As a new typhoon approaches the country, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go today reiterated his call for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) to ensure quick response and proactive and holistic approach in preparing for calamities and other natural disasters.
“Nitong nagdaang mga araw, maraming mga Pilipino ang nasalanta ng mga bagyo, flashflood, at iba pang mga sakuna, tulad ng bagyong 'Quinta.' Ngayon, meron na namang papasok na bagong bagyo, ang bagyong 'Rolly,' na inaasahan ding magdudulot ng mga pinsala at dagdag hirap sa taumbayan,’’ he said.
(These past days, many Filipinos were severely affected by typhoons, flashfloods, and other disasters such as typhoon ‘Quinta.’ Another tropical cyclone, typhoon ‘Rolly,' is expected to hit the country and may bring destruction to properties and added hardship to the people)
Rolly is expected to make landfall in Aurora-Quezon area Sunday night or Monday morning.
“Taon-taon, nakakaranas tayo ng higit kumulang dalawampung bagyo, at kaakibat din nito ang baha at landslide. Maraming lugar rin sa bansa ang nakararanas ng lindol. Bukod nito, kaliwa’t kanan ding may nangyayaring sunog sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa,’’ Go said.
(The country experiences at least 20 tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, storms, or typhoons) every year resulting in flashfloods and landslides. Several parts of the country also experience earthquakes as well fire incidents)
“Sa madalas na pangyayaring ito, paano natin maseserbisyuhan nang maayos ang ating mga kababayan kung wala tayong klarong mekanismo upang ihanda ang ating mga komunidad?’’ he asked.
(With these frequent occurences, how can we best serve our countrymen if we do not have the clear mechanism to prepare our communities?)
Given the frequency of natural disasters and calamities in the country, Go said that it is time to pass his Senate Bill (SB) 205 which seeks to create the DDR.
He added that the proposed new department would provide faster government response to natural disasters and calamities, such as typhoons and earthquakes, by putting together all related agencies under a single department.
“Ito ang dahilan kung bakit matagal ko nang inirerekomenda at paulit ulit ko nang sinasabi na dapat magtayo na ng isang departamento na mayroong secretary-level in charge na magiging tagapamahala ng preparedness, response, and resilience measures upang maprotektahan ang mga buhay at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan,’’ he said.
(This is the reason why I have long recommended and repeatedly said that we should establish a department with a secretary-level in charge that will manage the preparedness, response, and resilience measures in order to protect the lives and welfare of our countrymen)
“Sa pagtatag ng departamentong ito, mas magiging mabilis ang pagtugon ng pamahalaan at mas maiibsan ang masamang epekto ng mga kalamidad. Sa tulong nito, mas mabilis ding makakabangon ang ating mga kababayan pagkatapos ng mga sakuna."