PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continues to push for the enactment of Senate Bill No. 205, also known as the Department of Disaster Resilience Act, which seeks to create a highly specialized agency that will be tasked with ensuring adaptive, disaster-resilient and safe communities.

In his video message during the relief efforts in Rodriguez, Rizal on Saturday, August 28, Senator Go appealed to his fellow lawmakers to support the said measure as this aims to unify and streamline all responsibilities related to disaster preparedness and response.

“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. 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 explained.

“Madalas pong tamaan ng bagyo, lindol at iba pang kalamidad ang ating bansa. Kailangan na talaga nating i-scale up ang preparedness to resiliency against disasters,” he added.

Conducted at Dela Costa Homes V Covered Court, Go’s team split the 2,058 typhoon victims into smaller groups and even implemented necessary safety and health protocols to safeguard the public against the coronavirus threat.

The typhoon victims received meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins from Senator Go's team. Some recipients brought home new pairs of shoes and bicycles while others got computer tablets to help their children conveniently access educational materials they need for their classes.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program to further help the beneficiaries recover from the loss caused by Typhoon Ulysses.

Lastly, the Department of Trade and Industry assessed individuals who will be qualified for their Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa program.

“Salamat po sa inyong tulong Senator Bong Go, malaking tulong po ito, lalo na ako po ay may sampung anak. Sana po ay marami pa po kayong matulungan na katulad namin na nangangailangan,” Cyril Narvaez, 33, shared in an interview.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Senator Go appealed to the public to look after their well-being and health as the threat of the coronavirus remains. He then urged locals to get inoculated against COVID-19 as this would contribute to the country’s target of attaining population protection and herd immunity.

“Mga kababayan ko, tuluy-tuloy po ang vaccine rollout natin. Pakiusap lang ho namin ni Pangulong Duterte, ‘pag nasa priority list na ho kayo, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Libre naman po ito, mga kababayan ko, para po ito sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino,” Go expressed.

The Senator further offered medical assistance to those with health concerns as he encouraged them to visit Casimiro A. Ynares Sr. Memorial Hospital where there is a Malasakit Center that will conveniently assist them with their medical expenses.

The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 is one of the many measures that Go filed to help particularly poor and indigent Filipinos access medical assistance programs by the government.

Other Malasakit Centers in Rizal are located at Antipolo City Hospital System Annex IV in Antipolo City, Margarito A. Duavit Memorial Hospital in Binangonan, and Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital in Cainta.

Apart from the assistance, Senator Go, being the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several projects in Rodriguez to ensure its economic growth amid the pandemic. Including the construction of Batangas Medical Center Annex; construction of roads and drainage improvement in Brgys. Macabud, and San Isidro; and the rehabilitation of flood control structures in Brgy. Balite.

Other initiatives he supported in Rizal are the improvement of the road and drainage system in Teresa; the construction of the Justice Building in Antipolo City; the construction of a multipurpose building and roads in Baras; and the construction of the Taytay Sports Complex, among others.

Go then expressed his gratitude towards Governor Rebecca “Nini” Ynares, Vice Governor Reynaldo San Juan Jr., Mayor Tom Hernandez, and other local officials for making certain that their constituents get necessary government support especially at times of crisis situations.

“Kailangan nating magtulungan, kailangan po nating magbayanihan, kailangan po natin magmalasakit sa ating kapwa Pilipino. Kung magagawa po natin ‘yan, malalampasan po natin itong pandemyang ito bilang nagkakaisang mamamayang Pilipino,” he ended.

In 2019, Go was declared an adopted son of the CALABARZON region in a manifesto issued by the governors of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon. They cited his many years of service under President Duterte and “heart for his country” through the various projects he initiated which have benefited millions of Filipinos. (OSBG)