakas-Kampi, Zambales) and Jose Yap (Lakas-Kampi, Tarlac) cited the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) headed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro for evacuating people living in flood-prone areas before the dreaded typhoon could make a landfall.

At least 30,000 families from Regions 1, 2, 4A and 5 were taken to higher grounds as early as Friday morning after the NDCC ordered pre-emptive evacuation operations to be conducted jointly by various local government units with the assistance of the police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“I was told this was the first time pre-emptive evacuation was enforced in the country. That was a bright idea that saved lives of many Filipinos,” Magsaysay said.

Yap said leaders of local government units that fully cooperated with the NDCC action plan likewise deserve a pat on the back for contributing to the success of the evacuation operation.

Meanwhile, Nograles said the House is committed to swiftly pass HR 47 which would direct government financing institutions to suspend loan payments and condone interests and penalties imposed on loans made by victims of tropical storm “Ondoy.”

The resolution was directed to the Government Service Insurance System; Social Security System and Pag-IBIG.

The Lower House unanimously adopted HJR 47 on second reading last week.

Nograles said he is confident the Senate will treat the measure with the same urgency the House gave it in order to “lessen the pain and anguish of Ondoy's victims.”