SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go praised the government for its efforts to provide safe and decent housing for residents displaced by a recent earthquake in Cotabato province as he attended the turnover ceremony for the housing units at the Ilomavis relocation site in Kidapawan City.

“Hindi ba sabi ko noon babalik kami rito para sa inyong housing? At tinupad lang namin ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte ang sinabi namin sa inyo. Ngayon, mayroon na kayong bagong bahay. Bantayan at alagaan ninyo itong bahay ninyo. Inyo na ito. Libre mula sa gobyerno (Didn’t I tell you before that we would come back for your housing? President Rodrigo Duterte and I have fulfilled what we promised. Now, you have new homes. Guard and take good care of your homes. These come free from the government),” said Go.

“Pakiusap na lang namin sa inyo, kaunting tiis pa po dahil nasa gitna tayo sa pandemya.
Alam namin mahirap ang panahon ngayon. Ramdam ni Presidente Duterte ang hirap na dinaranas niyo. Hindi namin kayo pababayaan. Tuluy-tuloy ang aming serbisyo (We only ask that you have a little more patience because we are in the middle of a pandemic. We understand that times are hard. President Duterte empathizes with the hardship you are enduring. We will not forsake you. Our service will be continuous),” he vowed.

It will be recalled that on Nov. 4, 2019, Go distributed immediate aid to those who were hit hardest by the subsequent 6.6- and 6.5-magnitude earthquakes that rocked Cotabato and other parts of Mindanao late last year. Go first visited victims in Kidapawan City before riding a motorcycle and proceeding to Makilala, Cotabato to likewise provide various forms of assistance. He promised the victims then that he would make sure they will be provided housing.

Go returned to the area on Jan. 2, 2020 to accompany President Duterte as they provided more government support to the affected communities. “I assure you that the government will continue to help all of you until you are able to get back on your feet and start anew with renewed hope and greater capacity to lead dignified lives,” Duterte emphasized in his speech during that visit last year.

According to Go, the housing projects of the government were part of the ongoing efforts to fulfill his and the President’s commitment to help affected communities build back better.

The senator’s team also provided meals, food packs, vitamins, face masks and face shields to a total of 416 beneficiaries during the activity. The distribution was carried out in batches, and health and safety protocols were strictly observed throughout the activity.

Selected beneficiaries were given new shoes while some were provided bicycles for their daily commute. Others received computer tablets to help their children with their educational activities under the blended learning approach.

In light of the destruction caused by the earthquake, Go renewed his call for the enhancement of disaster preparedness, resilience and recovery measures in the country.
In 2019, he filed Senate Bill SB 205, which directs the establishment of the Department of Disaster Resilience, a highly-specialized agency to lead all disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response, and recovery and building efforts.

The bill mandates the creation of an early warning system, a database for relevant disaster risk reduction and climate change data, and new protocols for the swift delivery of basic goods to affected areas, among others.