PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s staff embarked on a three-day relief effort to deliver food and non-food aid to thousands of families in Loreto town, Dinagat Islands whose lives and livelihoods have been adversely affected due to COVID-19.

“Mga kababayan, napakahirap ng panahon natin ngayon. Ganito ang sitwasyon hindi lang sa Pilipinas kung hindi sa buong mundo. Dahil sa pandemya, marami ang nagsarang negosyo at nawalan ng trabaho, kasama na dito ang mahigit kumulang na 500,000 na overseas Filipinos workers,” Go said in a video message.

“Kaya sa panahon ngayon, dapat magkaisa at magbayanihan tayo. Magmalasakit tayo sa ating kapwa Pilipino upang malampasan natin ang krisis na ito,” he appealed.

Go's staff distributed meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to batches of beneficiaries, composed of 1,077 households in total, at the Barangays San Juan and Liberty covered courts from July 7 to 9.

They provided select beneficiaries with bicycles, an alternative and eco-friendly mode of transportation, while some were provided new pairs of shoes. Others received computer tablets to help their children continue their educational activities at home.

In addition, teams from various national agencies also provided other forms of aid in continuation of ongoing government efforts to alleviate the impacts of the pandemic on local communities.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development handed out financial assistance while the Department of Agriculture gave away vegetable seedlings in separate distributions. The Department of Health also turned over hygiene kits and medicines to the local government of Loreto for distribution to their constituents.

Furthermore, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority offered scholarships to qualified beneficiaries. The Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry, in turn, conducted assessments for their respective assistance programs.

“Nagpapasalamat ako kay President (Rodrigo) Duterte at kay Senator Bong Go. Maraming salamat sa kanilang dalawa para sa tulong ng kanilang ibinigay sa mga mahihirap dito sa Loreto,” said Danilo Eulatriz, one of the beneficiaries.

The Senator, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, also pledged to help any beneficiary who may require medical treatment. He informed them that they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the Malasakit Center at the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City or any of the other 127 found throughout the country.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs of the DOH, DSWD, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The centers have benefited more than two million patients since 2018.

Go went on to extend his gratitude to the public officials for their efforts to protect and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the local communities as he concluded his remarks. Among those he specifically thanked were Representative Alan Ecleo, Governor Arlene Bag-ao, Vice Governor Nilo Demerey, Jr., Board Member Errol Dela Cruz, Mayor Doandre Ladaga and Vice Mayor Richard Tan.

Go also acknowledged Councilors Joshua Luib, Absalon Colandog, Edilberto Abayan, Alfonso Gajol, Neil Limpioso, Gordiaco Cabas, Jr., and Eileen Daguinod; Association of Barangay Councils President Roger Ramos; and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Cecile Faith Model.

The Senator vowed to continue supporting the province’s vulnerable residents in the midst of the global pandemic. He previously supported the funding for the construction of new roads from Jct. Dapanas to Roma, a seawall at Brgy. Catadman in Basilisa, and a multi-purpose building in Tubajon in an effort to improve public service delivery.

His team also extended aid to 91 typhoon victims in Loreto last May 27. All activities were carried out in strict compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)