PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go raised anew the need for the enactment of Senate Bill No. 205 that he filed in 2019, also known as the Disaster Resilience Act of 2019, which seeks the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), as he continues to provide aid to communities still recovering from past calamities. Most recently, Go’s team visited Typhoon Ulysses victims in Rodriguez, Rizal on July 10.
In his message to the victims, Go said that the establishment of the DDR will ensure a proactive approach to natural disasters. Because the country’s geographical location exposes it to extreme weather disturbances, the Senator stressed that the Filipinos expect the government to pay utmost attention to its immediate response.
“Nag-file rin po ako sa Senado ng Department of Disaster Resilience (bill), departamentong Cabinet-secretary level, para bago pa dumating ang bagyo, mayroon ng coordination with local government units at makapaghanda ng pagkain. Kapag mayroong bagyo, makakapag-evacuate kaagad. Bago pa dumating ang bagyo, dapat madala kaagad sila sa mga evacuation centers para walang masaktan,” said Go.
“At kapag lumabas na ang bagyo, rehabilitation at recovery efforts naman. Returning back to normalcy kaagad ang layunin natin. More responsive services from relief to rebuilding operations ang ating layunin, less damages and casualties and faster recovery, kaya ko i-finile itong Department of Disaster Resilience (bill),” he added.
The department shall concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.
To further mitigate the impacts of disasters on local communities, Go also renewed his commitment to push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1228 which provides for the establishment of an evacuation center in every municipality, city and province.
“Besides providing temporary shelter, they should also be able to cater to the victims’ basic needs. Mayroon dapat itong sapat na mga emergency packs, katulad ng blankets, tubig, at gamot na handa na tuwing may sakuna,” he said.
Meanwhile, Go’s outreach team distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 2,252 victims of Typhoon Ulysses at the Eastwind Homes Covered Court and Brgy. San Isidro Covered Court in Rodriguez. Selected recipients were given new shoes while others received bicycles, so they can travel with ease while transportation remains limited. The team also gave away computer tablets to help students cope with the blended learning set-up implemented by schools.
The activities were conducted in small batches and under strict compliance with government health protocols.
Corazon Rupisan, a senior citizen and one of the beneficiaries, thanked Go and the government agencies present for the assistance they received. She also said that she will get vaccinated against the disease to protect herself from it. “Sa panahon ng pandemic, ako po ay nagkasakit pa. Akala ko kukunin na ako ng Taas. Ganun pa man, nag-isolate ako ng 14 days. Sa awa ng Diyos, ako po ay gumaling. Pero magpapa-vaccine na ako para ako ay maiwas sa COVID-19 na ‘yan.”
As part of government’s intervention measures to help communities build back better, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided the beneficiaries with financial assistance, while the Department of Agriculture distributed seedlings.
Furthermore, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority profiled potential beneficiaries for its skills training assistance program. The Departments of Labor and Employment, and Trade and Industry also committed to provide further livelihood assistance to qualified beneficiaries upon completing their assessments.
The Senator also shared that he supported the funding for several projects in Rodriguez and throughout Rizal. These include the improvement of road and drainage system in the town; the construction of Batangas Medical Center Annex in Montalban, Rizal; the rehabilitation of flood control structures along the upper Marikina River; construction of the Justice Building in Antipolo City; construction and improvement of a multipurpose building and construction of new roads in Baras; rehabilitation and improvement of roads in Montalban; purchase and installation of streetlights in San Mateo; construction of the Taytay Sports Complex; and the rehabilitation and concreting of the Pantay-Buhangin Road in Teresa, among others.
