PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go's office held its second disaster relief operation for the victims of Typhoon Jolina in Biñan City, Laguna on Wednesday, December 1, in keeping with the senator’s commitment to help communities build back better and stronger.

Go's staff distributed meals, food packs and masks to a total of 1,000 typhoon victims at the Biñan Football Stadium. They also gave select recipients new shoes or bicycles and provided some beneficiaries with computer tablets for their children's blended learning activities.

Moreover, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided separate financial assistance to the victims.

As the Philippines is one of the most natural hazard-prone countries in the world, Go highlighted the need for a cabinet-level agency that will focus on holistic disaster preparedness and response. He reiterated the call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 205, which provides for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience.

“Dapat maging mas proactive tayo at ipasa na ito sa lalong madaling panahon dahil madalas pong tamaan ng bagyo, lindol at iba pang kalamidad ang ating bansa. Kailangan nating i-scale up ang preparedness and resiliency against disasters,” Go said in a video message.

“Kung maitatatag ang Department of Disaster Resilience, mas magiging handa tayo sa anumang krisis o sakuna. Mas magiging mabilis ang pagtugon ng pamahalaan, mas maiibsan ang masamang epekto ng kalamidad, at mas mabilis makakabangon ang ating mga kababayan,” he explained.

Go went on to offer additional assistance to those with medical concerns. He advised them to visit the Malasakit Centers at the San Pablo City General Hospital in San Pablo City and Laguna Medical Center in Santa Cruz.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where particularly poor and indigent patients may conveniently avail of medical assistance from relevant government agencies such as the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, also known as the “Malasakit Centers Act of 2019."

To conclude, the senator thanked the local officials for their hard work during these challenging times.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and an adopted son of the CALABARZON region, Go has also supported various infrastructure development initiatives to reduce the damage from natural disasters and other calamities in the city. These include the improvement of the drainage system in Barangay Canlalay and concreting of the local access road in Barangay Santo Niño.

For the province, he also supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Cavinti, Liliw, Lumban, Majayjay, Pagsanjan, Pila, Santa Cruz and Santa Maria; construction of slaughterhouses in Mabitac, Nagcarlan and Pagsanjan; construction of public markets in Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pagsanjan and Rizal; construction of a farm-to-market road and a multipurpose covered court in Paete; construction of a drainage canal in Cabuyao City; repair of the primary road inside Fort Sto. Domingo in Santa Rosa City; and installation of street lights in Lumban and Magdalena.

A similar relief operation was conducted for 1,000 flood victims in Biñan City last November 17. All distribution activities were held in batches in compliance with health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)