Bong Go pushes mandatory evacuation centers

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go stressed the need to pass Senate Bill 1228 seeking the establishment of an evacuation center in every municipality, city and province as his team delivered relief assistance to victims of Severe Tropical Storm Maring in Aparri, Cagayan on Tuesday.

Filed in 2019, Go’s bill sets minimum requirements for every evacuation center, such as its location, amenities and operation.

The measure is  pending before the Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification and reconciliation.

“When disaster strikes, it is the poor who suffer the most. Nagsisikipan sila sa mga covered courts. Kaya kailangan natin magpatayo ng permanenteng evacuation centers na may basic facilities at sapat na emergency supplies gaya ng tubig, pagkain at gamot,” Go said in a video message. “Obligasyon ng gobyerno na maging handa sa oras ng sakuna. Huwag nating antayin na may panibagong sakuna pang dumating.”

The senator’s staff provided meals, vitamins, face masks and face shields to 2,000 typhoon victims at the Aparri municipal hall.

They gave selected recipients shoes and bicycles for work and computer tablets for children’s school activities.

A team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial assistance as part of an ongoing effort by the government to assist communities in crisis situations.

The Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry assessed potential beneficiaries for their assistance programs.

Go advised poor and indigent patients to seek medical assistance through the Malasakit Center at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City.