A group of evacuees in Davao del Sur cheer and take selfies when Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go arrives at the capitol lobby on Friday afternoon to distribute relief goods to the displaced people of the province. (Eldie S. Aguirre/Inquirer Mindanao)
DIGOS CITY, Philippines – Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said he will request President Duterte to certify as urgent the bill seeking the creation of the Department of Disaster Resiliency to strengthen the country’s preparedness in handling calamities.
“We will not wait for another earthquake to happen. We have to be proactive in dealing with disasters to mitigate its effects to lives and properties,” Go explained,
“Since we are through with the first hearing, I will request the President to certify it as urgent so that it could be included in the 2020 budget.”
Go said there is urgency to create the department since the country is being battered by various kinds of calamities that threaten the lives and limbs of the people.
Go emphasized that all line agencies of the government tasked to protect the people from the effects of disasters must be well-equipped and trained to effectively handle the situation. “And this could only be done by creating the department of disaster resiliency.”
The senator was in Davao del Sur Friday to distribute aid to more than 600 families displaced by the series of earthquakes that jolted central Mindanao last month.