SBG renews call for Disaster Resilience department establishment
Senator Christopher (SB) “Bong” Go renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill 205, to be known as the “Disaster Resilience Act,” following the heightened activity of Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon province over the weekend.
During an ambush interview after his monitoring visit of the Malasakit Center at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, the senator detailed the government’s efforts to aid Filipinos affected by Mount Bulusan’s recent eruption.
“So far, the volcano has calmed down a bit, and there are 50 families who have been evacuated. President Duterte has given instructions to address their needs immediately — food and a decent evacuation center for them, so that they are comfortable until they can safely return to their homes,” Go said.
Bulusan Volcano erupted last Sunday, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology monitoring ashfall affecting communities in the towns of Juban, Casiguran and Irosin in Sorsogon.
The volcano’s alert status was also raised from 0 (normal) to Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest).
The senator reiterated the importance of instituting a more proactive approach when dealing with natural disasters. He maintained the need for a more streamlined and holistic response to disasters and other calamities as he renewed his call for the passage of SB 205. “It is different when a Cabinet secretary heads the department. Coordination is easy and there is no need to create new task forces, because there is a department here for disasters that is yet to come to our country,” Go explained.
The bill establishes the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), a highly-specialized agency that will prepare against the devastating effects of climate change and ensure a more proactive approach to natural disasters.
He said he intends to refile the said measure in the next Congress. To complement the DDR, Go also filed SB 1228, which seeks to establish a mandatory evacuation center in all cities, provinces and municipalities across the country.