PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s staff on Thursday, July 15, provided assistance to the families who are temporarily staying in evacuation centers after a fire tore through a residential area in Barangay Tabon in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur in the early hours of June 22.

Go’s staff distributed meals, financial assistance, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 122 families at the Bislig City Cultural and Sports Center. To ensure everyone’s health and safety, the activity was carried out in batches and in strict compliance with other necessary protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Furthermore, select beneficiaries were given new pairs of shoes to replace those they lost while some were equipped with bicycles for their commuting needs. Others were provided computer tablets which their children can use for their blended learning activities.

As part of a holistic set of intervention measures from the national government for communities in crisis, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided separate financial assistance and food packs while the Department of Agriculture handed out vegetable seedlings in another distribution.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority offered scholarship grants to qualified beneficiaries. The Department of Trade and Industry and the National Housing Authority, on the other hand, committed to extend further aid based on their existing programs upon completing their assessments.

“Sir Bong Go, maraming salamat para sa tulong na ibinigay ng staff niyo sa mga naapektuhan na komunidad dito sa Bislig City. Salamat din para sa tulong at bagong sapatos! Hinding-hindi namin makakalimutan ang ginawa niyo po para sa amin,” said Romil Agman, a beneficiary.

In a video message, the Senator reassured local officials that the Duterte Administration is committed to serving the needs of their affected constituents. He personally pledged to lend a helping hand and encouraged them to reach out to his office should they require further assistance to rebuild the communities.

“Sa mga kababayan ko sa Bislig (City), alam kong mahirap ang panahon dahil nandito tayo ngayon sa pandemya at nasunugan pa kayo. Huwag kayo mag-alala dahil magtulungan tayo. Ang gamit mabibili 'yan at ang pera kikitain natin. Pero ang perang kikitain natin ay hindi mabibili ang buhay. Malalampasan din natin ang krisis na ito basta magtulungan lang tayo,” said Go.

He offered further assistance to any poor or indigent patient, and advised them to visit the Malasakit Centers located at the Butuan Medical Center in Butuan City and the Lianga District Hospital in Lianga town, which opened last July 10, where they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which houses representatives of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. It aims to reduce a hospital bill to the lowest amount possible by covering various patient services and expenses.

Before ending his message, the Senator renewed his commitment to push for any measure that would help victims of disasters recover and get back on their feet in the challenging months ahead. He filed Senate Bill No. 1227, also known as the Rental Subsidy Program Act, in 2019 which provides low-income families displaced by disasters with subsidies so they can relocate and have better access to the formal housing market.

“Gagawin ko ang parte ko sa Senado upang isulong ang lahat ng mga nais nating makamit sa pamamagitan ng pagpasa ng mga makabuluhan at epektibong batas,” promised Go.

“Tutulungan ng batas na ito na mabigyan ang mga mahihirap at informal settler-families natin ng disenteng buhay. Hangad ko ang suporta ng mga mambabatas dahil ang lahat ng ‘to ay para sa kabutihan ng Pilipino,” he continued.

The Senator went on to recognize and thank local officials for the support and assistance they extended to those impacted by the fire. Among those present during the activity were Governor Alexander Pimentel; Vice Governor Librado Navarro; Mayor Florencio Garay; Vice Mayor Jonas Cacayan; and Councilors Alfredo Carmelo, Aaron Castillo, Romeo Cacayan, Edmund Estrella, Edgar Corvera, David Salazar, Victor Alvar Jr., Geoffrey Cagakit and Mario Alvizo.

To boost the economic opportunities and improve the delivery of public services in Surigao del Sur, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, earlier supported the funding for the construction of an evacuation center in Brgy. Mangagoy, Bislig City; concreting or construction of roads in Barobo, Cagwait, Carmen, Madrid, Marihatag, San Agustin, Tago and Tandag City; construction of an indigenous people’s evacuation center and multi-purpose center in Hinapoyan; construction of a public market in Lanuza; and acquisition of ambulances for Lianga, Lanuza and Cortes, among others.

His team also recently conducted a two-day relief effort on July 1 and 2, during which they delivered much needed aid to the residents of Barobo, Hinatuan, Lianga and Tagbina who are still reeling from the devastation caused by Typhoon Vicky. (OSBG)