After visiting fire-stricken communities in Manila on Monday, 7 July, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for the full implementation of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, the law mandating permanent evacuation centers in every city and municipality.

Go pointed to Republic Act No. 12076 — which he authored and co-sponsored — and called on the Department of Public Works and Highways to act swiftly.

“There must be comfortable and proper evacuation centers,” Go said. “Instead of spending DPWH’s budget on useless projects, prioritize this. This is a law. It’s a legal mandate to build evacuation centers so our people have a decent place to go when disasters like fires strike.”

He emphasized the importance of safeguarding human dignity and accelerating recovery efforts for disaster-hit communities.

“It’s heartbreaking — children will get sick without proper restrooms or beds,” he added.

Go also urged the government to ensure public funds are used wisely.

“Use the people’s money properly. That’s what I’m asking from the Secretary of DPWH. I’ll continue monitoring this as a senator. There should be decent evacuation centers our citizens can depend on during disasters. That’s taxpayers’ money,” he said.

In a separate media interview, Go highlighted his proposal to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience, which he refiled in the 20th Congress as Senate Bill No. 173. The bill seeks to create a dedicated Cabinet-level agency to streamline disaster management efforts across all levels of government.

“This department, if passed into law, will focus on disaster response. That means coordinated efforts — pre-positioning of goods before typhoons, and immediate restoration afterward,” Go explained.

He added, “They’ll be the ones to coordinate with all agencies, even at Cabinet level, which is essential to avoid delays and disorganized responses.”

Go also stressed the importance of having rapid deployment mechanisms.

“During floods, there should be an agency ready to respond — to coordinate with the Air Force or Coast Guard to evacuate people. That’s the purpose of the Department of Disaster Resilience,” he said.

Go reiterated his call for lawmakers to pass the bill.

“I will continue pushing for this. I appeal to my fellow senators and members of Congress — please help pass this into law during the 20th Congress. We need someone reliable when people lose their homes, when there’s flooding, volcanic eruptions, or tornadoes,” he said.

Aside from structural reforms, Go is also pushing for a Rental Housing Subsidy Program, a bill that seeks to provide temporary housing assistance to families displaced by disasters.

“That was my promise to you. Wherever you are in the Philippines, as long as I can, I’ll go to you, help you, and hopefully bring you a smile during such difficult times,” he said.

Go ended his remarks with a powerful reminder: “It’s heartbreaking to lose your home. But we’re here to help. Like I told them earlier — money can be earned, belongings can be replaced. But life? Once it’s lost, it’s lost forever. What matters is we survive.”