Senator Christopher “Bong” Go pledged to continue pushing for his disaster resiliency measures that aim to provide a safer and more comfortable life for all Filipinos especially in times of crises. Go underscored this in an ambush interview after he personally assisted fire victims at the Barangay UP Campus in Diliman, Quezon City on Tuesday, May 17.

One of the measures earlier filed by Go is Senate Bill No. 1228 or the Mandatory Evacuation Center Act to ensure that disaster victims will have temporary shelters that will guarantee their safety and welfare while they recover and rebuild their lives.

“Tingnan n’yo po ang kinatatayuan natin ngayon. Tuwing merong nasusunugan, nababaha, naglilindol, nagagamit ‘yung eskwelahan. Paano mag-aaral ang mga bata kung gagamiting evacuation center?” lamented Go.

“Sa SBN 1228 ay bibigyan ang mga biktima ng kalamidad ng pansamantalang masisilungan na ligtas at kumpleto sa essential goods, medisina, at personahe para matiyak na komportable sila at mapangangalagaan ang kanilang kapakanan para mas mabilis na makabangon muli mula sa trahedya,” he explained previously.

The senator maintained that it is necessary to build permanent evacuation centers nationwide to ensure the safety of Filipinos in times of natural calamities and other disasters, given the geographic location of the country.

“Kawawa naman po ang mga nasunugan, nabahaan, nalindulan, naputukan ng bulkan kung wala silang maayos na evacuation center sa mga lugar nila, lalung-lalo na po ang mga bata,” Go noted.

“Bigyan po natin sila ng isang komportableng lugar kung saan maaari po silang makapagpahinga hanggang makabalik sila sa kanilang tirahan,” he added.

Go also cited his SBN 1227, otherwise known as the Rental Subsidy Program Act, which will help families displaced by disasters by offering them subsidies so they can temporarily relocate during the interim process of construction.

“Isusulong ko rin po ang Rental Subsidy bill. Ito pong bibigyan sila ng, halimbawa, kalahating halaga ng renta habang hindi pa sila nakakauwi sa kanilang mga pamamahay,” said the lawmaker.

He also vowed to push for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience through his proposed Disaster Resilience Act. SBN 205, which Go filed in 2019, aims to address the bureaucratic challenges that undermine the government’s ability to better respond and provide support to individuals affected by disasters.

To do so, the bill establishes the DDR, a highly-specialized agency that will prepare against the devastating effects of climate change and ensure a more proactive approach to natural disasters.

“Ibig sabihin nitong departamentong ito na cabinet secretary-level, bago pa dumating ang bagyo, meron na pong makikipag-coordinate: ‘O, ihanda natin ang goods, nakaposisyon (na dapat tayo’,” explained the senator.

“Coordination between agencies and local government units. Ilikas kaagad sa mga ligtas na lugar ang mga dapat ilikas bago dumating ang bagyo. Tapos restoration of normalcy or ‘yung rehabilitation efforts po ay dapat maisaayos kaagad,” he added.

The DDR will bring together all essential functions and mandates currently scattered among various disaster-related agencies. Once established, it shall be primarily responsible for implementing programs, projects and activities that will promote disaster-resilient, adaptive and safe communities.

“Ang experience ko po sa mga nakaraang anim na taon, ang nangyayari po tuwing may mga bagyo, iniiwan lang po ‘yung assistant secretary, at gagawa po ng mga task force rehabilitation composed po of different members,” Go shared.

“Dapat merong isang cabinet secretary level. Siya po ang timon atmaiiwan doon (sa affected area). Magli-lead para ‘yung respeto at response po ng buong gobyerno ay magiging mabilis,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Go praised the current Congress for approving some of his proposed legislation, including Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, RA 11641 which creates the Department of Migrant Workers, and RA 11470 which establishes the country’s first National Academy of Sports, among others.

“May mga naisakatuparan na po, ‘yung mga pinangarap ko noon na nakakatulong sa mga mahihirap. Itong Malasakit Centers Act, ito pong Department of Migrant Workers, ito pong National Sports Academy – ito pong eskwelahan na ito, training at the same time pag-aaral,” said Go.

Finally, the senator assured that he will continue to fight for his other important measures, especially those that will benefit impoverished Filipinos.

“Hindi po ako titigil. Ibig sabihin, I’m not losing hope. Isusulong ko pa rin po ‘yung mga important bills lalung-lalo na po ‘yung mga makakatulong sa mga mahihirap,” he vowed.