PASAY CITY -- As part of his ongoing support for Typhoon Ulysses victims in the towns of Sto. Tomas and Delfin Albano, Isabela, on Saturday, August 7, hundreds of beneficiaries received assistance from the Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
The distribution activity was conducted at Balay Silangan Gymnasium, Municipal Complex in Sto. Tomas and Brgy. San Antonio Elementary School in Delfin Albano where the team of Go distributed meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins to a total of 380 beneficiaries while fully adhering to the government’s recommended safety and health protocols.
Beneficiaries also received new pairs of shoes and bicycles. Others were given computer tablets to assist their children in their education.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, on the other hand, gave additional livelihood assistance through its Sustainable Livelihood Program.
“Salamat po sa DSWD sa programang SLP-LAG. Bibigyan ho kayo ng puhunan, tuturuan po kayong magnegosyo. Palaguin n’yo po ang inyong negosyo, gamitin n’yo po sa tama, dalahin n’yo po sa inyong pamilya ang inyong kita,” Go said in his video message.
“Alam ko pong mahirap ang panahon ngayon, nasa gitna pa po tayo ng krisis. Mayroon din pong mga tinamaan ng bagyo noong mga nakaraang buwan. Magtulungan lang po tayo, mga kababayan ko,” Go added.
The Senator then emphasized the necessity of Senate Bill No. 1228 which seeks to create evacuation centers across the country as part of his efforts to aid those affected by the disasters.
The proposed Mandatory Evacuation Center Act aims to establish safe, permanent, and dedicated evacuation centers in every city, province, and municipality in the country. It should also be fully equipped to provide immediate aid to calamity and disaster victims, including fire victims.
Apart from SB No. 1228, Go earlier filed Senate Bill No. 205 that will mandate the creation of a department focused on handling disaster risk reduction. The Department of Disaster Resilience Act seeks to create a highly specialized agency with a clear unity of command that will be tasked with ensuring adaptive, disaster-resilient and safe communities.
“Itong Department of Disaster Resilience kung saan po mayro’ng cabinet secretary-level na mag-aasikaso po bago pa dumating ‘yung bagyo. Coordination, preposition of goods, pagkain, at ‘pag nandidiyan na ‘yung bagyo, ililikas po sa safe na lugar ang mga kababayan natin,” Go explained.
Go further promised to assist individuals in need of medical treatments and services, describing how he continues to advocate for policies that would help low-income and remote communities gain access to high-quality healthcare.
He reminded residents that they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the Malasakit Center at the Gov. Faustino N. Dy Sr. Memorial Hospital in the said city and Southern Isabela Medical Center in Santiago City.
“Nasa loob ng ospital ang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, gaya ng DSWD, PhilHealth, (PCSO) at Department of Health, na tutulong sa inyo para wala na kayong babayaran sa inyong pagpapa-ospital. Para ‘yan sa mga poor and indigent patients,” explained Go.
The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 was authored and sponsored by Go. President Rodrigo Duterte signed it into law in December 2019.
“Kay Senator Bong Go, maraming, maraming salamat po at napansin n’yo po kami at nakarating dito ang tulong ninyo,” Jefferson Marquez said, one of the beneficiaries.
“Sana po pagpalain kayo ng Panginoon, tulungan kayo na magpatuloy sa programa po ninyo,” he added.
