BG Party-list pushes for fast-tracked rehabilitation of Siargao, Cebu, other Odette-damaged areas
CEBU CITY — Speeding up recovery efforts and aligning priority projects for typhoon-affected areas, including Siargao, Bohol, Cebu, Negros provinces, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, and Palawan, will be one of the primary initiatives of the BG Partylist once it sits in Congress, First Nominee Alelee Andanar said on Tuesday.
Ensuring the welfare of indigent Bisayas in the islands of Visayas and Mindanao remains the key focus of the BG Party-list.
“Sa lawak ng pinsala ng bagyong Odette noong Disyembre, ramdam pa rin hanggang ngayon ang paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan. Maraming sektor ang sinira nito tulad edukasyon, pangkabuhayan, kabahayan, agrikultura, turismo, at pagkain,” she said.
The group was one of the first responders in Siargao Islands and Surigao City in December 2021, where they distributed basic necessities, organized soup kitchens for affected families, collated donations from its partners and helped locate individuals who were incommunicado with their families while communication lines were still awaiting in the said areas.
These efforts complemented the operations of the government spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), of which the government helped more than 1 million affected families in areas where Typhoon Odette took its path.
Andanar said much needs to be done to help the people get back into their lives and take back their lost sources of income.
“Bagama’t ginagawa ng Duterte administration ang mga tamang aksyon tulad ng shelter assistance, rehabilitation plan, cash-for-work programs, batid ko na aabutin ng ilang taon bago tuluyang makabangon ang mga tinamaan ng Bagyong Odette.” she said.
“Kaya isusulong natin sa national budget na mapabilang sa prayoridad ang paglalaan ng rehabilitation fund na nakatuon lamang sa mga Odette-damaged areas,” she added.
Meanwhile, BG Party-list second nominee Atty. Mico Clavano said that they will also push for additional fund allocation to help local entrepreneurs build their livelihood that will in return also create more jobs locally.
“Kapag may simpleng kabuhayan na, unti-unti maipapatayo nila ang kanilang mga nasirang bahay, may pangkain na rin tatlong beses sa isang araw, tulong sa pagpapaaral sa mga anak, at babalik na rin ang sigla ng ekonomiya sa kanilang mga pamayanan,” he said.
Clavano also believes that the passage of the Disaster Resilience Act filed by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go will help consolidate the efforts to manage disasters in the country.
Sen Go’s bill seeks to create the Department of Disaster Resilience that will concentrate on three key result areas, namely: disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.
“Kung hindi man maisabatas ang Disaster Resilience Act sa loob ng natitirang buwan ng Duterte administration, ipapanukala ko ulit ito at susuportahan ko si Senator Bong Go sa pagsusulong na maisabatas ang pagbuo ng bagong Department of Disaster Resilience na makatutulong para mas streamlined, organisado at proactive ang tugon ng gobyerno sa epekto ng kalamidad at anumang sakuna o disaster,” he said. (BG)
