Amid the continued state of unrest of the Mayon volcano in Albay, Senator Bong Go personally provided relief to affected communities, including families located in Malilipot town recently.
Go also visited Tabaco City to provide assistance to more evacuees and indigents in said city.
The legislator also conducted an inspection of the Tabaco City Super Health Center which is located in a resettlement area for typhoon victims that was initiated during the Duterte administration.
In addition to the assistance, the lawmaker reassured that 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 na po ito. Ito pong paglalagay ng mandatory evacuation centers sa mga munisipyo, siyudad, at probinsya. 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,” the senator said in an interview after his visit to Tabaco City.
“Nagagamit ang eskwelahan, nagagamit ang gym, naantala ‘yung pag-aaral ng bata at napapanahon na mayro’ng maayos at malinis na evacuation center.”
“Alam n’yo, nagagamit ang eskwelahan, nagagamit ang gym, naantala ‘yung pag-aaral ng bata at napapanahon na mayro’ng maayos at malinis na evacuation center para hindi po magkasakit ang mga bata… Napakaimportante po n’yan. Sanitation, higaan, at maayos na pasilidad na dapat naman ay ibigay natin sa Pilipino lalung-lalo na po sa mahihirap. Kaya po ako nag-file nitong Senate Bill 193 at hindi po ako nawawalan ng pag-asa na dinggin po tayo ng mga kasamahan natin sa Kongreso na maisakatuparan itong mandatory evacuation center sa bawat probinsya, siyudad, at munisipyo,” he stressed.
In his continued efforts to fortify the country’s disaster response capabilities, Go has also been at the forefront of advocating for the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience.
The proposed department would serve as the central authority responsible for disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and recovery.
It would coordinate efforts between different agencies, streamline disaster-related policies, and ensure the efficient allocation of resources during crises.
Go highlighted that if the SBN 188 is enacted, the Cabinet secretary-level department shall concentrate on three significant areas, such as disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.
“Ang Pilipinas po ay nasa Pacific Ring of Fire at apektado ng lumalalang climate change. Napapanahon na po na magkaroon tayo ng isang Department of Disaster Resilience.”
“Sa patuloy na pag-aalboroto ng Mt. Mayon, alam n’yo ang Pilipinas po ay nasa Pacific Ring of Fire at apektado ng lumalalang climate change. Napapanahon na po na magkaroon tayo ng isang Department of Disaster Resilience. A Cabinet-level (department) po. Halimbawa, bago pumutok ang Mayon, mayro’ng Cabinet secretary na pupunta po dito, mayroon silang regional office, makikipag-coordinate sa LGUs, makikipag-coordinate kaagad sa DSWD, makikipag-coordinate agad sa AFP, sa Coast Guard para bago dumating ang bagyo, bago pumutok (ang bulkan), mailikas na agad ang apektado,” he explained.
“Yung magpapagitna at titimon sa lahat ng government agency at pag-alis ng bagyo, o pagputok ng bulkan, restoration of normalcy kaagad, rehabilitation efforts agad. Hindi puro task force. Kapag task force, tapos bago ang administrasyon, bagong tao na naman po. Pero kung nandiyan ang departamento, tuluy-tuloy po ‘yan,” Go added.
During the relief effort held at the Malilipot Central School, he was accompanied by Malilipot Mayor Cenon Volante and other key officials.
In his speech, Go recognized the efforts of Congressman Edcel Lagman, Governor Grex Lagman, and Vice Governor Glenda Ong-Bongao for looking out for their constituents.
Go was also joined by Tabaco City Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro, Vice Mayor Nestor San Pablo, Board Members Victor Ziga Jr., Rey Bragais, Dante Arandia and other officials during his visit to Albay that day.
In Malilipot, Go and his team assisted 221 affected households by distributing grocery packs, masks, vitamins, and snacks. He also provided select beneficiaries with shirts, cellular phones, shoes, watches, bicycles, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance to those affected to help with their daily necessities.
“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.
Continuing his speech, 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 provides for the establishment of such centers in all Department of Health-run hospitals, and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.
There are now 158 operational centers that have successfully assisted more than seven million particularly poor and indigent Filipinos nationwide.
He also mentioned that there will be a Super Health Center in the town in addition to Ligao City, Pio Duran, Camalig, and Tabaco City — the last one having been personally inspected by Go earlier that day. There will also be two such centers in Legazpi City.
In line with his efforts to help the progress of the town amid crisis situations, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the construction of several flood control systems in Malilipot.
