Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is renewing his call for the approval of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act after some provinces in the Davao Region were recently hit by severe flooding due to shear line this month.
Go was in Mati City on Friday to lead the groundbreaking of the Superhealth Center in Dawan.
“Nagfile din ako ng mandatory evacuation center called Ligtas Pinoy Center Act, ibig sabihin dapat magkaroon ng sariling evacuation center sa bawat probinsiya dahil bawat sakuna ang ginagamit ay mga eskwelahan walang komportableng higaan marumi ang mga c.r. magkakasakit ang mga bata,” Go said in an interview with the media.
Go is actively advocating for the passage of Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2451, also known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act. This comes in response to the country’s susceptibility to typhoons and other disasters.
Some Matinians affected by the heavy rains in Mati City on the night of January 18, 2024, have been rescued, evacuated and temporarily took shelter in the different evacuation centers in the affected Barangays.
Areas that experienced flooding and landslides in Mati City were Brgy. Bobon- Purok Mamasao, Purok Madasigon, Purok Manggahon, Purok Crossing, and Purok Katagman; Brgy. Buso; Brgy. Tamisan; Brgy. Cabuaya; Brgy. Don Martin Marundan-Purok Tama; and Brgy. Macambol-Purok Magum and Purok Catmonan.
Following heavy rainfall and massive flooding caused by the shear line in the region, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Davao Oriental has recommended declaring the entire province under a state of calamity which affected around 185,000 families.
Go said with the declaration of the state of calamity the provincial governments can now access ang the Quick Response Funds (QRF).
“Yan ang layunin ng QRF na magamit kaagad sa pagresponde at pagtulong lalong lalo na sa pagkain,” Go said.
Go is also pushing for the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), especially amid the recent calamities and natural disasters experienced by Filipinos in various parts of the country in recent years.
Among the tasks of the DDR would preemptively coordinate with local government units ahead of disasters, ensure effective prepositioning of goods, facilitate timely evacuation, and initiate restoration and rehabilitation efforts post-disaster.
“Bilang adviser ng National Defense Committee sa senado ay isinusulong ko ang Deaprtment of Disaster Resilience na nakatutuok tuwing mag bagyo. Bago dumating yung bagyo sila na ang makikipagcoordinate sa LGUs in positioning of food at ilipat ang ating mga kababayan sa ligtas na lugar. Sila na rin ang makikipagccordinate sa DPWH para sa clearing nga mga daan,” Go said.
