Bong Go renews push for disaster resiliency measures in wake of 'Odette'

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday renewed his push for the passage of bills that seek to improve the country’s resilience and capabilities to mitigate, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and calamities.

Go made the call amid the massive devastation left behidn by Typhoon Odette, pointing out that the Philippines consistently ranks among the most climate-vulnerable countries.

The senator specifically pushed for Senate Bill No. 205, which seeks to consolidate all disaster-related agencies into the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). Go said he believes consolidating all offices would allow for a more concerted approach toward disaster risk reduction and expedite the delviery of services during times of crisis.

“Kung gaano kabilis at kadalas ang pagdating ng krisis sa ating bansa, dapat lamang na maging mas mabilis, maayos, at maaasahan ang serbisyo ng gobyerno upang maprotektahan ang kapakanan at buhay ng bawat Pilipino (Since disasters are very frequent in our country, it’s only fitting that the government can provide fast, orderly and efficient service to be able to protect the lives of Filipinos),” Go said.

“Isang aspeto na dapat natin maisaayos ay ang inter-agency coordination. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit matagal ko nang inirerekomenda at paulit-ulit ko nang sinasabi na dapat magkaroon ng isang departamento para mayroong timon na tagapamahala ng preparedness, response, and resilience mechanisms pagdating sa mga sakuna (One aspect that we need to fix is inter-agency cooerdination. I have logn been recommending this and repeatedly saying we need one department that will be in charge for preparedness, response and resilience mechanisms in times of calamities),” he stressed.

Likewise, Go called for the passage of SBN 1228 which seeks the establishment of a permanent evacuation center in every province, city and municipality.

He also urged Congress to expedite the passage of SBN 2393, or the propsoed Rental Housing Subsidy Act, in order to fast-track the recovery of families affected by disasters.

The measure primarily seeks to provide families displaced by natural and man-made disasters the necessary housing subsidies so they can relocate during the interim process of construction and have better access to the formal housing market.

These proposed laws, Go said, will help give the poor and informal settler-families a chance to at least live a decent life.

“Hangad ko ang suporta ng mga mambabatas dahil ang lahat ng ‘to ay para sa kabutihan ng Pilipino (I appeal for the support of my colleagues because this is for the benefit of all Filipinos),” Go reiterated.

“Asahan niyo na gagawin ko ang parte ko sa Senado upang isulong ang lahat ng mga nais nating makamit sa pamamagitan ng pagpasa ng mga makabuluhan at epektibong batas gaya nito (Rest assured, I will do my part in the Senate to push for the passage of worthwhile legislation such as these measures),” added the senator who earlier withdrew his presidential bid in the upcoming May 2022 elections.