PASAY CITY -- Steadfast in his commitment to give far-flung communities a boost amid the pandemic, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go continued providing assistance to the residents of the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, composed of solo parents, fisherfolk, senior citizens and indigents, on Wednesday, April 6.
In his video message played during the distribution activities in Barangays Tambo, Miranda, and Villarica, Go expressed his admiration for the island and pledged to continue supporting its development to ensure that more opportunities are available for its residents.
He then encouraged the residents to stay vigilant against COVID-19 and to keep on cooperating with the government for Samal Island to fully recover from the challenges brought by the global health crisis.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also appealed to the eligible beneficiaries to participate in the national inoculation program to better protect themselves and their respective communities, stressing that the government worked hard just to secure sufficient vaccines for the Filipino people.
“Tuluy-tuloy po ang vaccine rollout natin. Pakiusap lang ho namin ni Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, ‘pag nasa priority list na ho kayo, magpabakuna na ho kayo. Libre naman po ito mga kababayan ko, para po ito sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino,” Go appealed.
“Sa ngayon naman po binabalanse po ng ating gobyerno ang buhay, kalusugan at ekonomiya. Importante po sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte ang buhay ng bawat tao. Ang pera naman po’y kikitain, subalit ‘yung perang kikitain ay hindi po nabibili ang buhay,” he added.
Held at the respective barangay gymnasiums, the senator’s team provided grocery packs, vitamins, masks, snacks and shirts to 1,500 residents. Select individuals also received shoes and bicycles while others were given computer tablets to help their children access educational materials.
As part of the government efforts to support more struggling sectors adversely affected by the pandemic, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also extended financial aid.
Senator Go, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, offered additional assistance to those with health concerns. He also reminded them that they may visit Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City or Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City should they need help for their medical expenses.
The center is a one-stop shop that is designed to help particularly poor and indigent patients reduce their hospital expenses to the lowest amount possible.
“Mayroon na tayong Malasakit Center sa Tagum at may mga cancer center sa SPMC. Hanapin lang ninyo ang karatula na Malasakit Center, tutulungan kayo hanggang sa maging zero balance at wala na kayong babayaran. Batas na ito na isinulong ko noong una, noong ako'y naging senador, pinirmahan ni Pangulong Duterte,” explained Go, who primarily authored and sponsored the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.
To further promote the island’s growth and economic development, Go, in his capacity as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, likewise supported the construction of a water system, roads, and multipurpose buildings as well as the acquisition of an ambulance in the city.
Other initiatives he supported in the province are the rechanneling of a river, construction of a river wall, and concreting of the Sitio Bunsalag to Sitio Misulok-Sulok road in Talaingod; construction of a concrete revetment along the Tagum-Libuganon River Basin and dike along the Sadpudon Creek in Carmen; construction of multipurpose buildings in Kapalong and New Corella; and renovation of the public terminal, public parks and plaza in New Corella.
On March 30 and April 1, Go personally led the distribution of similar aid in Barangays Balet, Camudmud, San Isidro, Cogon, Libuak and Tagpopongan. (OSBG)
