SEN. Bong Go stressed the urgent need for a more robust approach to disaster resilience and preparedness as the Philippines has once again been recognized as the most disaster-prone country in Southeast Asia.
“Tragedies caused by typhoons, earthquakes and other calamities are not new to us. As a country in the typhoon belt and Pacific Ring of Fire, we need to strengthen our preparations so that our countrymen can be safer whenever there is a disaster,” Go said.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that the Philippines topped the Disaster Risk Index in Southeast Asia with a score of 46.86.
The report also noted that the country experiences five to ten destructive typhoons annually, contributing to massive displacement and extensive damage to infrastructure and livelihoods.
In response to the country’s heightened vulnerability, Go has been pushing for legislative measures to enhance disaster management.
Among these is Senate Bill (SB) 188, also known as the Department of Disaster Resilience Act, which seeks to create a specialized department dedicated solely to disaster preparedness and response.
“We should have a department that focuses only on disaster preparedness and response with a clear mandate and a Cabinet-level secretary who will stand at the helm when it comes to this disaster and crisis,” the senator said.
He added that a targeted approach will reduce bureaucratic delays by streamlining the disaster-related efforts of various agencies. This will mitigate the socioeconomic impact of future disasters while fostering the development of communities to be adaptable, disaster-resilient, and secure.
“This proposal aims to strengthen our capacity in disaster risk reduction, preparation, response to emergencies, and quick disaster recovery. If enacted, there will be a dedicated department with Cabinet secretary-level leadership. Not just a coordinating council or task force,” Go said.
Go co-sponsored and is the principal author of SB 2451, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which aims to establish fully functional mandatory evacuation centers nationwide.
These centers will serve as safe havens for affected residents during calamities and ensure that basic needs such as shelter, food, and medical assistance are met.
“Whenever there is a typhoon or disaster, it is important that we have a safe place for people to go,” he said.
Go echoed the ADB’s call for sustained investments in disaster risk reduction and resilience-building efforts.
With the Philippines experiencing nearly 70 percent of its disaster-induced displacements from tropical cyclones and storms, he reiterated the importance of a proactive stance in dealing with these threats.
“We cannot prevent typhoons, but we can reduce the damage they cause by proper preparation. We must protect the most vulnerable and ensure they have strong support,” Go said.
“We should not settle with makeshift shelters for evacuees nor with just having a coordinating council or creating a task force every time disaster strikes. We must continue improving mechanisms from coordination among agencies and LGUs, the preposition of goods for relief, evacuation, rescue efforts, and rebuilding, recovery, and restoration of normalcy — to further protect lives,” he added.
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