Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) and 2019 senatorial candidate Bong Go threw his support behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience following the deadly magnitude 6.1 earthquake that hit Luzon recently.
It could be recalled that in his 3rd State of the Nation Address last July 23, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated his call for Congress to pass a law creating a more empowered department that would provide full-time focus on disaster management and would take charge of disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response with better recovery and rehabilitation.
“Madalas po tamaan ng bagyo, lindol at iba pang kalamidad ang ating bansa. Kung may iisang ahensya po na nakatutok dito, mas maayos, mabilis at maaasahan ang serbisyong maibibigay ng gobyerno para rumesponde at ihanda ang bansa sa ganitong mga hindi inaasahang pangyayari,” Go said.
At least 16 people were killed, 86 wounded and 14 persons still missing in Central Luzon, according the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. A total of 80 structures and buildings in Central Luzon and the National Capital Region sustained damage as a result of the quake.
The NDRRMC also reported that at least 10 persons were injured in Eastern Visayas as a result of the magnitude 6.5 quake in Eastern Samar.
“Kailangan po talaga natin na ang i-scale up ang preparedness to resilliency against earthquake….Ibig sabihin napapanahon na din na talagang magkaroon ng sariling departamento na nakatutok talaga dito sa mga ganitong pangyayari. Ako suportado ko po ito,” the former presidential aide said.
He added the matter was brought up anew during the briefing led by the President in San Fernando, Pampanga after conducting an ocular inspection of the damage brought by the tremor.
Go said that if he is elected to the Senate, he would press efforts to pass a law creating such a department.
“Nasa kongreso na po ito itong creation of Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) at napapanahon na (ito). Aprubado na ito sa House of Representatives and pending na ito sa Senado. Asahan niyo, supportado ko ito pag nasa Senado na ako, “ he said.
Go has been advocating for the establishment of strong, safe and well-equipped evacuation centers in the country as part of his legislative agenda.
Meanwhile, he assured the people of Samar and adjacent provinces rocked by the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that the Duterte administration will be extending to them the same kind of assistance extended to the victims of the Luzon earthquake. Go had accompanied the President in the Pampanga briefing.
“The Duterte administration will extend to the people of Samar the same kind of assistance extended to the victims of Luzon earthquake.”
“Siyempre ang Pangulong Duterte at ang mga kasamahan n’ya sa gobyerno (ay) 100 percent na (handang) tumulong malutas po kung ano ang pinsala na nangyari doon sa apektadong mga lugar dahil ready naman ang ahensya ng gobyerno na tumugon kaagad,” Go said.
“Narinig ko rin po sabi ng Pangulo, lalong-lalo na po diyan sa mga kapatid natin sa Samar na handa po ang ating national government agencies na tumulong po sa inyo po. Unang-una trabaho ng ating opisyales diyan ay para tumulong,” he added.
In the case of the Luzon earthquake, Go said the President visited the families of the initial five quake fatalities reported and provided them with assistance before the briefing in San Fernando. He said the President was apparently satisfied with the initial response of both the concerned local government units and the national agencies.
“Gusto po sana n’ya (na) siya ang mauna (pumunta sa Pampanga), pero nabalitaan niya na mabilis ang response ng local government unit, at national government at talagang nag-augment po sila sa lahat ng pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” Go recalled.
Go said the President’s main directive to the concerned agencies is to restore normalcy as soon as possible.
Go thanked the private individuals and entities who have volunteered their services and resources in helping victims of the quake in Pampanga.
“Nakakatuwang tingnan na tulong-tulong ang mga kapatid natin, hindi lang po sa gobyerno pati po yung sa mga pribado nagpadala sila ng kagamitan para doon sa gumuhong supermarket,” he said.
Go said the strong quakes that struck Luzon and Samar should be a reminder to everyone not to take for granted the earthquake drills.
“The strong quakes that hit Luzon and Samar should be a reminder to everyone not to take for granted the earthquake drills.”
“Sana po ay huwag nating balewalain yung mga earthquake drills po…. at isaisip po natin parati kung ano ba ang dapat nating gawin sa mga ganitong pangyayari tulad ng nangyari sa Pampanga…Dapat nating tandaan parati na kung ano ba ang dapat gawin kaya sundin po natin ang ating awtoridad,” he said.
Likewise, Go said that like many of the quake victims in Pampanga, those affected by the tremor in Samar and nearby areas that need medical assistance can seek help from the Malasakit Center in Tacloban City.
“Sa mga kapatid natin na sa Samar, mayroon po tayong Malasakit Center diyan sa Tacloban tulad po dito sa Pampanga. Marami pong natulungan ang Malasakit center natin diyan sa San Fernando, Pampanga. Handa pong tumulog ang ating Malasakit center naman po sa Tacloban sa Eastern Visayas Medical Center,” he said.
“Sa inyo po iyan, bukas po iyan para sa pagpapagamot. At alam ninyo po na kahapon ay marami pong natulungan ang Jose Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital sa San Fernando, Pampanga iyong Malasakit Center natin doon,” Go added.
A program of the Duterte administration based on Go’s idea, the Malasakit Center makes it easier and faster for poor patients to avail of medical and financial assistance from the government by bringing together in one room concerned agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philhealth.
Go said he is proposing a law to enable the establishment of Malasakit Centers in more provinces and key urban centers of the country and ensure as well the continuation of the program even after the President steps-down at the end of his term.
