AS natural disasters and other calamities continue to hit the country, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill No. 205, otherwise known as the “Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) Act.”

In his video message on Saturday, December 11, during a relief operation mounted by his team for Typhoon Ursula victims in Madridejos, Go stressed the importance of creating a focused department that will ensure a proactive government approach to natural disasters.

“Bago dumating ang bagyo, preposition of goods, coordination with LGUs, dapat dalhin ang ating mga kababayan sa mga safe na lugar. At pag-alis ng bagyo, restoration of normalcy agad,” Go said.

“Rehabilitation, para makabalik agad sa normal na pamumuhay ang ating mga kababayan na tinamaan ng bagyo,” he added.

SBN 205, which Go filed in 2019, is one of the legislative priority measures cited by President Rodrigo Duterte in his last State of the Nation Address. The bill will unify and streamline all responsibilities related to disaster preparedness and response, functions that are presently scattered across various departments and offices.

Go’s outreach team conducted the relief operation at Madridejos Cultural Center while strictly observing safety and health protocols against COVID-19.

They divided the 1,932 typhoon victims into smaller groups and distributed grocery packs, snacks and masks. The team also gave new pairs of shoes, computer tablets and bicycles to select residents.

Representatives from the National Housing Authority also extended housing assistance to the victims while the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority assessed potential beneficiaries for their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go reached out to those with medical concerns and urged them to seek further assistance at any of the six Malasakit Centers in the province.

First established in 2018 at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, the Malasakit Center aims to help poor and indigent patients by providing convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Walay gipili ang Malasakit Center. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka sa Malasakit Center. Para ni sa tanang pobre ug kabus nga pasyente. Para sa inyo na,” Go said.

(“Wala pong pinipili ang Malasakit Center. Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka po sa Malasakit Center. Para po ‘yan sa poor and indigent patients. Inyo po ‘yan.”)

“Kung nag kinahanglan mog tabang sa Heart Center sa Maynila, pagsulti lang mo kay tabangan mo namo. Kami na ang motubag sa inyong pagpaospital kung kinahanglan gyud dad-on sa Maynila,” he added.

(“Kung kailangan n’yo po ng tulong sa Heart Center sa Maynila, magsabi lang ho kayo. Tutulungan ho namin kayo. Kami na ho ang sasagot sa inyong pagpapaospital kung kakailanganin pong dalhin sa Maynila.”)

Other Malasakit Centers in Cebu are located at Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City, St. Anthony Mother and Child Hospital in Cebu City, Eversley Childs Sanitarium Hospital in Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, and Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City.

Go also reminded the public to remain vigilant and compliant with the directives against COVID-19. He reassured that the government continues to secure sufficient vaccines for every Filipino to help the country attain herd immunity soon.

“Patuloy ang pagbakuna, pero ang pakiusap lang namin sa inyo ay mag-ingat at huwag makumpiyansa. Hindi gusto ng gobyerno na palagi ang pag-ECQ dahil sobrang hirap ng panahon ngayon, maraming apektado at marami ang nawalan ng trabaho,” Go expressed.

“Mga kababayan, disiplina at kooperasyon ang kailangan. Kung hindi kailangan ay ‘wag muna lumabas ng pamamahay dahil delikado pa. Ang importante ay ating makamtan ang population protection at herd immunity para hindi na kumalat ang sakit na COVID-19,” he continued.

Go also remains committed to support various infrastructure initiatives in the province as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

He earlier supported the construction of multipurpose buildings in Bantayan Island, Barili, Cordova, Ginatilan, Pilar, Tabogon and Talisay City; improvement of existing roads in Alcantara, Alcoy, Alegria, Asturias, Balamban, Boljoon, Borbon, Carmen, Madridejos, Malabuyoc, Minglanilla, Moalboal, Pinamungajan, Sibonga, Sogod, Tabogon, Tabuelan, Carcar City and Naga City; improvement of flood mitigation structures in Catmon and Tuburan; installation of street lights in Asturias, Compostela and Daanbantayan; and acquisition of ambulance units in Madridejos and Naga City.

To end, the senator commended Representative Janice Salimbangon, Governor Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia, Vice Governor Hilario “Junjun” Davide III, Mayor Salvador dela Fuente, Vice Mayor Jay River Dela Fuente and other local officials for their service during these challenging times.

Go’s outreach team previously helped fire and landslide victims in Daanbantayan and Talisay City on December 7 and 11.