SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Team coordinated with Mayor Nestor D. Natanauan of Talisay, Batangas, to extend Go’s support and condolences to Typhoon Kristine casualties on Tuesday, October 29.
“Sa gitna ng pagsubok na dulot ng Bagyong Kristine, nais kong iparating ang aking taos-pusong pakikiramay at pagsuporta sa bawat isa sa inyo. Alam ko po na mahirap ang ating pinagdaraanan ngayon, ngunit huwag po tayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Nandito kami para tumulong sa abot ng aming makakaya,” Go expressed in a message.
Amid current calamities hitting the country, the lawmaker then underscored the need for better disaster resilience and recovery mechanisms as he highlighted his proposed bill, Senate Bill No. 188, which seeks to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).
The proposed measure aims to create a new Cabinet-level department focusing on holistic approaches to enhance disaster preparedness. The senator added that the DDR, if enacted into law, should concentrate on three significant areas: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, recovery, restoration of normalcy, and building back better.
“Layunin ng panukalang ito na magkaroon ng isang departamento na pamumunuan ng isang cabinet-level secretary na magsisigurong mabilis at organisado ang pagtugon sa mga kalamidad. Hindi na sapat kung palaging task force o coordinating council lamang. Dapat mayroon talagang nakatutok na timon sa pamamagitan ng isang departamento na may sapat na mandato at kakayahan upang maghanda, rumesponde, at madaliang maibalik ang mga nasalanta sa normal na buhay,” he explained.
Go also underlined SBN 2451, known as the Ligtas Pinoy Centers bill, which passed its third reading in the Senate, which Go co-sponsored and is one of its authors. This proposed legislation aims to establish permanent and fully equipped mandatory evacuation centers nationwide.
During the said visitation, Go’s Malasakit Team provided financial assistance to the families of the 20 casualties.
Furthermore, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography also urged the community to utilize the medical support available at any of the Malasakit Centers within the province, specifically at the Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City and Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery.
Senator Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. This one-stop shop aims to support underprivileged patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount.
According to the Department of Health, the Malasakit Centers program has benefitted more than 15 million Filipinos, with 166 Malasakit Centers established nationwide.
The Senator ended his message by saying, “Ilapit natin ang serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan na higit na nangangailangan. Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah.”
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