Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized the heightened vulnerability of urban poor communities during disasters, pointing out that many reside in unsafe, flood-prone areas, and called for stronger government support to protect them.

On Thursday night, Go visited Barangay Bacayan in Cebu City to console with families who lost loved ones during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.

Go attended a mass wake at the Bacayan Covered Court, where he met with the families of thirteen victims who perished in the disaster. The senator extended his sympathies and called on the public to continue praying for the province as it recovers from the typhoon’s aftermath.

During his visit, Go highlighted the vulnerability of urban poor communities during calamities, noting that many live in unsafe and flood-prone areas.

“Ang mga mahihirap ang pinaka-natatamaan kung may mga bagyo at pagbaha. Marami kasi sa kanila ay nakatira sa mga creek (The poor are the ones most affected during typhoons and floods because many of them live along creeks),” Go said, stressing the need for increased government funding for urban housing projects. 

He added that he would review allocations for housing programs in the upcoming budget deliberations.

After attending the wake, Go visited the nearby Villa del Rio Subdivision in the same barangay to check on residents affected by flooding. He distributed hot meals and grocery packs to displaced families and inspected the extent of the damage caused by the typhoon.

“Maging pro-active tayo. Dapat sa future, ang mga proyekto ay maayos at protektado ang ating mga kababayan (Let’s be proactive. In the future, projects should be well-planned and our fellow citizens properly protected),” he said, urging better disaster preparedness and infrastructure planning.

The senator also appealed to the national government to prioritize rehabilitation efforts in the Visayas, which bore the brunt of Typhoon Tino.

“Muli, nanawagan ako sa pambansang pamahalaan – huwag pabayaan ang Visayas. Dito po kasi nakatuon ang karamihan ng tinamaan ng Bagyong Tino (Again, I call on the national government—not to neglect the Visayas. This is where most of those affected by Typhoon Tino are concentrated),” he said.