SEN. Bong Go renewed his call to pass Senate Bill (SB) 188, establishing a Department of Disaster Resilience to streamline all disaster preparedness and response programs.
The senator made the call on Friday when he visited Typhoon Carina victims in Meycauayan City, Bulacan.
Go said his proposed SB 188 seeks to create a highly specialized agency that would unify all disaster preparedness and response responsibilities, which are scattered across various departments and offices.
Sen. Bong Go
In a statement, he said his visit was aimed at “accelerating recovery and offering immediate support to those affected by the recent calamity.”
About 300 families received food packs, while others also received shirts.
Go raised the need for measures to mitigate the effects of natural calamities and ensure the safety and security of all Filipinos.
“If this (SB 188) becomes law, there will be a department focused [on disaster preparedness] with a Cabinet secretary to lead it. It is not just a coordinating council or task force,” he said in Filipino.
“It means that this will be the one to coordinate [among the communities to be affected by an incoming typhoon] on the preposition of goods and coordination with LGUs (local government units) to evacuate our fellowmen to safer grounds,” Go said.
He also sought the passage of SB 2451, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers bill, in which he is one of the authors and co-sponsors.
It seeks to establish mandatory evacuation centers in localities to provide permanent, fully equipped facilities, ensuring communities are better prepared for emergencies.
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