Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday renewed his call for members of Congress to pass the bill that seeks the mandatory creationof safe and properly equipped evacuation centers in every municipality, city and province across the Philippines.

Go made the appeal in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette. Go has filed Senate Bill No. 1228 or the proposed Mandatory Evacuation Center Act, which he filed in 2019 to ensure that victims of disasters wouldhave access to temporary shelters that would guarantee their safety, promote their well-being and guard their welfare while they recover and rebuild their lives.

“When disaster strikes, the Filipinos, especially those underprivileged, suffer. In most instances, this disaster renders their homes unlivable, leaving the victims without roofs,” Go said.

Go noted that schools, barangay centeres, gymnasium or basketball courts, that are usually being utilized as evacuation centers, are not ideal temporary shelters.

“Kaya panahon na po magkaroon tayo ng evacuation center sa bawat bayan (That’s why it’s imperative that we construct evacuation centers in every municipality),,” he stressed.

“We need to erect safe, permanent and dedicated evacuation centers that can offer sufficient emergency packs, like blankets, water, medicine, flashlight and ready relief goods,” Go pointed out.

“The government has an obligation to ensure it is ready to help during whatever calamity,” he stressed.

The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation along with Senate Bill NO. 205 which Go also filed. The latter seeks the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).

Following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, Go said it is even more imperative to pass the measures sooner, saying the government needs to be more proactive in responding to calamities and natural disasters.