Considering how the country is prone to natural disasters and other calamities, Senator Bong Go reiterated his appeal for the passage of his proposed Mandatory Evacuation Center Act as he welcomed similar measures being pushed by his fellow lawmakers.
“Masaya po ako na ‘yung iba pong senador ay gusto rin pong magkaroon ng mandatory evacuation center. Finile ko po sa Senado, (ang pagpapatayo ng) mandatory evacuation centers sa mga probinsya, siyudad, at munisipyo kasi tuwing may bagyo po ang mga kababayan natin inilalagay sa mga eskwelahan, nagagamit ang eskwelahan,” cited Go during an ambush interview after he personally led a relief operation for flood victims in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental.
“Mayroon dapat sana tayong handang evacuation center na malinis ‘yung sanitation, may komportableng mahihigaan ‘yung mga bata, at maayos na comfort room.”
“Ngayon, face-to-face (classes) na tayo, maantala ‘yung pag-eeskwela kapag kailangan magamit ang mga classroom sa mga evacuees. (Kaya) mayroon dapat sana tayong handang evacuation center na malinis ‘yung sanitation, may komportableng mahihigaan ‘yung mga bata, at maayos na comfort room. ‘Yan po ang mandatory evacuation center na isinusulong ko po at ipaglalaban ko rin po sa Senado para kapag may bagyo, bago dumating ang bagyo, ilikas kaagad sa mga ligtas at maayos na evacuation center ang mga kababayan natin,” the legislator added.
The lawmaker’s proposed Senate Bill No. 193 seeks to ensure that disaster-affected families can take refuge in evacuation centers that are safe, dedicated and equipped with basic necessities. It provides the minimum requirements for every evacuation center, including the location, structural or building capacity, and amenities and accessibility.
In particular, the proposed mandatory evacuation centers shall be constructed and designed to withstand super typhoons or wind speeds of at least 300 kilometers per hour and seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude.
Meanwhile, the senator also pointed out how crucial it is to have an adequate budget to assist in the recovery of disaster-hit communities.
“Kaya nga po nagde-declare ng state of calamity para magamit kaagad nila ang Quick Response Fund nila sa Executive Department. Sa ngayon naman po, umpisa ng taon, nandyan ang pondo sa national government, pero hindi naman po diyan umaasa lahat,” he noted.
“Napakalawak po ng Pilipinas, napakarami pong bagyong dumarating sa atin. Bagyo dito, bagyo doon sa Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, kulang talaga ang pondo ng disaster fund kaya nandiyan po Department of Public Works, iba’t ibang departamento para tumulong. DPWH para sa infrastructure, DSWD para sa relief at pagkain, NHA naman po housing para sa mga bahay na nasira,” Go continued.
He then reassured, “Ako naman po bilang inyong senador, ay naririto lang po na handang sumuporta. Para sa akin, unahin natin ang mahihirap, ang mga nawalan ng bahay, mga walang makain. ‘Yun sila ang nangangailangan ng tulong ng gobyerno.”
Apart from the mandatory evacuation centers, Go likewise continues to push for Senate Bill No. 188 which seeks to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience — a highly specialized agency that will be tasked with ensuring adaptive, disaster-resilient and safe communities. The measure aims to create a more efficient and whole-of-nation approach to address calamities.
“Isang aspeto na dapat natin mas maisaayos pa ay ang inter-agency coordination.”
“Isang aspeto na dapat natin mas maisaayos pa 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 na may secretary-level na in-charge para mayroong timon na tagapamahala ng preparedness, response, and resilience measures pagdating sa ganitong mga krisis at sakuna,” he stressed.
To support the DDR’s functions and responsibilities, the proposed measure also provides for the creation of an Integrated Disaster Resilience Information System (IDRIS) which will serve as a database of all relevant disaster risk reduction and climate change information.
