by: Nino Aclan

SENATORS Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano have taken action to aid typhoon-affected residents of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces through their Emergency Response Department (ERD) initiative.

The initiative comes as a response to the devastation caused by typhoon Carina which brought heavy rains and widespread flooding to various parts of Luzon last week, displacing thousands of families and leaving many communities in dire need of assistance.

Under the sibling senators’ ERD initiative, 2,250 grocery packs were distributed to affected families in Quezon City, Marikina City, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal. These grocery packs contained essential items to help families meet their daily needs as they continue the process of recovery.

Meals were also provided to hundreds of residents in Malabon City, Marikina City, Caloocan City, and Quezon City to ensure that affected individuals had access to essential sustenance during the aftermath of the typhoon.

These relief efforts were made possible with the support of Barangay Captain Jojo Abad of Batasan Hills, Quezon City; Barangay Captain Manuel Co of Commonwealth, Quezon City; Marikina City Councilor Carl Africa and former Barangay Captain Ziffred Ancheta; Barangay Captain Jaymon Punzalan of Banga 2nd, Plaridel, Bulacan;  Barangay Captain Sofia Dela Rosa of Municipality of Tanay, Rizal; and Mayor Maryanne Marcos of Municipality of Paombong, Bulacan.

The Cayetano siblings are set to extend the same assistance to residents of Valenzuela City, Quezon City, City of Manila, Rizal, and Cavite in the coming days to cater to more communities in need during this challenging time.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano had previously underscored the need for government action to enhance disaster resilience, citing the Philippines’ high vulnerability to natural calamities and climate change impacts.

In the Senate, he is pushing for the institutionalization of an Emergency Response Department (ERD) through Senate Bill No. 66, also known as the ERD Act, as a decisive action to bolster the nation’s resilience against the growing threat of extreme weather events due to climate change.

“It is high time that the government provides for a focused, single-minded, specialized department to upgrade the government’s capacity to respond to disasters in an effective and speedy manner,” he said.

The Cayetanos’ swift response to the plight of the Filipinos demonstrates their commitment to public service and their dedication to improving the country’s disaster response capabilities.