PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher "Bong" Go continued to help the struggling residents of the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, during his latest visit on Friday, April 22. This time, Go and his team distributed aid to indigent residents in Barangays Limao, San Miguel, and Mambago-A.
In his message, Go urged fellow Filipinos to continue to trust and support the government's pandemic efforts, and urged those who are eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
The senator also asked the residents not to hesitate to seek his help should they need other forms of assistance.
“Kung ano man ang maitutulong ko sa inyo sa mga taga-Samal, huwag kayong mahiyang lumapit sa akin. Kalabitin niyo lang ako, kapitbahay, kaibigan o kumpare. Huwag kayong mahiyang lumapit sa amin,” he said.
As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go likewise urged the local officials to continue closely coordinating with the national government to ensure that vaccines are efficiently rolled out to their constituents, particularly to the elderly.
To ensure the safety of the 2,246 Samaleños in attendance at the respective barangay halls, the senator's outreach team grouped the beneficiaries, composed of fisherfolk, senior citizens, drivers, and indigents, into smaller batches and strictly enforced the necessary health protocols.
The team handed out grocery packs, vitamins, shirts, meals and masks to the residents. They also provided new pairs of shoes and bicycles to select individuals and provided others with phablets.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed financial assistance separately to qualified beneficiaries.
As part of his commitment to improve access to quality healthcare services, Go also advised the residents to visit the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City where there are Malasakit Centers available to help them settle their hospital bills.
Otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, Republic Act No. 11463 mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in all hospitals administered and managed by the Department of Health to ensure that poor and indigent patients can conveniently access medical assistance programs by the DSWD, DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
“Mayroon na tayong 151 na Malasakit Center sa buong Pilipinas. Ang Malasakit Center ay batas na isinulong ko na pinirmahan ni Pangulong Duterte upang maging mas mabilis at maayos ang serbisyong pang medikal para sa mga Pilipino,” said Go, who is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463.
To further accelerate and create economic opportunities for the island, the senator has likewise supported the water system project in Barangays Pangubatan, Libertad, San Remigio, Kinawitnon and Miranda; construction of bypass road Jct. Babak-Samal-Kaputian Road-Brgy. San Antonio-Tagpopongan, Phase 2, IGACOS Circumferential Road; construction of a two-story multipurpose building and a farm-to-market road in Brgy. Tambo.
He likewise supported the construction of several additional roads in the island city, including the road from Crossing Toril, Babak to Barangay Sto. Niño, Babak District; the road from San Agustin Elementary School to Maximo Arellano Elementary School, Brgy. Sto. Niño, Babak District; and the road at Port of Barangay Sta. Cruz to Barangay Linosutan, Talicud Island, Kaputian District.
Other initiatives he supported in Davao del Norte are the 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.
“Huwag kayong magpasalamat sa amin, kami ang nagpapasalamat sa inyo ni Presidente Duterte dahil binigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo sa inyo. Hindi namin sasayangin, ibabalik namin sa inyo ang serbisyong mabilis. Maraming salamat,” remarked Go.
Concluding his message, Go lauded the local government officials for their hard work and commitment to serve their constituents amid the global health crisis.
Last April 13, Go personally visited and led the distribution activities for more than a thousand Samaleños in Brgys. San Agustin, Mambago B, and Kinawitnon. (OSBG)