SEN. Christopher "Bong" Go has renewed his call to pass Senate Bill (SB) 188, establishing the Department of Disaster Resilience to address the country's vulnerability to calamities.
Go reaffirmed his push for "a more disaster-resilient nation" as he provided aid to typhoon victims in Makilala, Pikit and Pigcawayan towns in North Cotabato.
Go said SB 188 seeks to create a specialized agency that would unify and streamline all disaster preparedness and response efforts, which "are presently scattered across various departments and offices."
Go's team mounted the relief effort from April 4 to 5 at the Makilala Municipal Hall for 27 typhoon victims. They received grocery packs, snacks, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball.
The National Housing Authority extended emergency housing assistance to the qualified beneficiaries.
In a video message in Filipino, Go said that he was one of the senators who pushed for emergency housing aid.
"I am still supporting this to help those who lost their homes to floods or fire to have money to buy housing materials such as nails and galvanized iron sheets, among others," he said.
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also urged those with health concerns to visit the Malasakit Center at Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Kidapawan City.
Go said he authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act so Filipinos can conveniently access medical assistance programs from concerned agencies.
He said the 161 Malasakit Centers have assisted over 10 million poor Filipinos nationwide.
Go added that North Cotabato would soon have 14 super health centers (SHCs) to help decongest hospitals and bring primary care, medical consultations and early disease detection services closer to communities.
The SHC offers medical services such as database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: X-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat services, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine.