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Anti-Flood Masterplan & Dept Of Disaster Resilience Bill Are Urgent Priorities - Bong Go
Photo credit: Senate PH
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go urged the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) to come up with an anti-flood masterplan for flood-prone areas in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Enteng.

“Ano ba ang masterplan nila (referring to DPWH)? Kung multiyear plan po ito dapat po’y mayroon silang masterplan at dapat po’y unahin nila… Unahin nila po ‘yung maraming tao. Huwag n’yo naming unahin ang walang tao. Dapat po sa highly populated areas, diyan po ilagay ang mga flood control projects,” Go said.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in its Situational Report No. 03, dated 03 September 2024, reported that there were 157 flooded areas and four landslides brought by Enteng’s continuous rains.

Senator Go said that DPWH must have a clear prioritization strategy, identifying where flood control projects will be placed, to address the issue of flooding as part of the agency’s review of its strategies on flood control.

Senator Go added that flood-prone areas, like Bulacan and Pampanga, should be given priorities over areas with little to no population.

He likewise called on the DPWH to efficiently utilize its budget given that the government has allocated billion of pesos for flood control annually.

“Ako bilang miyembro po ng Committee on Public Works, importante po sa akin na walang masayang na pera po ng gobyerno, ni piso po dapat walang masayang,” Go said adding that multi-billion budget for flood control demands transparency.

Senator Go also mentioned the inconvenience, the destruction of properties and livelihood, and the loss of lives caused by flooding.

“Malaking abala ang pagbaha para sa ating mga kababayan at malaki rin ang pinsalang dulot nito sa ari-arian at kabuhayan nila. Higit sa lahat, inilalagay nito sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga tao, kaya naman nararapat lamang na masolusyunan ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” Go underscored.

As the country remains vulnerable to the effects of climate change, the lawmaker from Davao City reiterates the urgent need for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 188, also known as the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) Bill.

This legislative measure aims to establish a specialized agency committed to developing communities that are adaptable, disaster-resilient and secure.

“There should be a Cabinet secretary who will focus on the areas hit by a calamity. He or she will coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the prepositioning of goods and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for evacuation,” Go concluded.

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