Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go visited calamity-stricken Ilocos Norte on Monday to provide assistance to residents affected by Tropical Storm “Ineng.”

Fellow Senator Imee Marcos and her son, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc, accompanied Go and other government officials at Brgy. Metro Gabu in Laoag City.

“Kahit saang sulok ng bansa, pupuntahan ko hanggang sa makakaya ng aking oras at katawan. Basta may nangangailangan ng ating tulong, handa po ako para na rin personal kong marinig ang kanilang mga hinaing. Parte po ito ng trabaho ko bilang public servant,“ said Go, who came from the National Heroes’ Day celebration in Taguig City.

“This is a public office and what I am doing is public service. I will not limit myself to being a legislator only. Umiikot po ako sa bansa at bumababa sa mga komunidad para maramdaman ng tao ang serbisyong Tatak Duterte,” Go added.

Go joined the Bangon Ilocos: Relief Operations and Seed Distribution in the city’s Capitol Auditorium with officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Health, Public Works and Highways and Social Welfare and Development, among other agencies.

“Dito po sa barangay, may dala po akong kaunting tulong. Iba naman po ‘yung dala ng gobyerno, dala po ni Pangulong Duterte, DA, DOH, DPWH, DSWD, National Food Authority (NFA), National Housing Authority (NHA) at iba’t ibang ahensya pa po ng gobyerno para po matugunan kaagad lahat ng pangangailangan nila,” Go said.

“May dala rin pong seedlings ang DA, pautang rin po na zero interest. Ang DOH naman po, may dalang medical kits, samantalang ang DSWD, may dalang pagkain, grocery packs at iba pa. Ang iba’t ibang ahensya, tulung tulong para may pantawid sa araw-araw ang mga biktima. Ako naman gaya ng sinabi ko noon, handa po ako maging tulay ninyo kay Pangulong Duterte,” Go said.

Given the frequency of calamities and natural disasters that often occur in the country, Go said he is pushing for the establishment of a separate executive department focused on disaster resilience to serve as the lead agency for disaster response of the government.

“Nandito po ako ngayon, kasama ang iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno. Kaya isinusulong ko na magkaroon tayo ng Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) para iisang ahensiya na lang ang tutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga biktima. Mas magiging mabilis at epektibo po ang pagresponde natin kapag streamlined ang proseso at holistic ang approach ng gobyerno,” Go said.

Last month, Go filed Senate Bill 205, or the Disaster Resilience Act of 2019, which seeks to establish “an empowered, highly-specialized, and responsive Department of Disaster Resilience with clear unity of command.”

The department aims to provide faster government response to natural disasters and calamities, such as typhoons and earthquakes, by merging all related agencies under a single department. The measure also mandates local government units to build permanent evacuation centers that are comfortable and complete with all necessary supplies needed by evacuees.

Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte will have its own Malasakit Center within the next six months.

“Most likely, kung saan ang provincial hospital ninyo, kung saan kumpleto ang mga pasilidad, doon po ang magiging lokasyon ng center,” Go said.

“One-stop shop po itong Malasakit Center para po ito sa mga taga-Ilocos Norte, para po hindi na sila kailangang lumabas pa ng hospital at dumayo pa sa iba’t ibang ahensiya para lang humingi ng tulong medikal. Naroon po sa loob ng ospital ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno para bigyan sila ng medical assistance,” he explained.