Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s Malasakit Team visited and aided tropical storm-hit families in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, on 12 December.  

In coordination with Councilors Carlo Ometer and Christopher Timogan, Sta. Ana, Nasipit Barangay Captain Ruel T. Abas, and former Board Member Dick Carmona, grocery packs, pens, shirts, fans and balls were distributed to 150 affected families in Barangay Sta. Ana, Nasipit Covered Court.

“Sa lahat po ng mga kababayan ko na naapektuhan ng bagyo, sana po ay nasa ligtas kayong kalagayan. Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Magtulungan po tayo (To all my fellow countrymen affected by the storm, I hope you are all in a safe condition. Please do not lose hope. Let us help one another),” Go said.

Senator Go then continued to push for the full implementation of RA 12076 or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act mandating the establishment of permanent evacuation centers in all municipalities and cities.

As the principal author and co-sponsor of the said law, Go saw the need to have clean, comfortable, and well-equipped evacuation centers with proper sanitation and medical supplies.

“Napakalungkot pong makita ang ating mga kababayan na nagsisiksikan sa hindi angkop na lugar, gaya ng eskuwelahan na natitigil ang mga klase ng bata o sa covered courts na wala naman sapat na sanitation (It is deeply saddening to see our fellow citizens crowded into unsuitable places, such as schools where children’s classes are suspended, or covered courts that lack proper sanitation),” Go pointed out.  

In addition, the senator refiled in the present Congress his proposed creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), which seeks to unify disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation under one dedicated agency if enacted.

The aim of the proposed DDR, or Senate Bill No. 170, is to have a specialized government agency to centralize disaster response and recovery efforts, promoting community adaptation and resilience.

“Ako naman, bilang inyong Kuya Bong Go, magseserbisyo ako sa inyong lahat dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo. Magtulungan tayo upang ilapit ang serbisyo ng mga Pilipinong nangangailangan (As for me, as your Kuya Bong Go, I will serve all of you because serving is my passion. Let us work together to bring services closer to Filipinos in need),” Go concluded.