PASAY CITY -- As Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues to push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 205, otherwise known as the Disaster Resilience Act of 2019, he and his team remain determined to help affected communities recover quickly from calamities.

Just recently, Go’s team conducted two-day relief efforts for 1,061 families from July 25 to 26 in Arteche, Eastern Samar. Held at San Roque Gym, Go’s personnel grouped the beneficiaries into smaller batches while they strictly adhered to safety and health protocols recommended by the government.

In his video message, Go highlighted the significance of creating a focused department that would address natural calamities, especially that the country’s geographical location is extremely prone to weather disturbances.

Under the proposed measure, the Department of Disaster Resilience will unify and streamline all responsibilities related to disaster preparedness and response, functions that are presently scattered across various departments and offices.

“Bago pa dumating ang bagyo, mayroon na hong makikipag-coordinate sa LGUs, preposition of goods at ilikas po ang mga kababayan natin sa ligtas na lugar,” said Go.

“At pag-alis ng bagyo, restoration of normalcy kaagad, maibalik kaagad sa normal ang pamumuhay ng mga kababayan natin. ‘Yan po ang layunin ng Department of Disaster Resilience,” Go added, emphasizing that the creation of the DDR remains one of the priority legislative measures of the administration as mentioned in the President’s recent State of the Nation Address.

Meanwhile, Go also mentioned in his remarks that there are reported cases of the new Delta variant of COVID-19. Given that the said variant is more contagious, Go urged the public to strictly follow health preventive measures and take part in the vaccination program to further boost their immune system against the virus.

The Senator, then, called the attention of local government units to ensure that doses are administered immediately to eligible residents once delivered to their communities.

If needed, Go said officials should be able to vaccinate senior citizens in their respective homes as they are considered the most vulnerable to the virus.

“Inuuna po namin ni Pangulong Duterte ang kalusugan at buhay po ng bawat Pilipino. Kailangan po namin ang disiplina at kooperasyon ng bawat isa.” said Go.

“Mga kababayan ko, ang target po natin ngayong taon ay population protection at sa susunod naman po ang herd immunity, ‘yung hindi na po kakalat ang sakit,” he added.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also encouraged the beneficiaries to visit the Malasakit Center in Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital in Borongan City if they may need medical assistance.

Signed into law in 2019 by President Rodrigo Duterte, the Malasakit Centers Act mandates all Department of Health-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital to establish their own Malasakit Centers to ensure indigent patients can conveniently access medical programs offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Go’s staff proceeded in handing out essentials to typhoon victims, such as grocery packs, meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins. Others, then, received new pairs of shoes and bicycles.

As an advocate for quality education, Go also sent computer tablets to some beneficiaries so that their children would be able to conveniently access educational materials for their classes.

“Sa mga kabataan, mag-aral po kayo nang mabuti, kayo po ang kinabukasan ng bayang ito. Bagama’t distance learning tayo, ang importante po ay makapagtapos kayo ng pag-aaral,” said Go.

Several government agencies were also in attendance and extended additional support as representatives from DSWD granted the beneficiaries with financial assistance. More so, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority assessed individuals who can avail of their respective livelihood and scholarship programs.

The Senator, as Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, also extended his support in the construction of farm-to-market roads in Brgy. Tangbo-Beri, and the acquisition of an ambulance unit for Arteche town.

He also helped in allotting sufficient funding for infrastructure development in the province such as for the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Jipapad, Maydolong, and Oras; acquisition of ambulance units in Maslog, Quinapondan, and Taft; drainage improvement in Can-Avid, and Taft; road rehabilitation in Balangkayan, Dolores, General Macarthur, Giporlos, Jipapad, Lawaan, Marabut, Mercedes, Quinapondan, San Julian, Sulat, and Taft.

Ending his message, he thanked Representative Maria Fe Abunda, Governor Ben Evardone, Vice Governor Marica Sison, Mayor Roland Boie Evardone, Vice Mayor Rolando Evardone, and other local government officials for serving their constituents towards recovery amid various crisis situations. (OSBG)