Go hopes Marcos admin will prioritize proposed Department of Disaster Resilience

BY MARIO CASAYURAN

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go is hopeful that President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr. will also prioritize the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) especially amid recent calamities and natural disasters experienced by Filipinos in various parts of the country.

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(MANILA BULLETIN)

Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go is hopeful that President Ferdinand ‘’Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr. will also prioritize the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) especially amid recent calamities and natural disasters experienced by Filipinos in various parts of the country.

Drawing attention to the country's vulnerability to natural calamities, Go advocated for a strengthened national framework on disaster preparedness, response, and resiliency.  

He expressed hopes that his legislative proposal for a DDR would be included in the priority legislative agenda of the Marcos administration. 

"Nasa committee level po ito ng Defense Committee sa Senate (The DDR bill is already with the defense committee of the Senate). Bilang vice chairman, ay hinihikayat ko po 'yung mga kasamahan ko sa Senado na sana po ay maipasa natin ito (As vice chairman of the defense committee, I ask my fellow s senators to pass the measure),” he said.

In his visit to Bohol, Go cited the province’s susceptibility to typhoons and other natural disasters, illustrating the necessity for a preemptive, responsive, and well-coordinated system.

In 2013, Bohol experienced a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2, centered near the municipality of Sagbayan. The event was catastrophic, causing at least 222 fatalities. Eight people were reported missing.

The total damage wrought by this disaster was estimated to exceed $53 million (P2.9 billion). 

Go further outlined the key responsibilities of the proposed department.

Challenging the existing practice of forming task forces whenever a new administration comes into power, Go argued that a dedicated department would provide consistency and a focused approach to disaster management.

Senate Bill (SB) 188, authored by Go, proposes the establishment of the DDR to centralize disaster management efforts, streamline coordination among different agencies, and ensure a more swift and effective response to emergencies.

The core objective of the bill is to concentrate on three key result areas: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.

The establishment of this Cabinet secretary-level department will allow the government to better allocate resources, improve disaster risk reduction strategies, and provide prompt assistance to affected communities, particularly those belonging to the marginalized sectors.

The Office of Civil Defense has recently voiced its support for the establishment of the DDR, emphasizing the importance of such institution in improving operations in managing and responding to future crises.

Go renews call for creation of mandatory evacuation centers

BY MARIO CASAYURAN

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of mandatory evacuation centers throughout the country through his Senate Bill (SB) No. 193.

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Senator Bong Go

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of mandatory evacuation centers throughout the country through his Senate Bill (SB) No. 193.

Go stressed this after expressing his deep concern over the inadequate facilities for calamity victims especially during times of natural disasters, including typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and even fire incidents.

“I have filed this Mandatory Evacuation Center bill in the Senate. I have noticed that every time there is a typhoon, earthquake, volcanic eruption and other calamities, there are no decent evacuation centers for the affected Filipinos,” the senator lamented, drawing attention to the challenges faced by affected communities during times of crisis.

At present, makeshift evacuation centers, such as basketball courts or covered courts, are commonly used, and sometimes schools are repurposed as temporary shelters.

This situation often disrupts the education of children and compromises the overall welfare of evacuees.

“It’s time to have clean and decent evacuation centers. This is the reason why I filed the Mandatory Evacuation Center bill which aims to establish these evacuation centers in every city, municipality and province,” Go said, stressing the need for dedicated facilities specifically designed to cater to the needs of displaced individuals and families.

According to the senator from Davao, these centers should not only offer adequate space but also prioritize hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of diseases and ensure the well-being of evacuees.

Under the proposed measure, the construction of the evacuation centers will be overseen by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DPWH will be in charge of constructing the evacuation centers based on standards, issuances, and guidelines set by the DPWH. The DENR, on the other hand, will determine the location of each evacuation center, in close coordination with the local government units concerned.

The minimum requirements for every evacuation center are also specified in the bill. The centers must have amenities and accessibility that will enable them to accommodate a large number of evacuees.

Aside from the measure, Go reiterated his call for the passage of SB No.188 which will establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), centralizing efforts, streamline coordination, and ensure more swift and effective response to emergencies.

If enacted into law, the new department shall concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has recently voiced its support for the establishment of the DDR, emphasizing the importance of such institutions in improving operations in managing and responding to future crises.

“Things can be better if there will be an independent authority or department, but it’s not that simple … We leave it to Congress and we leave it to the Palace, to Malacañang. Meanwhile, on our end, we are doing our best given the limitations,” OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said.