PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go’s office, in coordination with the National Housing Authority, delivered assistance for individuals affected by various disasters and emergencies in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur on Thursday, November 18.
Go’s staff handed out meals and masks to 183 beneficiaries composed of typhoon and fire victims at Barangay Aras-Asan Gymnasium. The team likewise provided financial assistance to the fire victims. They also gave bicycles and computer tablets to select residents.
Meanwhile, the NHA provided necessary financial assistance through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program to further help the victims rebuild their homes.
“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa ating mahal na President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, kay Senator Bong Go at sa NHA sa kanilang mga tulong na pinansyal. Salamat po talaga. Blessed po talaga ako ngayon at God bless to you po, Senator Bong Go. Maraming salamat po,” Marites Vasquez, a 52-year-old calamity victim, enthused in an interview.
In a video message, the senator urged the public, especially those in the priority groups, to avail of the vaccines against COVID-19. He reminded them that the vaccines are free and that the government continuously strives to acquire more to ensure that the country attains population protection and herd immunity soon.
“Tuluy-tuloy na po ang pagbabakuna sa iba’t ibang lugar. Kung nasa priority list kayo, magpabakuna na kayo. Ang bakuna ang susi para makamtan natin ang herd immunity ngayong taong at makabalik tayo sa ating normal na pamumuhay,” said Go.
“Nakikiusap ako sa mga (local government units), magtulungan tayo sa national government. Kung kailangang suyurin natin ‘yung mga senior citizens at may sakit para protektado sila, gawin po natin,” he added.
Go, who is also the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, offered aid to residents in need of medical attention. He advised them that they may conveniently avail of medical assistance from the government through the Malasakit Centers at the Lianga District Hospital in Lianga and the Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center in Tandag City.
The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop that brings together the desk representatives of the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
As part of his commitment to ensure that the government can proactively address any disaster-related incident, Go highlighted the need for a department that will specifically focus on holistic disaster preparation and response. He called for the passage of Senate Bill No. 205, which provides for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience.
“Dapat maging mas proactive tayo at ipasa na ito sa lalong madaling panahon dahil madalas pong tamaan ng bagyo, lindol at iba pang kalamidad ang ating bansa. Kailangan nating i-scale up ang preparedness and resiliency against disasters,” Go said.
“Kung maitatatag ang Department of Disaster Resilience, tunay na magiging handa tayo sa anumang krisis o sakuna. Mas magiging mabilis ang pagtugon ng pamahalaan, mas maiibsan ang masamang epekto ng kalamidad, at mas mabilis makakabangon ang ating mga kababayan,” he explained.
The senator went on to thank the local officials, including Mayor Lillian Yu-Lozada and Vice Mayor Melchie Tuscano, for their service. He then appealed to continue their dedication to ensure that their community recovers from the pandemic and other crisis situations.
As Vice Chair of Senate Committee on Finance, Go also pledged to support the concretion of various roads in the municipality to improve public service delivery.
He had earlier supported, among others, the improvement of roads in Barobo, Carmen, Madrid, Marihatag, San Agustin, Tago and Tandag City; construction of an Indigenous People’s center and a multi-purpose center in Hinapoyan; construction of a public market in Lanuza; and purchase of ambulances for Lianga and Lanuza.
Previously, Go’s team conducted a similar distribution to typhoon victims in Cortes. (OSBG)
