Even with the 2022 elections fast approaching, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go stressed that President Rodrigo Duterte and the rest of the administration remain focused on helping distressed communities, especially those who were affected by Tropical Storm Agaton that has displaced thousands of families.

In an ambush interview after Go’s personal visit to the fire victims in Valenzuela City on Tuesday, April 19, the senator maintained that the President remains focused in ensuring that all hands are on deck to help build back the communities that sustained serious damage from Agaton as well as other areas affected by various crises.

“Nagtatrabaho lang po ang Pangulo ngayon. Very busy po siya sa mga typhoon, kahit na Biyernes Santo po, Sabado (de) Gloria ay pumunta ho kami sa Baybay (City). Pinuntahan po namin ‘yung nag-landslide doon at pinuntahan din po namin ‘yung mga nabaha sa Capiz,” Go shared.

President Duterte and Go spent their Good Friday and Black Saturday conducting aerial inspections of some affected areas and giving relief to displaced families in Baybay City and Abuyog town in Leyte, and Pontevedra, Capiz, respectively.

Go reassured that the Duterte Administration is committed to responding to the needs of all storm-hit communities regardless of political color.

“Kahit na sinasabi nga nila na lugar ‘yon ng katunggali ni Pangulong Duterte, sabi niya puntahan natin dahil para sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte, Pilipino rin po ang mga ‘yan,” Go cited.

The senator then appealed to his fellow public servants to likewise set aside political differences and concentrate on serving the Filipinos in need.

“Tulong tayo sa lahat, walang pinipili. Ang pagtulong po ay walang pulitika, dapat pantay-pantay. Tandaan natin, tayo po lahat ay Pilipino,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Go renewed his call for measures to improve disaster resilience, noting that the country is prone to natural disasters. About 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year, five of which are anticipated to be destructive, according to studies.

“Importante po talaga ang pagpapalakas ng ating disaster preparedness and response. Bilang isang bansa na palaging binabagyo at binibisita ng kung ano pang sakuna, kailangan palagi tayong one-step ahead para maiwasan na po natin ang mas marami pang pagkawala ng buhay ng ating mamamayan,” stressed Go.

“Sa mga kasamahan ko po sa senado, umaapela po ako sa inyo na tuluy-tuloy lang po tayong magtulungan sa kung ano pa pong pwede nating gawin para palakasin pa ang ating disaster management. Bukod sa maraming buhay ang nawawala kada taon, naapektuhan din po ang ating ekonomiya. Kaya magtulungan po tayo,” he reiterated.

Go renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill Nos. 1228 and 205, otherwise known as the Mandatory Evacuation Center Act of 2019 and the Disaster Resilience Act of 2019, respectively.

The said measures were filed by Go to ensure that there will be a strengthened whole-of-government approach and more efficient response in dealing with disasters.

If passed, SBN 1228 mandates the establishment of permanent, safe and properly equipped evacuation centers in every province, city, and municipality to ensure that disaster victims will have temporary shelters while they rebuild their lives.

Meanwhile, SBN 205 seeks to create a Department of Disaster Resilience that would be primarily responsible for ensuring that local communities are well-adapted, resilient and safe from the impacts of climate change.

“Ako po ay hindi titigil at hindi mawawalan ng pag-asa. Madalas pong tamaan ng bagyo, lindol at iba pang kalamidad ang ating bansa. Kailangan na talaga nating i-scale up ang preparedness to resilience against disasters,” he stressed.