PASAY CITY -- In support of the government’s pursuit of sustainable peace and inclusive development, the Office of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go participated in an activity in Hinabangan, Samar for the beneficiaries of the Retooled Community Support Program of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The RCSP is part of the whole-of-government approach to ending the insurgency problem in the country by improving the provision of government services and facilities, especially in far-flung areas.

“Kung may pwede po akong maitulong sa inyo, huwag kayong mahiyang lumapit sa akin. Lapitan ninyo lang ang opisina ko. Tawagin ninyo akong Kuya Bong Go. Huwag ninyo akong tawaging senador at, anytime, ay tutulungan namin kayo ni Presidente (Rodrigo) Duterte sa abot ng aming makakaya,” Go reassured in a video message.

His outreach team handed out meals, vitamins and masks to a total of 589 RCSP beneficiaries at the Barangay Canano covered court on Wednesday, October 10. They gave selected beneficiaries new pairs of shoes and bicycles for traveling, as well as computer tablets to help children with their blended learning activities.

Furthermore, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, on the other hand, assessed potential beneficiaries for their livelihood assistance and scholarship programs, respectively.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, the senator also reminded the elderly and those with chronic health conditions to be extra vigilant against COVID-19. He offered them medical assistance and advised them to seek further aid from the government through the Malasakit Center at the Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop for the medical assistance programs of the DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. There are currently 148 centers nationwide which have assisted over three million poor and indigent patients altogether since the program’s inception in 2018.

“Batas ito na aking isinulong para kahit hindi na kami senador at presidente ni Pangulong Duterte ay tuloy pa rin ang programang ito. Sana patuloy na ibigay ng susunod na administrasyon ‘yung suporta para sa mga Malasakit Centers dahil marami itong natutulungan,” continued Go.

“Makakaasa kayo na habang ako ang Chair ng Senate Committee on Health, hindi ako titigil para ipaglaban ang kapakanan ng mga mahihirap natin na kababayan,” he vowed.

The senator proceeded to thank 2nd District Representative Sharee Ann Tan, Governor Reynolds Tan, Vice Governor Angelica Gomez-Teodoro, Mayor Elena Dieza and Vice Mayor Clarito Rosal for working together to support their constituents during the pandemic.

As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Go has supported numerous infrastructure development initiatives to spur economic activity and job creation in Samar. He helped in the construction and concreting of the access road connecting the towns of Calbiga, Pinabacdao and Basey, the Lulugayan Falls to the Kanyawa, Macatingol and Sohoton Caves, and other existing roads in Daram and Pinabacdao.

Other initiatives include construction of a multi-purpose hall in Tarangnan and Catbalogan City, shoreline protection structure in Tagapul-an, and public park in Tarangnan.

On October 25, his team also delivered aid to 1,300 residents in San Sebastian, Samar. Each activity was carried out in batches in compliance with the health and safety protocols against COVID-19. (OSBG)