PASAY CITY -- Amid various calamities affecting the country, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains determined to push anew the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience. Filed by Go, Senate Bill No. 188 aims to establish a focused agency that will proactively address natural disasters.
Under the refiled proposed bill, DDR will bring together all essential functions and mandates currently scattered among various disaster-related agencies. Once established, it shall be primarily responsible for implementing programs, projects and activities that ensure communities are disaster-resilient, adaptive and safe.
“Bago dumating ang bagyo, may prepositioned goods na, coordination with LGUs, at dapat dalhin ang ating mga kababayan sa mga safe na lugar. At pag-alis ng bagyo, restoration of normalcy agad,” Go said in his video message during the relief effort mounted by his team in Digos City, Davao del Sur on Friday, July 15.
Go’s outreach team provided grocery packs, meals, shirts, masks and vitamins to a total of 19 tornado-hit families at Barangay San Miguel Hall. The team also gave bicycles, phablets and shoes to select individuals.
Furthermore, the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial assistance to the tornado victims to help them sustain their daily necessities while still recovering from the calamity.
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Housing Authority conducted on-site assessments and provided livelihood and housing assistance, respectively, to qualified recipients.
Continuing his message, Go reached out to the beneficiaries with health concerns and encouraged them to visit the Malasakit Center located at Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital in the city where they may seek medical care.
Primarily authored and sponsored by Go, the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 mandates all hospitals managed and administered by the Department of Health and Philippine General Hospital to construct their own Malasakit Centers to provide particularly poor and indigent patients convenient access to medical assistance programs by the government. There are currently 151 Malasakit Centers nationwide.
Go then reminded the public to remain vigilant and cooperative as he reassured that the government continuously rolls out vaccines to far-flung communities to ensure that more Filipinos are protected against COVID-19.
“Patuloy lang po tayo sa pagbabakuna. Alam kong sobrang hirap ng panahon pero ipagpatuloy lang po natin ang malasakit at bayanihan sa kapwa at malalagpasan din po natin ang krisis na ito,” encouraged Go.
“Nais po natin makamit ang population protection leading to herd immunity. Kaya please lang po, disiplina at kooperasyon ang ating kailangan,” he reiterated.
To help boost the development of the province, Go also supported various projects, such as the construction of multipurpose buildings in Bansalan, Digos City, Hagonoy, Magsaysay, Malalag, Padada, and Sulop; and the development of a bat cave in Matanao.
“Mga kababayan ko, magtulungan lang po tayo. Suportahan po natin ang bagong administrasyon at malalagpasan din po natin itong lahat. Hindi namin sasayangin ang oportunidad na ito na makapagserbisyo ng husto sa kapwa naming Pilipino,” Go assured.
“Ako naman po, senador pa rin po ako hanggang 2025 kaya naman sisiguraduhin kong mapagsilbihan po kayong lahat sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he concluded. (OSBG)
