PASAY CITY -- The Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go provided additional aid to the members of the Ata Manobo tribe during the inauguration of the Balai Pamanoykan, a government housing project for indigenous peoples in Talaingod, Davao del Norte on Wednesday, October 27.

In a video message, Go assured that the Duterte Administration will continue to protect and promote the interest and well-being of all IPs and vowed unwavering support throughout the challenges brought on by the ongoing pandemic.

“Tuluy-tuloy ang pagtulong namin ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa ating mga kababayan. Kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas, pupuntahan namin kayo upang pakinggan ang inyong hinaing, magbigay ng tulong sa inyong pang-araw-araw na suliranin at mag-iwan ng ngiti sa oras ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” said Go.

“Hinding-hindi kami titigil lalo na’t mahirap maghanap ng kabuhayan ngayon dahil sa krisis dulot ng COVID-19. Kung may maitutulong pa kami, magsabi lang kayo at gagawin namin ang lahat sa abot ng aming makakaya para magserbisyo sa inyo,” he reassured.

Go’s team provided meals, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 100 residents at an open venue in Sitio Cuyas, Barangay Santo Niño. They also gave selected residents new pairs of shoes, a bicycle and a computer tablet.

As part of a holistic effort to alleviate the impacts of COVID-19, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development also provided financial assistance while the Department of Agriculture handed out supplies of assorted vegetable seeds.

The Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also assessed potential beneficiaries for their respective assistance programs.

“Maraming salamat kay Pangulong Duterte para sa kanyang mga tulong at kay Senator Bong Go para sa aking bagong sapatos. Matagal ng gusto ng anak ko ng ganitong sapatos pero hindi kami makabili dahil kulang ang aming pera,” said Lily Dapol, a resident of Barangay Santo Niño.

“Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa DSWD dahil nakarating sila at mayroon ibinigay na tulong sa amin sa aming lugar. Hindi namin makukuha ang ganitong biyaya kahit magsumikap kami,” she continued.

To further ensure their health and well-being, the senator offered to help any resident in need of medical assistance. He advised them to seek the services of the Malasakit Center located at the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Tagum City.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which streamlines the provision of medical assistance by bringing together the relevant government agencies, namely the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, under one roof.

Its primary aim is to help reduce a patient's hospital bill to the lowest possible amount by covering patient services and expenses, such as surgeries, laboratory tests and medicines, through the existing medical assistance programs.

In the end, the senator expressed gratitude to various officials for their dedication and continuing support to the indigenous communities. Among these were 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez; Governor Edwin Jubahib; Mayor Jonnie Libayao; Vice Mayor Francisco Gipulla, Jr.; Councilors Rolando Piquero, Sylveth Gaila, Gerardo Colobong, Salvador Nepa and Jimboy Acao; Indigenous People Mandatory Representative Bae Libayao; and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Leynard Acao.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, he has supported various infrastructure development initiatives that aim to stimulate the development of Davao del Norte. He supported the rechanneling of a river, construction of a river wall in and concreting of the Sitio Bunsalag to Sitio Misulok-Sulok road in Brgy. Santo Niño in Talaingod.

Other initiatives he supported are the concreting of roads in Asuncion, Island Garden City of Samal, Panabo City and Tagum City; construction or improvement of the drainage systems and canals in Braulio E. Dujali; construction of a concrete revetment along the Tagum - Libuganon River Basin and earth dike along the Sadpudon Creek in Carmen; construction of a multi-purpose building in Kapalong, New Corella, and Samal; and renovation of the public terminal, public parks, and plaza in New Corella.

Similar efforts were held during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Balai Ni Amu Wuy Ki housing project in Brgy. Dagohoy, Talaingod on May 25 and Balai Maganahay housing project in Mati City, Davao Oriental on May 21.

More recently, Go visited Tagum City on October 14 where he personally led the distribution of assistance to 600 residents and witnessed the ceremonial turnover of financial support from the government to the DRMC. All distribution activities were conducted in small batches to ensure compliance health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)