Senator Christopher “Bong” Go sounded the alarm over the dire conditions of families in Pandan Mahawak, Medellin, northern Cebu, after photos showed earthquake survivors forced to use plastic bags as makeshift protection from the rain.
The photos, taken on October 1 during a downpour, captured residents sleeping outdoors with no tents or evacuation shelters days after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the province. Many of them have yet to return to their damaged homes.
“It hurts the heart to see that our own fellow countrymen are sleeping under plastic because they have no shelter. This should not be the condition of a Filipino family who is a victim of a disaster,” Go said.
He urged both local and national agencies to send more relief aid—particularly tents, food, water, and medical assistance—to affected areas.
The quake, which hit shortly before 10 p.m. on September 30, was centered about 17 kilometers northeast of Bogo City. It caused widespread destruction to homes, bridges, and heritage sites across northern Cebu. More than 70 people were reported dead, while hundreds were injured. Hospitals in the worst-hit towns have been overwhelmed, with some patients treated outside for fear of aftershocks.
As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Go emphasized the long-standing need for permanent and disaster-resilient evacuation facilities. He co-authored Republic Act No. 12076, or the Safe Filipino Centers Act, which mandates the construction of durable evacuation centers across the country.
“We cannot keep relying on temporary tents again and again. There must be strong and proper evacuation centers that are ready at all times,” he said.
To strengthen disaster response, Go also pushed for the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience through Senate Bill No. 173, aiming to streamline emergency operations under one agency.
He also cited Senate Bill No. 415, which seeks to provide rental housing subsidies for families displaced by calamities. “A family cannot lose their home and then just be abandoned. There must be a bridging program so they have a place to stay while they are rebuilding,” Go explained.
The senator likewise noted the importance of hazard pay for emergency responders through Senate Bill No. 669 and the modernization of the Building Code via Senate Bill No. 666 to ensure stronger construction standards.
“Filipinos are strong, but we should not always depend on being strong. The duty of the government is to provide concrete solutions to problems. We must ensure that in the next disaster, we will no longer see such a heartbreaking situation,” Go declared.
