PASAY CITY -- As Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues to push for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 205, also known as the Department of Disaster Resilience Act of 2019, Go sent his team to conduct a series of outreach efforts to more than a thousand flash flood victims in Barangay Lasang, Davao City from July 20 to 21.

Go, in his video message, highlighted that the creation of the DDR shall concentrate on three significant areas, such as disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.

Go also urged his fellow lawmakers to support the passage of the said measure as he emphasized that the establishment of the DDR will ensure a more proactive approach in addressing natural disasters.

Meanwhile, the Senator reminded the beneficiaries to stay disciplined and compliant with health preventive measures against COVID-19. He further encouraged them to take part in the vaccination program.

“Naa lang koy hangyo sa inyo, salig mo sa bakuna. Ang bakuna ang susi o solusyon para hinay-hinay na ta makabalik sa atong kinabuhi gaya sa una. Hangyo lang ko sa inyo, salig mo sa bakuna,” expressed Go.

(“Mayroon lang akong pakiusap sa inyo, magtiwala kayo sa bakuna. Ang bakuna ang susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating pamumuhay katulad noong una. Pakiusap ko lang sa inyo, magtiwala kayo sa bakuna.”)

“Ang bakuna ang solusyon natin o susi para makamtan natin ang population protection… itong herd immunity para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” he added.

Go’s team strictly enforced safety and health protocols and grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches to safeguard the 1,191 families, composed of 5,024 individuals, in Barangay Lasang.

Go’s staff carried out the distribution activities at Gabriel Taborin Gym in Brgy. Lasang on July 20, and Alfredo Aledia Gym on July 21, and handed out essentials, such as grocery packs, masks, face shields, and vitamins to the flood victims.

Apart from the assistance provided by Go, representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development granted each beneficiary with financial assistance through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Rowena Arcuba, in an interview, shared how the calamity challenged her family, but further expressed that she was relieved that there was no one harmed during the incident, saying, “Masaya ako dahil hindi kami pinabayaan at tinulungan kami ni Senator Bong Go, lalo na sa financial. Nagpapasalamat ako na tinulungan niya kami."

As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go reached out to beneficiaries with health concerns and advised them that they can visit the nearby Malasakit Center at Southern Philippines Medical Center located in the city.

The center is a one-stop shop where low-income patients may take advantage of the medical programs offered by DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. To date, there are 129 Malasakit Centers nationwide.

“Sa mga kapatid ko, sa mga kapitbahay ko, mag-ingat kayo parati at magdasal tayo. Nandito lang kami ni Presidente Duterte at handang magserbisyo sa inyong lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya, puntahan niyo lang kami at handa kaming magserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aming makakaya,” said Go.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senator supported various infrastructure initiatives in Davao City. Among these are the improvement of the Leon Garcia Sr. barangay hall; and the construction or rehabilitation of various multi-purpose buildings and local roads in different barangays around the city as well as the Philippine Red Cross Regional Office at the SPMC, Paquibato District Hall, Hope Day Care Center, and many more.

Other infrastructure support also include the construction of water systems in Brgy. Acacia, Brgy. Fatima, Brgy. Mabuhay, and Brgy. San Isidro; construction or widening of a drainage canal at Brgy. Bunawan Proper and Brgy. Mintal; construction or rehabilitation of a drainage system in Tupaz Outfall, Brgy. Centro, Brgy. Mudiang and Brgy. Ubaldel; construction of a flood control structure in Brgy. 9-A and for the Datu Loho Creek, among others.

Furthermore, Go also helped in the funding of acquiring ambulance units for Southern Philippines Medical Center, Barangays Mintal, Buhangin, and Gatungan; and the construction of 300-bed capacity Infectious Diseases Building in Southern Philippines Medical Center.

Go also commended various local officials for their continuing efforts to assist the affected families and their untiring service to the city. Among those that Go praised were Mayor Sara Duterte, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Deputy Speaker and 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, and Lasang Brgy. Captain Allan Simo-ag, among others.

“Mayroon po akong utang na loob sa pamilya Duterte, kay Pangulong Duterte, Mayor Inday, Vice Mayor Baste at Congressman Pulong na walang hinto sa pagseserbisyo sa inyo. Wala ako ngayon kung hindi sa mahal na Pangulo, siya ang aking inspirasyon sa pagseserbisyo. Kaya pakiusap, sana ay suportahan ninyo ang pamilya Duterte sa kung anuman ang kanilang magiging desisyon pagdating ng panahon,” said Go earlier. (OSBG)