PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged residents in fire and flood-prone areas to always be ready and alert as he renewed his commitment to push for Senate Bill No. 1228 during a relief effort for disaster victims in Kidapawan City, Makilala and M’lang, North Cotabato on Thursday, October 28.
Filed in 2019 by Go, the proposed bill provides for the establishment of an evacuation center in every municipality, city and province, and outlines a minimum set of requirements such as its location and amenities for such evacuation centers. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.
“Obligasyon ng gobyerno na maging handa sa oras ng sakuna. Huwag nating antayin na may panibagong sakuna pang dumating. Umaksyon na tayo dapat para maprotektahan lalo ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Go appealed in a video message.
“When disaster strikes, it is the poor who suffer the most. Kaya kailangan natin magpatayo ng evacuation centers na may basic facilities at sapat na emergency supplies, gaya ng tubig, pagkain at gamot,” he added.
His staff provided meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 11 fire and monsoon victims at the Kidapawan City Hall, residential compound of Makilala Mayor Armando Quibod and M’lang mayor’s office. They also gave each fire victim financial assistance.
To help them recover from the impacts of the disaster, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Housing Assistance also handed out separate financial assistance in a separate distribution.
Continuing his message, Go further reminded everyone to exercise diligence to reduce their likelihood of being exposed to the coronavirus. He especially called on the elderly and those with medical concerns to limit their contact with those outside their households to maintain a safe environment for themselves.
"Ginabalanse sa gobyerno ang tanan pero mas importante ang kinabuhi sa atong mga kaigsoonan. Amping mo pirme. Dili na nato kayanon magsara na pud ang mga negosyo, mutaas na pud ang kaso, mapuno na pud ang mga ospital, mubagsak ang atong health care system. Mao na ang atong ginalikayan. Palihug lang habang gapabakuna mo, ayaw kumpiyansa," continued Go.
(Trans.: “Binabalanse ng gobyerno ang lahat pero mas importante ang buhay ng ating mga kapatid. Mag-ingat palagi. Hindi natin kakayanin na magsarado na naman ang mga negosyo, mapuno na naman ang mga ospital at babagsak ang ating health care system. Iyan ang ating iniiwasan. Kaya habang nagpapabakuna kayo, huwag magkumpiyansa.”)
Go also offered medical assistance to any disaster victim suffering from injuries or illnesses. He advised them to visit the Malasakit Center at the Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Kidapawan City, where they can avail of further aid from relevant government agencies.
