BONG REVILLA REACHES OUT TO TYPHOON VICTIMS

In the wake of the onslaught of typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel", Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. relaunches his Kaagapay sa Araw ng Pangangailangan (KAP) relief operations to help flood-stricken families in different parts of the country.

Last Friday (September 30), the senator personally distributed packs of rice and grocery items to typhoon-affected residents at the Delpan Sports Complex in Manila, Barangay Tangos National High School and Barangay Daang Hari in Navotas City and Barangay Dampalit Barangay Hall in Malabon City. The following day, he relentlessly conducted relief operations in the evacuation centers and relief distribution centers in the municipalities of Paombong, Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan Province.

Yesterday (Monday, October 3), the KAP relief operations stretch to the typhoon-devastated Nueva Ecija Province where Bong Revilla distributed relief goods to the flood-affected families of the cities of Gapan and Cabanatuan, and the municipalities of San Isidro, Cabiao, San Leonardo, Sta. Rosa, Jaen and San Antonio.

According to Bong Revilla, while his KAP relief operations may only slightly ease the needs and pain of the calamity victims, it is still a way of augmenting the relief efforts being initiated by the government, non-government organizations, private agencies and other individuals. "Ang kasabihan nga, anumang mabigat ay gumagaan basta marami ang pumapasan. Sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, tulong-tulong tayo. Anuman ang makakayanan natin. Kapag pinagsama, napakalaking kontribusyon na," he pointed out.

During the relief operations in Malabon, the lawmaker vowed to investigate the long delay in the completion of the Camanava flood control project. Portions of Pinagkabalian River dike, which was part of the said project, gave way last week during the height of typhoon "Pedring". This caused the massive flooding in Barangay Dampalit and nearby communities. "Iimbestigahan natin kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin matapos-tapos iyang megadike na iyan. Dapat fully operational na iyan para maharang na ang matinding pagbaha dito sa Malabon," said Bong Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works.

The senator earlier urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to make sure that new, reconstructed and repaired infrastructures in the Philippines are built with high standard materials that can withstand the impact of Climate Change. He said the construction of Climate Change-proof infrastructures is money well spent on the part of the government because it has long- term benefits. "We are now experiencing the effects of Climate Change. We must include in our mitigation plan the construction of Climate Change- proof infrastructures. This will not only reduce damage of properties but also the number of casualties," he further explained.

The KAP relief efforts program of Bong Revilla has already served many calamity-stricken families all over the country. "Noon pa man ginagawa na natin ito sa iba't ibang lugar sa bansa. Sa panahon ng kalamidad, higit na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan ang agarang tulong," Bong Revilla added.