Bong Go urges swift passage of Ligtas Pinoy Centers Bill

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, principal author and one of the co-sponsors of Senate Bill No. 2451, which seeks to establish Ligtas Pinoy Centers, reiterated his full support for the measure and emphasized the need for mandatory evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities across the Philippines.

The centers aim to provide safe, clean, and decent shelters for victims of natural disasters.

Speaking before the Senate plenary on Wednesday, September 18, Go stressed the country’s vulnerability to natural hazards due to its geographic location and the increasing unpredictability brought on by climate change.

“As we know, our country is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, attributed primarily to our country’s location. And with the onset of climate change, hindi natin alam, bigla na lang bumubuhos dito yung ulan,” he said.

Go highlighted the various types of natural disasters that regularly impact the Philippines, such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, which often displace large populations and render homes uninhabitable.

“Tuwing may bagyo, lindol, pagputok ng bulkan, at iba pang sakuna, kawawa po ang ating mga kababayan. In most instances, disasters render the homes of our people unlivable, leaving the victims without roofs over their heads and food on their plates,” he said.

Drawing from his extensive visits across the country, Go observed the lack of proper evacuation facilities, with damaged schools and basketball courts often being used as temporary shelters.

“Sa kakaikot ko po sa buong Pilipinas, napansin ko po na tuwing may bagyo, baha, lindol, putok ng bulkan, wala talagang maayos na evacuation center. Minsan po yung mga eskwelahan, yung mga basketball court na sira-sira na, ginagamit bilang evacuation center,” said Go.

“Walang maayos na comfort room, walang maayos na gamot, nagkakasakit po ang ating mga kababayan, at naaantala po yung pagaaral ng mga estudyante kapag po nagagamit yung eskwelahan as evacuation centers,” he explained.

Citing data from the Office of Civil Defense as of 2019, Go shared that the country had over 28,000 centers being used for evacuation purposes. Of these, 63 percent were schools ranging from daycare centers to universities, while the remaining were multi-purpose halls, gymnasiums, municipal halls, churches, and health centers.

The senator emphasized the importance of establishing purpose-built evacuation centers that meet the basic needs of disaster victims.

“Kaya naman, Mr. President, it is high time that we establish evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities that will cater to the basic needs of the victims of these disasters and provide them temporary shelters that will guarantee their safety, promote their social well-being, and guard their welfare while they recover and rebuild their homes and their lives,” Go stated.

During the period of amendments, Go proposed key provisions, particularly in Section 10, which mandates regular audits of infrastructures used as evacuation centers. He suggested that cities and municipalities conduct an audit at least once a year and immediately after a disaster to ensure the safety and readiness of the facilities.

“The mandatory audit of infrastructures used as evacuation centers shall be conducted by the city or municipality at least once every year and immediately after the occurrence of a hazard or disaster,” he proposed.

Go then expressed his gratitude to Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, the bill’s principal sponsor, and urged his fellow lawmakers to support the measure.

“As vice chairperson of the committee on national defense, I want to thank the sponsor, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, for prioritizing this measure. I wish to also take this opportunity to seek our colleagues’ support for this important legislation,” he said.

Go continues to highlight the importance of improving the country’s disaster response and resilience. He is also pushing for the passage of SBN 188, which seeks to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). The proposed department aims to streamline efforts in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery to ensure a more coordinated approach to crises.

He stressed that through these measures, proactive approaches and efficient resource management can significantly reduce the impact of disasters on vulnerable communities and save lives.

READ: Over 400 residents still in evacuation centers in Occidental Mindoro