Bong Go vows to refile bill creating Dep’t of Disaster Resilience

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has vowed to refile the measure creating the Department of Disaster Resilience in the 19th Congress.

Senate Bill No. 205 or the proposed Disaster Resilience Act, which he filed, failed to pass in the 18th Congress. Go said he will fight for the bill’s passage as the country is vulnerable to natural disasters and the impact of climate change.

“Hindi po siya naipasa sa Senado, nandoon po siya sa komite noong panahon namin sa 18th Congress. Ngayon naman po sa 19th Congress, ipa-file ko po ito, ire-refile ko po, kung anong kailangan ayusin para matuloy lang po ito (It failed to pass in the Senate, it’s still in the committee level in the 18th Congress. In the upcoming 19th Congress, I will file it again. I will refile it, and amend whatever needs to be done just so it can pass into law),” Go said.

“Mas lalo po nating kailangan ito lalung-lalo na po sa panahon ng climate change. Hindi natin alam ang biglang pagbabago po ng ating panahon (We need this more during this time especially we are experiencing climate change. We do not know the sudden changes in climate),” he reiterated.

To complement the Department of Disaster Resilience, Go said he would also pursue the passage of the bill seeking to establish a mandatory evacuation center in all cities, provinces and municipalities across the country.

Given the geographic location of the Philippines, the senator said it is necessary to build permanent evacuation centers nationwide to ensure the safety of Filipinos in times of natural calamities and other disasters.

“Kailangang magpatayo tayo ng mga safe, permanent and dedicated evacuation centers na mayroong sapat na mga emergency packs, katulad ng blankets, tubig, gamot, flashlight, at ready na relief goods. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na palaging maging handa sa oras ng sakuna (We need to construct safe, permanent and dedicated evacuation centers that would have sufficient emergency packs, like blankets, water, medicines, flashlight and ready made relief goods. It’s the government’s obligation to always be ready),” Go stressed.

Go renewed his call for the passage of the Disaster Resilience Act following the phreatic eruption of the Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province on Sunday, affecting thousands of communities in the towns of Juban, Casiguran, and Irosin in Sorsogon.

The lawmaker said this latest natural disaster highlights the need to institute a more proactive approach when dealing with natural disasters and the need for a more streamlined and holistic response to disasters and other calamities.

“That is why (I’m) still pushing and will never stop. Hindi po ako hihinto sa pagsusulong ng Department of Disaster Resilience para po mayroon tayong isang departamentong cabinet-secretary level na nakatutok po sa mga kababayan natin (I will not stop in pushing for the Department of Disaster Resilience so we can have one department with a Cabinet-secretary level that will focus on resolving disaster-related cases),” said Go.