PASAY CITY -- After his announcement of his withdrawal from the presidential race in the 2022 elections, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go assured Filipinos of his continuing commitment to help those in need amid the pandemic and other crisis situations.

Go personally led the relief efforts for the flood victims in Davao City on Friday, December 3. Held at Barangay Sto. Niño Gymnasium and in strict compliance with the health and safety protocols, Go and his team distributed grocery packs, snacks, vitamins and masks to a total of 1,281 flood victims. In addition, the senator gave new pairs of shoes, bicycles and computer tablets to select recipients.

“Sa mga estudyante, mag-aral kayo ng mabuti dahil kayo ang kinabukasan ng bayan natin. (Para sa) mga kabataan, mag-aral kayo ng mabuti, magtapos kayo ng pag-aaral,” Go urged in his speech.

“Sasaya ang inyong magulang dahil (kaming mga) magulang (ay) magpapakamatay kami para lang mapaaral lang ang aming mga anak. Kaya mag-aral kayo ng mabuti,” he continued.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development extended financial assistance as part of the government’s efforts to help victims recover from calamities.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority also conducted assessments for potential beneficiaries of their respective assistance programs.

Recognizing the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, Go continues to push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1228, otherwise known as the “Mandatory Evacuation Center Act of 2019”, which provides for the establishment of well-stocked and fully operational evacuation centers in every municipality, city and province in the country.

Filed by Go, the proposed measure provides for the minimum set of requirements that each center must meet, including the location, structural capacity, amenities and operation, as well as the appropriation of funds therefor.

“When disaster strikes, Filipinos, especially the underprivileged, suffer the most. Minsan nagsisiksikan sila sa covered court, lalo na kung hindi magagamit ang mga paaralan. Kaya panahon na talaga na magkaroon tayo ng dedicated evacuation center sa bawat bayan,” Go earlier stressed.

“Kailangan magpatayo tayo ng mga safe, permanent and dedicated evacuation centers na mayroong sapat na mga emergency packs, katulad ng blankets, tubig, gamot, at relief goods. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na palaging maging handa na tumulong sa oras ng sakuna,” he added.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go further committed to assist those with medical concerns. He also urged them to visit the Malasakit Center at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) to help them settle their hospital bills.

Pioneered by Go in 2018, the Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop designed to help particularly poor and indigent patients with their medical expenses by providing access to the medical assistance programs of DSWD, Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Kung mayroon kayong bayarin lapitan niyo lang ang aming opisina, wag kayong mag-alala. Kung masakit ang puso niyo mayroon tayong (Philippine) Heart Center. ‘Wag na ninyong patagalin, ‘wag kayong mag-alala sa bayarin sa operasyon dahil kami na ang magbabayad n’yan sa inyong pagpapaospital,” Go promised.

The senator then praised the local government led by Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte, Vice Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, and Barangay Sto. Niño Captain Francisco Gamad for their untiring service to Davaoeños.

Meanwhile, Go stressed that his decision to withdraw from the presidential race does not mean he will stop serving the public. The senator vowed to support his fellow Filipinos and preserve the Duterte legacy in whatever capacity he can.

“Mga kapitbahay, ‘wag kayong mahiyang lumapit sa akin. Anytime, nandito lang kami na handang mag serbisyo sa inyo. Kami ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Maging kapitan man ako, senador o maging ano pa man, nandito lang ako na handang magserbisyo,” Go said.

“Ang pangako ko sa mga Pilipino kahit saan man kayo sa buong Pilipinas, basta kaya lang ng aking katawan, masunugan kayo, maglindol, pumutok ang bulkan o kung anuman ang nangyari sa buhay niyo, basta kaya lang ng panahon ko (ay) pupuntahan ko kayo dahil ang pangako ko sa inyo ay magseserbisyo ako sa inyo,” he reassured.

Go, who also serves as the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, has supported numerous projects in the city to help its economic recovery and create opportunities for its residents.

Among these are the construction of multipurpose buildings in Barangays Ilang, Mintal, Panacan, San Antonio, Tigatto, Waan, Pampanga and Gov. Vicente Duterte; and the construction of drainage systems in Barangays Mintal, Mudiang, Wilfredo Aquino, Ubalde, Buhangin Proper, Centro, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper and Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr.

Go also supported the construction of drainage systems in Barangays Centro Agdao, Gov. Paciano Bangoy, Bunawan Proper, Tomas Monteverde Sr., Agdao and Mintal; acquisition of a multipurpose vehicle and a mini dump truck in Barangays Callawa, Panacan, Lapu-Lapu and Cabantian; construction of multipurpose buildings in the compound of SPMC-Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, and City Library Complex; and acquisition of ambulance units and construction of a 300-bed capacity infectious disease building in SPMC.

“Ako sana ay nakapagbigay ng kaunting tulong sa inyo (at) makapagbigay ng solusyon sa inyong problema. Ang importante sa akin ay mag-iwan ako ng kaunting kaligayahan (at) makangiti man lamang tayo sa panahon ng inyong pagdadalamhati,” Go said.

“Nakakawala ng pagod kapag nakikita ko ang aking mga kababayan na nakangiti. Masaya na ako kung nakangiti kayo, kahit nasaan ako. Lagi natin tatandaan mag-ingat tayo palagi at magdasal kayo palagi,” he ended. (OSBG)