(MANILA BULLETIN)



Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go is hopeful that President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr. will also prioritize the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) especially amid recent calamities and natural disasters experienced by Filipinos in various parts of the country. Drawing attention to the country's vulnerability to natural calamities, Go advocated for a strengthened national framework on disaster preparedness, response, and resiliency. He expressed hopes that his legislative proposal for a DDR would be included in the priority legislative agenda of the Marcos administration. "Nasa committee level po ito ng Defense Committee sa Senate (The DDR bill is already with the defense committee of the Senate). Bilang vice chairman, ay hinihikayat ko po 'yung mga kasamahan ko sa Senado na sana po ay maipasa natin ito (As vice chairman of the defense committee, I ask my fellow s senators to pass the measure),” he said. In his visit to Bohol, Go cited the province’s susceptibility to typhoons and other natural disasters, illustrating the necessity for a preemptive, responsive, and well-coordinated system. In 2013, Bohol experienced a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2, centered near the municipality of Sagbayan. The event was catastrophic, causing at least 222 fatalities. Eight people were reported missing. The total damage wrought by this disaster was estimated to exceed $53 million (P2.9 billion). Go further outlined the key responsibilities of the proposed department. Challenging the existing practice of forming task forces whenever a new administration comes into power, Go argued that a dedicated department would provide consistency and a focused approach to disaster management. Senate Bill (SB) 188, authored by Go, proposes the establishment of the DDR to centralize disaster management efforts, streamline coordination among different agencies, and ensure a more swift and effective response to emergencies. The core objective of the bill is to concentrate on three key result areas: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better. The establishment of this Cabinet secretary-level department will allow the government to better allocate resources, improve disaster risk reduction strategies, and provide prompt assistance to affected communities, particularly those belonging to the marginalized sectors. The Office of Civil Defense has recently voiced its support for the establishment of the DDR, emphasizing the importance of such institution in improving operations in managing and responding to future crises.