IPINANUKALA ni Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin na gawing matibay laban sa typhoons, tsunami, storm surge, floods, earthquake, at liquefaction ang mga bahay at gusali sa bansa para maiwasan ang mga susunod pang malawakang pagkawasak sa probinsiya ng Catanduanes.

Ayon kay Garbin, nararapat lamang na huwag nang hayaan ang mahihinang klase ng konstruksyon sa bahay at gusali kaya kapag tumatama ang malalakas na bagyo ay agad nagliliparan ang mga yero at dingding.

Gayunman, hindi aniya ito kasalanan ng mamamayan. Marami kasing residente ang sariling sikap sa pagtatayo ng bahay dala ng kakapusan sa pera.
Kaya kailangan silang tulungan kung paano makapagtatayo ng disaster-resilient na tahanan.

“The charity foundations working with engineers and architects should come together, go to Catanduanes and teach every family in every barangay there how to build disaster-resilient homes,” mungkahi pa ni Garbin.

Bagamat dapat national government ang manguna, magiging mabagal at matatagalan aniya ito maliban na lamang kung maulit ang mabilisang pagpasa ng batas tulad ng nangyari sa Bayanihan 1.
“I urge the provincial board of Catanduanes and the governor of Catanduanes to enact a provincial Building and Structural Code with standards much higher than the minimums set in the national laws. Perhaps the Building and Structural Code of Catanduanes can serve as the model or benchmark for other local government units and a reference point for bills to be filed in Congress,” ayon sa mambabatas.

“We can learn lessons from Batanes and from expert advice already contained in many disaster-resilience design handbooks and manuals. Expert advice to the Catanduanes provincial government can come from the private sector, local and foreign NGOs, institutions, professional associations, and individual experts,” dagdag pa ni Garbin. (CESAR BARQUILLA)