Senator Bong Go extended assistance to the families of individuals who lost their lives in a landslide in Baguio City as his team conducted a relief distribution to help them cope with the aftermath of the tragedy.
Through his team, Go conveyed his solidarity with the bereaved families and assured them of his continued support as they deal with the loss of their loved ones.
“Ang importante ay ligtas kayo at patuloy tayong magtulungan para makabangon.”
“Sa mga kababayan nating naapektuhan, huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Nandito lang po kami, handang tumulong sa abot ng aming makakaya. Ang importante ay ligtas kayo at patuloy tayong magtulungan para makabangon,” the veteran legislator said.
The landslide struck Sitio Riverside, Purok 2 in Barangay Guisad Surong at around 7:20 p.m. on August 9, following relentless rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon. The saturated soil gave way and hit three houses, directly affecting five families.
The incident claimed the lives of ten individuals. Search, rescue, and retrieval operations continued for more than a day under difficult weather and hazardous ground conditions.
Authorities eventually accounted for all 13 individuals caught in the landslide, with three surviving the incident. The final missing victim, an eight-year-old child, was recovered in the early hours of August 11.
The seasoned lawmaker’s team distributed additional aid intended for the families of the ten casualties to help address some of their immediate needs following the tragedy.
The senator emphasized that communities vulnerable to landslides and other natural hazards require sustained attention from the government, particularly in disaster preparedness, evacuation, emergency response, and long-term rehabilitation.
He has consistently advocated measures aimed at strengthening the country’s disaster resilience and ensuring that affected families receive timely assistance.
Among these is Republic Act No. 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which Go principally authored and co-sponsored. The law mandates the establishment of permanent evacuation centers that can provide safe and suitable temporary shelter for Filipinos displaced by disasters and emergencies.
He also filed Senate Bill No. 173, which seeks to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience that would strengthen coordination and improve the government’s capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from calamities.
Go stressed that disaster response must extend beyond immediate relief and include measures that help communities become safer and better prepared for future emergencies.
“Hindi po natin mapipigilan ang lahat ng sakuna, pero kaya nating paghandaan ang mga ito.”
“Hindi po natin mapipigilan ang lahat ng sakuna, pero kaya nating paghandaan ang mga ito. Dapat may ligtas na evacuation centers, sapat na kagamitan, mabilis na responde, at tuloy-tuloy na suporta para sa mga pamilyang naapektuhan,” he said.
Go reiterated that his office remains ready to assist Filipinos affected by calamities wherever they may be in the country.
“Patuloy po tayong magseserbisyo. Sa oras ng sakuna, walang dapat maiwan at walang dapat pabayaan,” he concluded.
