PASAY CITY -- Amid various calamities and crisis situations having a negative effect on Filipinos’ lives, Go remains committed to push for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience. On October 25 to 29, the senator’s team distributed assistance to Typhoon Fabian victims in Naujan, Baco, and Socorro in Oriental Mindoro.

In his video message, Senator Go echoed President Rodrigo Duterte’s appeal during his last State of the Nation Address to fast-track the passage of Senate Bill No. 205, otherwise known as the Department of Disaster Resilience Act. As one of Go's priority bills, the proposed measure aims to establish a sole department that will ensure a proactive approach in addressing natural disasters.

DDR shall address three key result areas, namely disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better.

“Bago dumating ang bagyo, preposition of goods, coordination with LGUs, dapat dalhin ang ating mga kababayan sa mga safe na lugar. At pag-alis ng bagyo, restoration of normalcy agad,” Go said.

“Rehabilitation, para makabalik agad sa normal na pamumuhay ang ating mga kababayan na tinamaan ng bagyo,” he added.

Go’s outreach team utilized six venues to ensure the public’s safety, including the respective gymnasiums of Barangays Mulawin, Aurora, and Evangelista in Naujan; the respective covered courts of Brgys. Santa Rosa and Mangangan, and Cafe de Baco in Baco.

They divided the 7,170 typhoon victims into smaller groups while providing grocery packs, meals, masks, face shields and vitamins. In addition, Go’s team also gave away bicycles and new pairs of shoes to selected residents.

As he aspires to support more underprivileged students, Go gave some beneficiaries computer tablets to help their children in their education.

Meanwhile, a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development gave financial assistance to further help the typhoon victims recover and sustain their daily necessities.

"Maraming salamat po Senator Bong Go sa inyong tulong, magagamit po namin ito sa kakulangan ng aming pamilya ngayon. Huwag po kayong magalala dahil ang aming suporta ay nasa sa inyo," Divina Pricilla, 57, expressed in an interview.

The senator, who is also the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, urged those with health concerns to visit the Malasakit Center located at Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in Calapan City should they need medical assistance from the government.

Primarily authored and sponsored by Go, the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 aims to assist poor and indigent patients by providing for convenient access to medical assistance programs offered by DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

As the government acquires more vaccines to ensure more Filipinos are protected from the coronavirus, Go also reminded the public to remain vigilant and adhere to necessary precautionary measures against COVID-19.

“Mga kababayan, disiplina at kooperasyon ang kailangan. Kung hindi kailangan ay 'wag muna lumabas ng pamamahay dahil delikado pa. Ang importante ay ating makamtan ang population protection at herd immunity para hindi na kumalat ang sakit na COVID-19,” Go said.

Go has supported several projects in the province as part of his commitment as Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance to boost infrastructure development and provide more economic opportunities in the province.

Among these projects are the construction of farm-to-market roads in Bulalacao, Bansud, Gloria, Pola, and Socorro; construction of multi-purpose buildings in Bongabong, and Bulalacao; construction of potable water system in Socorro, and Pinamalayan; acquisition of multi-purpose vehicles in Pola; and acquisition of medical equipment for the local government of Bongabong.

The senator then thanked the local leaders of the said municipalities as they continue to work hand-in-hand in ensuring that their constituents are supported during these trying times. (OSBG)