Senator Bong Go, through his team, visited La Carlota City and Bago City in Negros Occidental to turn over assistance to families affected by the recent Mt. Kanlaon ashfall.
The activity was conducted in coordination with local government officials, particularly Bago City Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao and La Carlota City Mayor Jose Luis “Joelu” Jalandoni, to ensure that affected residents received additional support.
During the event, Go’s team turned over food packs, shirts, and pens to 40 affected families in La Carlota City. The same essential goods were also turned over to 25 residents in Bago City.
“Magtulungan po tayo, mga kababayan ko.”
“Magtulungan po tayo, mga kababayan ko. Kapag may kalamidad, kailangan po natin magmalasakit sa ating kapwa. Kayo po ang nagbibigay ng lakas sa akin upang patuloy kayong pagsilbihan,” the veteran legislator said in a message.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (PHIVOLCS) report, the eruption happened at Kanlaon raising alert level 2 – Moderate Level of Volcanic Unrest.
Recognizing that disasters often lead to urgent health concerns, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography urged affected residents to seek medical assistance through the Malasakit Center in the province, particularly located at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.
“We need to shift from reactive responses to long-term, preventive disaster solutions.”
The veteran legislator is the principal author and sponsor of the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized one-stop shops for government medical assistance.
At present, 167 Malasakit Centers operate nationwide and have already assisted more than 17 million Filipinos, according to the Department of Health.
Looking beyond immediate relief, the seasoned lawmaker reiterated the need to shift from reactive responses to long-term, preventive disaster solutions.
The senator highlighted the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which he principally authored and co-sponsored. The law mandates the establishment of permanent, disaster-resilient evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities to ensure safe, dignified, and well-equipped shelters during calamities.
He also emphasized the importance of passing Senate Bill No. 173, which he refiled in the 20th Congress, seeking to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience to consolidate and strengthen government efforts in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and recovery, especially in disaster-prone areas.
“Hindi ko po sasayangin yung pagkakataon na ibinigay niyo sa amin. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino. Sanay po ako sa trabaho. Umaga pa lang, tanghali, hapunan, kahit sa panaginip ay nagtatrabaho po ako dahil yan na ang nakagawian ko noon pa — ang pagtatrabaho at pagseserbisyo,” Go concluded.
