The Office of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Saturday collaborated with the offices of Mayor Jun Aguas and Vice Mayor Mark Aguas to provide assistance to Sto. Domingo, Albay residents affected by the unrest of Mayon Volcano.
Go personally assisted on June 22, affected families in Malilipot town and Tabaco City, also in Albay province.
The senator’s team distributed masks, vitamins, and snacks to 550 households who gathered at Bical National High School. They also provided several beneficiaries with shirts, cellular phones, shoes, watches, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance for the daily necessities of those affected.
“Makatulong po sa inyo, makatulong po sa inyong pasyente, makatulong po sa mga proyekto na makakapagpaunlad ng inyong bayan, at makapag-iwan po ng kaunting ngiti sa panahon ng inyong pagdadalamhati. Nawawala po ang aking pagod sa tuwing nakikita ko kayong masaya ngayong araw na ito,” he added.
Go said he continues to push for a more comprehensive approach to disaster response and management. He cited Senate Bill No. 193, or the proposed Mandatory Evacuation Center Act, which aims to ensure the availability of permanent, safe and well-equipped evacuation centers in every city, municipality, and province across the country.
“Mayroon po akong nai-file sa Senado, ito pong Senate Bill 193, nasa Committee Level pa po ito. Ito pong paglalagay ng mandatory evacuation centers sa mga munisipyo, siyudad, at probinsya,” said Go.
“Alam n’yo, napapanahon na po na magkaroon tayo ng maayos na evacuation center. Hindi lang po tuwing puputok ang bulkan, kundi bagyo, sunog, lindol o ano pa mang sakuna,” he added.
Go has been actively supporting the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) as part of his commitment to enhancing the country's disaster response capabilities.
If approved, DDR will serve as the primary authority in charge of disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and recovery. Its main responsibilities include coordinating efforts among various agencies, streamlining disaster-related policies, and ensuring the effective allocation of resources in times of crisis.
Go emphasized the importance of Senate Bill No. 188, which will require the establishment of a Cabinet secretary-level department focused on three key areas: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.
By concentrating on these significant aspects, the department aims to improve the country's ability to mitigate risks, effectively respond to disasters, and facilitate a sustainable recovery process for affected communities.
The Office of Civil Defense has recently voiced its support for the establishment of the DDR, emphasizing the importance of such institutions in improving operations in managing and responding to future crises.
"Things can be better if there will be an independent authority or department, but it’s not that simple – tanggap po namin iyon… We leave it to Congress and we leave it to the Palace, to Malacañang. Meanwhile, kami naman, we are doing our best given the limitations, makakaasa po kayo," OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said in a past interview.
Moreover, Go encouraged those with health concerns to get medical assistance from the government through the Malasakit Center at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center in Legazpi City.
Institutionalized under Republic Act No. 114631, which Go principally authored and sponsored, the Malasakit Centers program brings together various government agencies, including DSWD, the Department of Health, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, under one roof to provide a convenient process for availing medical assistance, particularly for poor and indigent patients in public hospitals.
There are now 158 operational centers that have successfully assisted more than seven million particularly poor and indigent Filipinos nationwide.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go likewise supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Ligao City, Oas and Polangui; rehabilitation of several roads in Camalig, Daraga, Jovellar, Legazpi City, Ligao City, Pio Duran and Rapu-Rapu; and rehabilitation of flood control systems in Malilipot, Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malinao, Manito, Oas and Polangui.
Go also provided assistance to poor families in Sto. Domingo on June 16.
