Senate President Win Gatchalian issued an urgent appeal on Thursday for intensified disaster preparedness ahead of the expected impact of Typhoon “Inday” (international name: Bavi).
He pressed local government units to immediately activate their emergency protocols to shield at-risk communities from the looming storm.
Gatchalian stressed that swift, preemptive measures are vital, particularly the forward deployment of relief supplies and the preparation of evacuation centers to house displaced residents if conditions deteriorate.
“Mahalagang paigtingin natin ang ating paghahanda at tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng bawat pamilya. Dapat maging maagap ang ating pagkilos upang maiwasan ang mas malaking pinsala,” Gatchalian stated in an official release.
Looking beyond the immediate threat, the Senate leader pushed for the full implementation of the Ligtas Pinoy Act, emphasizing that the country must transition from a reactive approach to long-term disaster resilience.
“Sa tuwing may sakuna paulit-ulit na suliranin ng mga apektadong pamilya ang paghahanap ng ligtas na matutuluyan dahil nasisira ang kanilang mga tahanan,” he noted.
He also pointed out that ₱3.745 billion has been designated under the 2026 national budget to fund the building of dedicated evacuation structures.
As a primary sponsor of the law, Gatchalian noted that the measure legally requires all cities and municipalities to build permanent, resilient shelters capable of withstanding destructive wind speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour.